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http://joseabueva.blogspot.com/2006/05/why-change-our-presidential-government.html?m=1 | 2021-10-21T11:32:08 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323585405.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20211021102435-20211021132435-00381.warc.gz | 0.957908 | 2,800 | CC-MAIN-2021-43 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-43__0__190485882 | en | By Jose V. Abueva
I. The Philippines today. What is the big picture?
1. We are a weak, divided nation.
Most people are preoccupied with their concerns for self and family, private interests and possessions. They do not care about other citizens, the community, the nation, the government, the state, the environment, and the common good.
2. Our Republic is still a “Soft State.”
Weak rule of law and governance because of the dominance and power of political families, warlords and rebel groups.
3. Our constitutional democracy cannot deliver on its promise of a peaceful, just and humane society under the rule of law.
4. Our people are increasingly dissatisfied with the way our democracy works, but still believe in democracy as an ideal.
5. In fact, our country is in a deep political and economic crisis. The very survival of our constitutional democracy is gravely threatened.
In our deepening political division and confrontations, some groups are proposing undemocratic and extra-constitutional means of resolving our differences, including rebellion and military intervention.
II. Our democratic political development since independence in 1946
1. We had a Presidential and Unitary Government under the 1935 Constitution—until Sept. 1972 (except during the Japanese Military Occupation 1942-1945).
Legislative power in the unicameral National Assembly, then in Congress (Senate and House of Representatives). Executive power in the President. Judicial power in the Supreme Court and lower courts. Based on the principle of “separation of powers and checks and balance” among the three branches of government.
2. The Marcos Authoritarian Government lasted from Sept. 1972 to Feb. 1986. We had a Pseudo-Parliamentary, and actual Dictatorship under the 1973 Constitution.
President Marcos exercised executive and legislative powers in a pseudo parliamentary government, and controlled the judiciary and the media. He governed with the military and national police. The people lost their political freedom and civil rights. Many were illegally detained, tortured, killed, or simply disappeared.
3. The EDSA Revolution ended the Marcos Dictatorship on Feb. 25, 1986. It called for “Justice, Freedom and Democracy.”
The world’s freedom-loving nations acclaimed our success in overthrowing a dictator of over 13 years without bloodshed—through “people power.”
4. President Aquino ruled for one year under a Revolutionary Government—from Feb. 25, 1986 to Feb. 1, 1987, under her so-called “Freedom Constitution.”
5. Democracy was restored under the 1987 Constitution prepared by an appointed Constitutional Commission and ratified by the people on Feb. 2, 1987. We also restored a Presidential and Unitary Government.
We restored the separation of powers and checks and balance among the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary.
The unitary structure concentrated powers and revenues in the national government. Local governments are weak and dependent on the national government but some local autonomy was extended under the Constitution and the Local Autonomy Code.
6. Under President Aquino (1986-1992) we restored our elitist democracy and restarted our economic recovery, but there were nine coup attempts by politicized military rebels supported by some Marcos loyalists.
7. Under President Ramos (1992-1998) our economic recovery made solid progress as he was also able to restrain the military rebels, and successfully end the GRP-MNLF conflict.
But, as before and after Ramos, our chronic social and economic problems and the Communist and Moro insurgencies persisted.
8. In January 2001, President Estrada was the second president removed by “people power,” after his failed impeachment trial for plunder and corruption. His removal, trial and detention led to more political instability.
This showed the people’s determination to hold their President accountable. This was followed in May by a march on Malacañang by thousands of his urban poor supporters, suggesting a “revolt of the poor constituents” of an ineffective democracy.
9. Vice-President Arroyo succeeded Estrada and was elected in 2004 to a full six-year term until 2010. President Arroyo has worked hard to improve social services, infrastructure, and initiate economic reforms—with some success.
But her term has been marred by sustained opposition by Estrada loyalists and other opposition and NGO leaders and military rebels, and unresolved allegations of cheating in the 2004 presidential elections where she defeated FPJ, “Da king” of Filipino movies. She has survived several “people power” protests, military rebellion, and impeachment attempts but suffers from unending challenges to her legitimacy.
10. After 19 years under our restored elitist democracy and our presidential and unitary government—we have failed to check our problems of mass poverty, unemployment, social injustice, corruption, rebellion, inadequate education, health, housing, rapid population growth, destruction of the environment, and so on.
Every year so many of our people have to go abroad to find jobs and support their families.
11. Largely because our leaders are unwilling and unable to raise taxes, our government has very limited funding. It is now heavily in debt from too much borrowing. Up to 40 % of our national budget goes to debt service, thus reducing funds for social services and development.
However, serious fiscal reforms and new taxes have been initiated by President Arroyo with the support of Congress.
III. Charter change is imperative and urgent!
Fully realizing the serious ineffectiveness of our political institutions and governance, and the failure of our constitutional democracy, many leaders and citizens are proposing their reform by revising our Constitution and other ways.
President Arroyo and many leaders in the House of Representatives and the local governments and civil society are proposing the change of our political system—
1. From a presidential government to a parliamentary government.
2. From a bicameral legislature to a unicameral Parliament.
3. From a centralized unitary system to a decentralized system of autonomous territories and regions leading to a Federal Republic.
4. It is also proposed to reform of our political parties as institutions of representation, and our electoral system, judiciary, and civil service.
5. And it is proposed to liberalize some restrictive economic policies in the Constitution—to attract much more foreign investments and business, as our progressive neighbors in Asia have been doing all along.
IV. What Parliamentary Government is proposed ?
1. A Parliament that combines legislative and executive powers.
2. Unicameral in structure.
3. The Parliament shall have as many members as may be provided by law. To begin with, the Parliament shall have as many elected members as the present 235 congressional district representatives.
4. In addition the members chosen by the political parties shall constitute thirty percent of the total members of Parliament (MPs), including those elected to the Parliament.
These additional members are chosen by “proportional representation” of the political parties based on their share of the total votes cast nationwide for the individual parties in the previous parliamentary election.
5. “Checks and balance” are exercised in the relations between the majority party and the opposition parties, including their regular “question hour.”
6. The opposition is represented in the Commission on Appointments. There are also the others centers of countervailing power: the business groups, the interest groups, the media, and civil society organizations.
Members of Parliament shall be elected, or chosen by the political parties, for a term of five years, with no term limits. Candidates for MP must have a college degree.
The Prime Minister is elected by a majority of all the MPs. He exercises the executive power as the Head of Government. He is normally the leader of the majority party in the Parliament.
As the Head of the Government, the Prime Minister is assisted by the Cabinet of Ministers, at least three-fourths of whom are MPs.
From among the MPs, the Parliament elects the President who is the Head of State for a term of five years.
The President shall cease to be an MP and a member of any political party. He has a term of five years.
V. Advantages of Parliamentary Government over our Presidential Government?
1. Because Parliament exercises both legislative power and executive power, it will ensure the coordinated, efficient and effective making of laws and policies and their implementation. Especially because the Parliament has only one house or chamber.
2. The Prime Minister and the Government (the Cabinet and governing party headed by the Prime Minister) assume collective responsibility and collective accountability for governance to the Parliament and the people.
The people will know whom to reward for good governance and administration, or to punish for failure and corruption.
3. Parliamentary Government is more likely to ensure the election of the Head of Government—the Prime Minister—for his leadership and experience in the party and in the public service. He is known to party members.
4. It will help prevent election of the Head of Government on the basis largely of, personal popularity or “win-ability,” not on proven competence and experience as a political leader.
5. It will be easier to change the Head of Government and the ruling party whenever it becomes necessary, by a vote of no confidence in Parliament, and its dissolution, followed by a new election of MPs.
No need for impeachment, people power revolts, and military intervention that cause political instability, disrupt the economy, discourage foreign investors, and hurt the people, especially the poor.
6. Unlike in our Presidential Government where the President is both Head of Government and Head of State, the function of Head of State is assigned to a ceremonial President elected by the Parliament. This will lighten the burden on the Prime Minister who can concentrate on governance.
7. At the same time the President, who symbolizes the people’s sovereignty and national unity, can be a rallying point as a leader who is above partisan politics.
8. Parliamentary Government and electoral reform will empower the people to choose not only the candidates for the Parliament but also the political party they want to govern the country and the regional and local governments.
9. It will develop a two-party system and political parties that are democratic, disciplined, united, and effective in making and carrying out a program of government that can secure popular support.
Unlike our present political parties that are undemocratic, opportunistic, oriented to personalities and patronage, and not to policy and program of government.
10. The people elect the members of Parliament among candidates in parliamentary districts and also by “proportional representation” of the rival political parties in the parliamentary election (a new party list of all political parties).
11. Parliamentary elections will cost much less than nationwide presidential and senatorial elections that require billions and corrupt the political system.
12. It will be easier and faster and less costly to administer elections and proclaim the winning candidates.
13. It will reduce the high cost of electing the Head of Government in a national election by choosing the leader of the majority party (or coalition) in Parliament as Prime Minister.
14. The selection of additional members of Parliament through “proportional representation” of the political parties will enable the leading political party to select other competent leaders to serve in Parliament and the Cabinet.
15. These are professionals, business leaders, scholars, and representatives of various sectors of society who can serve in Parliament and the Cabinet, although they are not willing to run for member of Parliament.
Parliamentary Government can lead to more continuity in policy and administration if the majority party or coalition governs well and the people are satisfied, because the people will learn to reward or punish the ruling party for its success or failure in governance.
The people will know that the ruling party, not just individual leaders, are the ones responsible and accountable for the government’s performance.
VI. In Conclusion
Most stable and progressive countries in the world have a parliamentary government. These include Japan, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, Norway, Sweden, and also India, Singapore, and Malaysia in Asia.
1. Parliamentary government will help us to have good governance: ang mabuti at mabisang pamamalakad ng ating gobyerno at bayan.
2. Charter change to a parliamentary government, along with decentralization and devolution of powers to the regional and local governments in a federal structure, will enable us to respond more efficiently and effectively to our problems, meet our challenges and achieve our goals as a nation, and compete in the global economy.
3. Charter change to a parliamentary government and a decentralized structure will help us to mobilize and sustain “people power” in national, regional and local governance to reduce poverty and corruption.
4. It will empower us to achieve the peace, prosperity, justice and security we all want for ourselves and our children.
5. Moreover, with less restrictions on foreign investments and participation, the Government will be better able to help in attracting these investments that will create more jobs, raise incomes, provide better education, health, welfare, and security to our people.
6. And we can build and maintain more schools, hospitals, waterworks, roads, bridges, seaports and airports.
7. With a great deal of political will, hard work and sacrifice we can build a nation worthy of our heroes, a country fit for our children—of which Filipinos can be really proud. | politics |
http://magyarbelyeg.hu/index.php?route=product/product&path=33_75&product_id=71 | 2024-04-24T22:51:29 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296819971.86/warc/CC-MAIN-20240424205851-20240424235851-00175.warc.gz | 0.94756 | 579 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__129473144 | en | 20TH Anniversary of the Formation of the Visegrad Group
Stamps 4 comlette, Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak joint stamp issue
The Czech, Hungarian, Polish and Slovak Posts are commemorating the 20th anniversary of the formation of the Visegrád Group by issuing a joint stamp.
The Group is named after the town of Visegrád in the north of Hungary. In November 1335, on the initiative of the Hungarian king Charles Robert, a meeting was held in the royal palace in Visegrád with the Polish monarch Casimir III and the king of Bohemia, John of Luxembourg. This cooperation was continued on 15 February 1991 when Czechoslovakia’s President Václav Havel, Poland’s President Lech Wałęsa and Hungary’s Prime Minister József Antall signed the Visegrád Declaration. After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, it became a four-member group.
Among the objectives of the 1991 declaration were the elimination of the vestiges of totalitarianism, the protection of democracy, and the collaboration of the three countries to promote economic progress and Euro-Atlantic accession.
In 2000 the International Visegrád Fund, based in Bratislava, was created, which is widely thought to be the V4’s most successful venture. It strengthens cooperation between the member states in culture, science, research and education, and fosters ties through youth exchanges. Thanks to the Fund’s budget, applications from the four member states can be made to the Bratislava Secretariat for grants several times a year. The Fund’s activities also include providing humanitarian aid. (Source: visegradgroup.eu hu.wikipedia.org)
The main motif of the stamps marking the anniversary are hands forming the letter “V” and the number “4”, enriched by a motif referring to the European Union and the colours of the national flags of the V4 member states. The numerals 2 and 0 on the palms of the hands refer to the 20th anniversary. A special aspect of the issue is that the stamps in all four countries have been made based on the designs of the Hungarian graphic artist and stamp designer Barnabás Baticz. On the first day cover there is a graphic composition using the flags of the member states. The postmark employs the contour of the maps of the countries comprising the group. A commemorative card is also being released to present the stamps of the four countries together.
2011 20TH Anniversary of the Formation of the Visegrad Group
- Product Code: 11001
- Availability: In Stock
- Ex Tax: 25,000Ft | politics |
https://burgerlawgroup.com/2020/07/glens-falls-settles-lawsuit-filed-by-former-assessor/ | 2022-12-03T16:37:10 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446710933.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20221203143925-20221203173925-00366.warc.gz | 0.97902 | 182 | CC-MAIN-2022-49 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-49__0__39784974 | en | Just prior to a scheduled damages hearing, on June 23, 2020, the City of Glens Falls Common Council voted unanimously to approve a six-figure settlement effectively ending a nearly four year lawsuit filed by the city’s former assessor over her termination.
In February 2020 Judgment was entered in favor of the City’s former assessor finding that the disciplinary process deprived Stack of an “independent, unbiased adjudicator” and that the city could not have taken into account a 1990s criminal conviction in its decision to fire Stack.
“Sarah Burger, a lawyer representing Stack, said the city clearly violated her client’s rights, but said the settlement is the best outcome for both parties.
“I think this is the best outcome,” she said. “It’s in both parties best interest that this case is resolved.”” | politics |
https://fxdatabank.com/southafrica | 2020-05-31T15:22:50 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347413551.52/warc/CC-MAIN-20200531151414-20200531181414-00291.warc.gz | 0.952136 | 225 | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-24__0__47504030 | en | South Africa is a parliamentary republic, located in Southern Africa. Executive president is elected by Parliament, which consists of two houses: 400-seat National Assembly (the lower house) and 90-seat National Council of Provinces (the upper house). The cabinet is appointed by the president. South Africa world's largest producer of platinum, gold and chromium. Its economy is the 31st largest in the world (by GDP PPP), but is ranked only 115th by GDP per capita. Around 44% of South Africa’s merchandise exports are directed to just four markets (European Union, China, United States and Botswana). Total external trade volume is 31% of GDP. The central bank, South African Reserve Bank (SARB), pursues an inflation-targeting approach to monetary policy and maintains a floating exchange rate regime. The national currency, rand, is to some extent correlated with the prices for key export commodities – particularly, platinum. High levels of unemployment and rural poverty, vulnerability to commodity price fluctuations and current and fiscal account deficits are usually named among key weaknesses of South Africa’s economy. | politics |
http://americasmexico.blogspot.com/2011/08/immigration-crackdown-quinn-hits-back.html | 2024-04-16T01:46:50 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817036.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20240416000407-20240416030407-00688.warc.gz | 0.940393 | 127 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__175078755 | en | Aug 26, 2011
Immigration Crackdown: Quinn hits back against Secure Communities
WBEZ: "Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is trying to throw another wrench into a key immigration-enforcement program of President Obama’s administration, saying it ensnares too many people and erodes trust in local police.
An August 18 letter from the governor’s office to John Morton, director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, hints about a possible legal challenge and asks the federal agency to contact all 26 Illinois counties that have agreed to participate in the program, called Secure Communities, to confirm they still want to take part." | politics |
https://www.newsnrc.com/republican-rep-madison-cawthorn-was-fined-15237-for-violating-rules-by-promoting-a-cryptocurrency-he-had-invested/ | 2024-02-21T15:22:04 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947473518.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20240221134259-20240221164259-00810.warc.gz | 0.97046 | 425 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__154588989 | en | The United States House Committee on Ethics fined $15,237 Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn for violating rules by promoting a cryptocurrency he had invested. By promoting cryptocurrency, he violated rules protecting against conflicts of interest. The cryptocurrency which he promoted is an anti-Joe Biden meme coin called LGB, Let’s Go Brandon, which is very less popular. The term Let’s Go Brandon is a coded expletive to humiliate President Joe Biden.
According to the report from the House Committee, ISC, the Investigation Subcommittee, after a seven-month-long investigation, found substantial evidence that Representative Madison promoted a cryptocurrency in which he had an economic interest. The report revealed that Madison did not disclose either his purchase or sale of his LGB coins until the House Committee investigating the issue.
The US House representatives require representatives to file timely reports on transactions related to cryptocurrency under the STOCK Act, the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge, which Madison violated. As per the report, Madison made direct comments about purchasing or supporting the coin. However, the House Committee ruled out that he made such a promotion for personal profit.
According to the report, as a Member of the House, Representative Madison must defend the integrity of that institution, and his participation in promotional actions for the cryptocurrency he owned was inconsistent with that duty. As per the report, of the total $15,237 fine, $14,237 should be paid by Madison to an appropriate charitable organization before the 31st of December. And the rest of the fine to the US Department of Treasury for violating the STOCK Act till the same date.
According to the report, On the 20th of December 2021, Madison gave a $150,000 check to an undisclosed individual affiliated with LGB coins to purchase 180 billion LGB coins. And on the 21st of December, he received 180 billion LGB coins in his Coinbase wallet from an anonymous source. As per the report, Madison bought LGB Coin to connect with his generation, poke fun at a political rival, and address the government’s control of currency. | politics |
http://www.thedeltastatement.com/ | 2016-02-08T20:52:58 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-07/segments/1454701154221.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20160205193914-00337-ip-10-236-182-209.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.971585 | 733 | CC-MAIN-2016-07 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2016-07__0__37948447 | en | Assistant News Editor
The future of the Democratic Party in Mississippi looks bleak after Republicans gained seven seats in the state House of Representatives after the election on Nov. 3.
Some longtime Democrats like Rep. Bo Eaton of Taylorsville and Rep. Sherra Lane of Waynesboro saw defeat to Republican challengers.
One of the biggest losses to the Democrat Party was when House Minority Leader and Democrat Bobby Moak of Bogue Chitto, who has served in the state Legislature since 1984, lost with 45 percent of the overall vote to GOP challenger Vince Mangold.
Moak had been targeted by the Republicans, according to Democratic Party Chairman Rickey Cole.
“They spent a lot of money and worked very hard with a very negative campaign to beat [Moak],” Cole told The Clarion-Ledger. “That was an upset. I think this was pretty much a status quo election.”
It was a perfect storm for Democrats on Nov. 3. Republican Gov. Phil Bryant did not have serious challenger with Democrat Robert Gray, a truck driver with zero political experience.
Gray was elected by a wide margin in the August primaries beating Madison attorney Vicki Slater who was seen as the party favorite. No one knew who Gray was, and he had spent little money on the campaign heading into the primaries.
A challenger like Gray in the Governor’s race allowed Republicans to focus more resources on races in the state Legislature among others, but the Republicans failed to claim the highest ranking Democrat in office, Attorney General Jim Hood.
Hood has been revered as the “Last Democrat in Dixie” and ran against former U.S. Assistant Attorney and Republican Mike Hurst this year. The three-term incumbent Hood won with 55 percent of the vote.
Despite the loss, Republicans are trying to squash out the Democrats in every way possible including having Democrats change parties.
Rep. Jody Stevenson of Ripley was elected Democrat, but turned red after Speaker of the House Philip Gunn said the Republican Party was searching for a Democrat to switch giving the party a supermajority in the House chamber.
Republicans have also gerrymandered some long-time Democrats out of their districts. After the House lines were redistricted, Bennett Malone of Carthage, a Democrat who had served since 1980, saw his district consolidate with Republican Jason White’s.
Malone retired earlier this year due to health concerns and could not run for office, but he was another trophy the Republicans could claim.
Southern Democrats lost respect for the national party due to civil rights legislation in the 1960s. Republicans were able to capitalize on this in the 1970s and 1980s planting a seed that is finally blooming after the election of President Barack Obama in 2008.
The trend has continued and is now uprooting local elections with more and more chancery clerks, sheriffs and superintendents of education running on the Republican ticket.
In the near future, Mississippi’s Democratic Party will be the party of African Americans and liberals while the state’s Republican Party will be the party of whites and conservatives.
This polarization will be a detriment to Mississippi. There will not be any accountability for elected officials when this solidifies.
Mississippi has operated under a one-party system in the past and the effect was abysmal (i.e. segregation, corruption, poor education standards, etc.).
Balance between both parties in the Legislature is what Mississippi needs, but with the tactics the Republicans have pulled recently, it will be years before that balance can be reached again. | politics |
https://terangaimmo.com/force-posture-agreement-2014/ | 2024-02-29T22:26:21 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474853.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20240229202522-20240229232522-00782.warc.gz | 0.966973 | 559 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__80359282 | en | Force Posture Agreement 2014: A Comprehensive Overview
The Force Posture Agreement (FPA) between Australia and the United States is a crucially important aspect of the defense relationship between the two countries. The FPA outlines the terms and conditions of the deployment and operation of U.S. military forces in Australia, and is designed to enhance the security of both nations.
The 2014 FPA updates the previous agreement, which was signed in 2007. The main objective of the updated agreement is to increase the flexibility and effectiveness of U.S. military forces in the region, in order to respond to threats and contingencies as they arise. The FPA also includes provisions for increased training and cooperation between the Australian and U.S. armed forces.
One of the key changes introduced in the 2014 FPA is the increased rotational presence of U.S. military forces in Australia. This includes the deployment of U.S. Marines to Darwin, in the Northern Territory, as well as increased access to Australian military facilities and training areas. This increased presence will enable the U.S. to respond more effectively to a range of security challenges in the region, including humanitarian crises, natural disasters, and threats from state and non-state actors.
The FPA also includes provisions for closer cooperation between the Australian and U.S. militaries in areas such as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). This will enable the two countries to better coordinate their efforts in responding to regional security threats, and will help to enhance the interoperability of their military forces.
Another key aspect of the 2014 FPA is the strengthened commitment to joint training and exercises. This includes joint exercises such as Talisman Sabre, which is held every two years and involves tens of thousands of military personnel from both countries. Joint training and exercises enable the Australian and U.S. militaries to develop their skills and capabilities, and to enhance their ability to operate together effectively in a range of scenarios.
The 2014 FPA has been widely welcomed by both the Australian and U.S. governments, as well as by defense analysts and experts. The agreement is seen as an important step forward in the defense relationship between the two countries, and as a vital component of the regional security architecture in the Asia-Pacific.
In conclusion, the Force Posture Agreement 2014 is a comprehensive and important agreement between Australia and the United States. It outlines the terms and conditions of the deployment and operation of U.S. military forces in Australia, and includes provisions for increased rotational presence, closer cooperation, and joint training and exercises. The FPA is a vital component of the defense relationship between the two countries, and is designed to enhance the security of both nations in an uncertain and challenging global security environment. | politics |
https://lutheransrestoringcreation.org/press-release-us-lutherans-vote-to-discontinue-fossil-fuel-investments-to-work-towards-a-sustainable-future/ | 2023-09-26T10:16:23 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510179.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20230926075508-20230926105508-00278.warc.gz | 0.938661 | 1,292 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__208886829 | en | Churchwide Votes Towards a Fossil-Free Future
US LUTHERANS VOTE TO DISCONTINUE FOSSIL-FUEL INVESTMENTS, TO WORK TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
Contact: Gerry Falco [email protected] 914-548-3108
Kim Winchell [email protected] 989-326-1960
Rev. Barbara Rossing [email protected] 509-548-7278
New Orleans – On August 13, 2016 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted to work towards the goal of discontinuing any investment by the church in fossil fuel companies, and to commit to investing in corporations that are taking positive steps toward a sustainable environment.
The resolution was approved by majority of the 900 voting members at the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the main decision-making body of the ELCA. Full text is below.
With this action, the ELCA heeds the 2015 call of the Lutheran World Federation Council to its member churches “not to invest in fossil fuels and to support energy efficiency and renewable energy companies, and to encourage their institutions and individual members to do likewise.”
The decision strengthens actions the ELCA had already taken to limit new investment and encourage sustainability practices. It builds on divestment resolutions already passed by eight different ELCA synods (regional bodies) and aligns the ELCA with the global Lutheran church.
“This bold action situates us squarely in the tradition of Martin Luther and the reformers who loved God’s creation,” said the Rev. Barbara Rossing, professor at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and a leader in the grassroots organization Lutherans Restoring Creation which supported the resolution. “Lutheran ethics calls us to care for the most vulnerable, and for future generations,” she said.
The church’s action was the culmination of efforts by a coalition of members, spearheaded by Gerry Falco from the Metro New York Synod. “We joined forces with activists from five synods that had pending resolutions like ours,” Falco said.
The assembly theme of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation galvanized voters.
“For many of us, this decision became a ‘here we stand’ kind of moment in our concern for justice for future generations,” said Kim Winchell, echoing Martin Luther’s famous statement. Winchell is an ELCA deacon from Freeland, Michigan in the North/West Lower Michigan Synod, and served as point person for the resolution on the Assembly floor.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is the seventh-largest religious body in the United States, with over 9,300 congregations and 3.7 million baptized members (2015). In 2015 the church had $7.5 billion in assets under management. The amount of the church’s current investment in fossil fuel companies was not immediately available.
# # #
Toward a Responsible Energy Future (adopted by the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly)
To receive with gratitude the memorials of the Saint Paul Area, Metropolitan New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Upper Susquehanna and Northwestern Pennsylvania synods related to climate change and fossil fuels;
To urge all ELCA members, congregations and synods to inform and educate themselves about the effects of climate change through the lens of the “Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope and Justice” social statement, and to advocate for policies that reduce energy use and our dependence on fossil fuels and encourage development of renewable energy sources as an expression of our commitment to address climate change and caring for God’s creation;
To affirm the action of the 2013 Churchwide Assembly and subsequent action of the Church Council in 2014 related to the development of revised or additional investment screens on fossil fuels, and to support and commend ELCA members, congregations, synods, the churchwide organization, and related institutions and agencies such as ELCA Endowment Fund and Portico Benefit Services for their leadership efforts to invest in companies that are taking steps toward a sustainable environment;
To affirm Portico’s balanced approach to supporting this church’s principles and directives as stated in the social statements — including the commitment to help transition to an economy less dependent on fossil fuels. The approach has included:
1. shareholder advocacy (filing and supporting resolutions on environmental issues, including 150 resolutions in 2015),
2. focused investment screening, which has identified 113 companies screened for environmental reasons, and
3. ramping up positive social investments, such as investments in companies that develop solar, wind and water power generation systems, repurposing waste products and reducing toxic emissions; and now
To call upon Portico to evaluate the viability of an optional fossil -free fund for retirement plan participants; and
To call upon the ELCA to heed the call of the Lutheran World Federation Council in 2015 to member churches “not to invest in fossil fuels and to support energy efficiency and renewable energy companies, and to encourage their institutions and individual members to do likewise”; and
As part of this church’s response to the Lutheran World Federation’s call, to request that the ELCA churchwide organization review the ELCA’s applicable social teachings and Corporate Social Responsibility policies and procedures, with the goal of not investing in, and removing the largest fossil fuel companies as identified by Carbon Tracker, and investing in corporations which are taking positive steps toward a sustainable environment; and
To support the ELCA network of affiliated social ministry organizations with programs to address unemployment caused by changing patterns of fossil fuel use, to advocate for retraining workers – especially for renewable energy jobs, to advocate for programs that will support those in transition, and to encourage congregations and ministries to address the resulting unemployment and poverty; and
To urge ELCA members, congregations and synods to set measurable goals to reduce their consumption of fossil fuels and improve their stewardship of energy resources, transition to renewable energy sources and promote care for God’s creation. | politics |
http://www.anyare.com/2017/05/cayetano-confirmed-as-dfa-chief.html | 2020-02-29T04:01:46 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875148375.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20200229022458-20200229052458-00005.warc.gz | 0.958807 | 455 | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-10__0__6238040 | en | Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, the chair of the CA Foreign Affairs Committee, endorsed Cayetano's appointment after what he dubbed as "probably the shortest public hearing" on Wednesday.cnnphilippines.com said that President Duterte had signed the appointment letter before his trip on Cambodia, Hong Kong, and Beijing.
Senators Ralph Recto, JV Ejercito, and Juan Miguel Zubiri, and CA Vice Chairman Ronald Zamora threw their weight behind Lacson's endorsement.
The motion for Cayetano's appointment met no objection, making him the official Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
"I signed an appointment (letter) just before I left my room and I saw the name of Senator Cayetano... FA," Duterte said in a media briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport before leaving for a six-day working visit to Cambodia, Hong Kong, and China.
inquirer.net on the other hand noted that the post has long-been reserved for Cayetano.
Mr. Duterte earlier said he would give the foreign affairs portfolio to his defeated vice presidential running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, after the expiration of the one-year ban on the appointment of losing candidates to positions in the government.
Abella, however, declined to comment when asked in a press briefing on Thursday if the top diplomatic post had been promised to Cayetano.
With the confirmed appointment, the senator will replace the acting DFA chief as stated by philstar.com.
President Rodrigo Duterte appointed close ally Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as the Foreign Affairs secretary, replacing acting Secretary Enrique Manalo.
Meanwhile sunstar.com.ph posted Cayetano as he give his gratitude to the Commission of Appointment for a swift procedure.
Earlier in the day, Cayetano's nomination was approved by the CA committee on foreign affairs in less than five minutes.
No member of the panel opposed the appointment of Cayetano.
"Thank you for giving me the honor of breezing through the Commission on Appointments. I'll make my commitment to you today, I will do my best para hindi po kayo mapahiya," he said. | politics |
http://www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.aspx?Page_ID=31&desc=Council_and_Town_Planning_Committee_meetings | 2016-12-04T20:26:54 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-50/segments/1480698541396.20/warc/CC-MAIN-20161202170901-00173-ip-10-31-129-80.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.9484 | 111 | CC-MAIN-2016-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2016-50__0__128691029 | en | Council meetings to consider general matters take place on the third Monday of every month, commencing at 7pm in the Council chambers.
Town planning matters are considered at the town planning committee meeting, which takes place on the first Monday of every month, commencing at 7pm in the Council chambers.
Both meetings are open to the public and residents are encouraged to attend. Agenda's for council meetings are available for viewing on our website prior to the meeting. All Council meetings are regulated by Local Laws No. 16 meeting procedures (Word, 150KB). | politics |
https://icccmtl.com/en/events/breakfast-business-quebec/ | 2021-01-25T13:22:10 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-04/segments/1610703581888.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20210125123120-20210125153120-00454.warc.gz | 0.892358 | 271 | CC-MAIN-2021-04 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-04__0__186117265 | en | Dublin Chamber of Commerce, in association with the Embassy of Canada in Ireland and the Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce, are hosting a networking breakfast on Doing Business with Québec. Opening remarks will be provided by H.E. Kevin Vickers, Ambassador of Canada to Ireland and Mary Rose Burke, CEO Dublin Chamber. There will be a keynote speech by Mr Jean Charest, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, and Former Premier of Québec, with additional remarks by Christos Sirros, Québec Agent General in London.
Discussions will focus on opportunities presented by the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and business opportunities in Québec. Mr Charest has been instrumental in negotiating the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
Montréal, like Dublin, has been transformed into a tech hub in recent years and several synergies exist for cooperation in this area. Other areas of opportunity in Québec include agriculture, aerospace, biofood, finance, life sciences, information technologies, clean technologies, transportation and logistics. This event is aimed at Irish businesses who are doing business or interested in doing business with Canada.
To register for this free event, please click here:
Date(s) - 28/10/2016
8:00 am - 10:00 am
7 Clare Street | politics |
https://www.mommypeach.com/2012/08/hassle-free-and-non-collateral-loans-from-esquire-financing-inc-efi/ | 2024-04-12T18:31:10 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296816045.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20240412163227-20240412193227-00352.warc.gz | 0.886194 | 345 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__44960240 | en | President Aquino’s SONA reflects ESQUIRE FINANCING’s devotion to Philippines’ economic growth.
Data from the Bangko Sentral showed that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) make up 99.6 percent of the total number of enterprises, account for almost 70 percent of total jobs generated, and contribute 32 percent of the GDP.
President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino‘s recent State of The Nation Address (SONA) stirred up hope and inspiration, given the numbers from Bangko Sentral. Aside from a rundown of his cabinet’s accomplishments and to do list, Aquino proudly emphasized that “what was once the sick man of Asia now brims with vitality”. The President substantiated this claim with the 6.4 percent growth in the GDP in the first quarter of the year, the highest in Southeast Asia. Aquino shared how commentators from the international community have lauded these achievements, with Foreign Policy Magazine even calling the Philippines “Asia’s Next Tiger” and financial giant Morgan Stanley investing a billion dollars in Philippine markets.
Esquire Financing Inc. (EFI) Chief Executive Officer Rajan Uttamchandani at the 4th Philippine Small and Medium Enterprise Expo last May 2012
ESQUIRE FINANCING Inc’s President/CEO Rajan Uttamchandani shares the country leader’s and the international media’s optimism and believes that more small and medium entrepreneurs take advantage of the strong economy. EFI, the leader in Growth Stage financing, provides hassle-free and non-collateral business loans to growing businesses. | politics |
http://hitchins4psc.com/platform.html | 2018-10-20T17:18:49 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-43/segments/1539583513009.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20181020163619-20181020185119-00429.warc.gz | 0.958745 | 131 | CC-MAIN-2018-43 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-43__0__90346964 | en | Let John Hitchins serve as the people’s voice of the future.
“I am a true Conservative who doesn't approve of the current way of cozying up with utility companies. I am one who believes in energy choice and the free market to decide what is best for Georgia citizens. I am one who has zero allegiance to big business and will work to end the corporate welfare that the current Public Service Commission has established. I may not be known in political circles, but I believe it is time to hold current leadership accountable. My name is John Hitchins and I am running for Public Service Commission, 5th district.” | politics |
https://www.centerfin.co/weekly-update/weekly-update-nov-4-2022 | 2024-03-04T07:20:41 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947476432.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20240304065639-20240304095639-00489.warc.gz | 0.975186 | 599 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__59131669 | en | Fed refuses to pivot
All eyes were on the Federal Reserve this week as they announced their latest interest rate decision. While their 75 bps hike was widely expected, the market was looking for any indication of a pivot, i.e. that they would indicate either a decrease in the size of interest rate hikes or that they are close to being finished. While the market initially took some language in their press release as positive, during the press conference Chairman Powell made it clear that it is too early to discuss tapering. Stocks sold off dramatically on this, and yields on bonds rose. The terminal rate, where the market expects rates to end up, rose to above 5%. Fed watchers remarked that there is likely dissent building inside the Federal Reserve, with a contingent of Fed governors wishing to slow the pace of hikes. We continue to be concerned that the unprecedented pace of rate increases could have unintended consequences. Interest rate hikes are designed to slow the economy and hence cool inflation; however, this does not address other potential causes, namely de-globalization and demographics. Chairman Powell seems to be intent on not leaving a legacy of being the Fed Chair who let inflation get out of control and, in the process, break a few things. Watching how politics influence what is happening at the Fed in the near future will be interesting.
Geopolitical temperature rising
There were several notable geopolitical events this week raising the risks of new international conflicts. The US and Saudi Arabia raised concerns about an imminent attack by Iran on Saudi Arabia. Iran has been dealing with political protests and this could serve as a distraction. Adding fuel to the fire, Benjamin Netanyahu was elected the new Prime Minister of Israel. Netanyahu leads Israel’s right-wing party and has an aggressive stance toward Iran. Farther east, North Korea launched 23 missiles across neighboring airspace, causing South Korea to scramble jets and Japan to issue evacuation alerts in parts of the country. We are living in a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. While the risks of conflict remain low, they seem to be rising. This uncertainty ultimately gets priced into markets, serving as another source of volatility.
China hints at re-opening
This week marked the first signs of re-opening in China. Xi Jinping has been planning to take a third term as China’s leader and has kept the country under extremely tight Covid controls. As the Party Congress, China’s formal ceremony electing him as the leader, has passed, many expect restrictions to be eased. This week we heard of the intention to do so through official channels and indications that China would pursue “mutually beneficial cooperation” with the rest of the world. Being the world’s second largest economy, China is important to everything from the price of goods in the US to global commodity prices. We have long believed that there is a fundamental shift in the relationship between the Eastern and Western worlds, which means many old playbooks in markets will no longer work. | politics |
https://thinktech.stm.com.tr/en/international-relations-and-concept-power | 2024-04-20T12:47:22 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817650.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20240420122043-20240420152043-00283.warc.gz | 0.956411 | 115 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__138120700 | en | Undoubtedly, the phenomenon of power has always changed according to the development of societies and has gained new forms and qualities. The fact that power is a decisive element of politics throughout the history has brought it to the attention of researchers in many disciplines, especially in social sciences. Various studies have been done on the definition of power and changing nature, explanation, determination of properties and even measurement of the concept of power. Within the discipline of International Relations, the issue of power has always been a focal point. This study discusses how power is handled in the context of International Relations discipline. | politics |
http://iamnothamlet.blogspot.com/2016/03/worth-quoting.html | 2018-05-21T10:43:15 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-22/segments/1526794864063.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20180521102758-20180521122758-00191.warc.gz | 0.933523 | 181 | CC-MAIN-2018-22 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-22__0__160209742 | en | From Robert Nisbet's The Quest for Community:
We may regard totalitarianism as a process of the annihilation of individuality, but, in more fundamental terms, it is the annihilation, first, of those social relationships within which individuality develops. It is not the extermination of individuals that is ultimately desired by totalitarian rulers, for individuals in the largest number are needed by the new order. What is desired is the extermination of those social relationships which, by their autonomous existence, must always constitute a barrier to the achievement of the absolute political community.
The individual alone is powerless. Individual will and memory, apart from the reinforcement of associative tradition, are weak and ephemeral. How well totalitarian rulers know this. Even constitutional guarantees and organic laws dim to popular vision when the social and cultural identities of persons become atomized, when the reality of freedom and order in the small areas of society becomes obscure. | politics |
http://healthcareforall.today.com/ | 2016-05-27T10:10:25 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-22/segments/1464049276567.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20160524002116-00042-ip-10-185-217-139.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.933278 | 706 | CC-MAIN-2016-22 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2016-22__0__115968743 | en | KLG & Hoda
Pets & Animals
Healthcare for All
Healthcare for All's Recent Activity
Obama clashes with Fox News's O'Reilly over record
Sun Feb 2, 2014
Pomposity at the Super Bowl puts me in not a good mood. I can't tolerate the rudeness to this president.
Issa stands by claims of al Qaeda-affiliation in Benghazi attacks
Sun Dec 29, 2013
When the focus is on the hatred of an individual, our President, accuracy flies out the window. I've decided that Congress should be re-labeled as mean girls...making up the "truth as we know it" regardless of who gets hurt...in this case the American people. If the mid-term elections don't totally …
NBC/WSJ poll: 60 percent say fire every member of Congress
Thu Oct 10, 2013
Can we impeach Congress? A recall would be a hassle.
Kochs to Congress: Focus on spending, not Obamacare
Wed Oct 9, 2013
So now we know that Congress is bought and paid for by rich special interests. We poor tax paying citizens don't stand a chance. Term limits, limits on political donations or Rome anyone?
Student athletes demand medical coverage
Thu Oct 3, 2013
While I recognize that student athletes are amateurs, and that they get "payment" in the form of education, I think it is bordering on criminal to not provide fair compensation through direct pay or benefits. How many of these young men and women come from families with few if any resources, includi …
Pols vote for national security laws they don't understand. Here's why
Fri Sep 13, 2013
Groupthink? I vote the way others tell me too! Bipartisanship? I vote opposite the way others in the opposing party vote! We get the Congress we deserve...doesn't say much about us, does it? Elections are becoming a popularity contest, bought and paid for...it apparently isn't about intelligent, tho …
First Thoughts: It takes two
Thu May 2, 2013
It never ceases to amaze me that our Congress, elected to do the people's work, has accomplished virtually nothing in an attempt to make a point. I'm not sure what that point is other than to block our duly elected President's agenda, but it appears that the point is that we don't count. This is wor …
Hundreds of teens mob pedestrians on Chicago's Magnificent Mile
Mon Apr 1, 2013
I love Chicago...and used to think it was so much safer than NY City. I guess I'll rethink visiting one of my favorite cities since obviously it is out of control and head to NYC for my plays.
Hillary Clinton hospitalized after doctors discover blood clot
Mon Dec 31, 2012
Prayers for one of the most influential women in my lifetime.
'If you do good, you'll feel good': Ann Curry explains origins of #26Acts of Kindness
Tue Dec 18, 2012
Ann Curry is an inspiration to all of us...her efforts are making good works circle the world with love and generosity! Thank you Ann for making us all better with your reminder to give of ourselves to help others! Love you bunches!
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http://ubclocal1098.com/Module/News/NewsDetail/UBC_Issues_Letter_to_Congress_in_Opposition_to_the_Save_Local_Business_Act?id=3 | 2021-09-25T11:41:21 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-39/segments/1631780057622.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20210925112158-20210925142158-00356.warc.gz | 0.967296 | 186 | CC-MAIN-2021-39 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-39__0__131242714 | en | United Brotherhood of Carpenters' General President Douglas J. McCarron recently sent a letter to Congress, expressing opposition to HR 3441 which is also called the Save Local Business Act. Introduced in July, the bill is meant to clarify the treatment of two or more employers as joint employers under the National Labor Relations Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
"It will provide a safe haven for unscrupulous contractors in the construction industry who use a system of subcontractors to deliberately shield themselves from liability for abusing workers and stealing jobs away from law-abiding businesses, even as they knowingly profit from it," Mr. McCarron wrote. "Despite its name, HR 3441 is a blueprint to violate the law and drive law-abiding employers out of business and make it more difficult for working men and women to reach the middle class. The law needs to protect workers and responsible businesses - not put them in jeopardy." | politics |
https://www.sheikhy.com/HST.ubr | 2020-03-28T21:49:24 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370493120.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20200328194743-20200328224743-00528.warc.gz | 0.968487 | 172 | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-16__0__218916500 | en | Rebate Threshold and Transitional Rules For New Housing
The Province increased the threshold for the BC HST new-housing rebate from $400,000 to $525,000 to ensure that, on average, purchasers of new homes up to $525,000 pay no more tax due to harmonization than was currently embedded as PST.
The Province also has transitional rules for new housing. The provincial portion of the HST does not apply to sales of new homes where ownership or possession is transferred before July 1, 2010.
In addition, sales of new homes under written agreements of purchase and sale entered into on or before November 18, 2009, are generally not subject to the provincial portion of the HST, even if both ownership and possession are transferred on or after July 1, 2010.
Rebate threshold and transitional rules for new housing: | politics |
https://uptownforall.org/ | 2022-01-25T17:45:39 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320304859.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20220125160159-20220125190159-00004.warc.gz | 0.944481 | 236 | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-05__0__243811697 | en | Uptown for ALL
Uptown for All is a voice for the Uptown Community in San Diego, for responsible development and the public facilities needed for livable neighborhoods.
You are in Uptown if you are located in:
Bankers Hill, Hillcrest, Middletown, Mission Hills, University Heights (West of Park Blvd).
Thanks to everyone who voted in the important election at Uptown Planners, the advisory board which makes recommendations on development projects and zoning in the Uptown community.
The group of candidates known as Uptown for All won eight seats on the Uptown Planners.
Our recommended candidates support responsible development which is compatible with neighborhood character & historic preservation.
They will advocate for affordable housing, transportation improvements, bicycle safety, adequate parking, open space and parks.
Quality Neighborhoods, Thriving Businesses!
Uptown For All is here for you!
It’s the future of our community!
Connect with #UptownForAll on social media. | politics |
https://www.energiewendebauen.de/en/research/research-funding/ | 2022-01-24T06:38:30 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320304515.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20220124054039-20220124084039-00434.warc.gz | 0.906404 | 744 | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-05__0__102566909 | en | Research funding in the new 7th Energy Research Programme
With its Energiewende – its energy transition, the German federal government is aiming to transform Germany’s energy provision. Future energy supplies shall be based on highly efficient energy distribution and utilisation as well as energy generation based on renewable energies. This transformation requires considerable technological innovations in almost all areas of the energy system. This is why innovative ideas and concepts shall be systematically promoted in this area.
A decisive challenge for the energy transition is the energy-efficient modernisation of the building sector. This is where about 40 per cent of the final energy is consumed in Germany. Efficiency increases and an improved integration of renewable energies will therefore make a considerable impact here. However, this can only succeed if innovative solutions are developed and brought rapidly to market. A holistic, systemic view of the building and district sector opens up new possibilities here.
As part of the 7th Energy Research Programme, the Federal Government supports projects that contribute to the achievement of the Federal Government's energy policy goals. A central concern is the strengthening of technology and innovation transfer. To this end, real energy system transformation laboratories will be established as a new pillar of energy research. The 7th Energy Research Programme addresses both technology-specific funding priorities and cross-technology cross-sectional topics. This is because the transformation of the energy landscape must be designed to be cross-system and socially inclusive.
The call for proposals for the 7th Energy Research Programme was published on 18 October 2018. The call outlines its strategic goals and details the future requirements for project funding within the scope of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWi) applied non-nuclear energy research. There is a particular focus on technologies that promise significant increases in efficiency, better integration of renewable energy sources, guaranteed energy security, and a quicker transfer of research findings into practice on the market.
Energiewendebauen Research Initiative
A key challenge of energy use research is to investigate and optimize the interaction of technologies in use within a system in buildings and districts. This includes investigations from the perspective of both the consumer and the energy producer. Funding will focus on the guiding principle of energy-optimized and net-zero buildings of the future.
The Federal Government pools its funding for the research, development, and demonstration of energy-efficient buildings and districts within the Energiewendebauen research initiative. This initiative combines the research fields of energy-optimized and net-zero buildings, the energy transition in districts and the supply of heating and cooling, thermal energy storage, and the EnEff.Gebäude.2050 funding initiative all under one roof. Alongside the ongoing calls for proposals and specialist portals, the Energiewendebauen research initiative also covers the Energiewendebauen research network.
Information for applicants
Researchers can continue to apply for ministry funding for their innovative project ideas. Project Management Jülich (PtJ) oversees the implementation of these projects on behalf of the BMWi.
Funding is allocated as part of a two-stage process. The team of researchers first submit an outline of their project idea via easy-Online, the Federal Government’s electronic form system. After a review, the BMWi selects proposals that it deems worthy of funding, for which formal applications can then be made.
Contact persons at PtJ are available to researchers throughout the entire process to provide them with advice on any technical or administrative issues. For all those applying for BMWi funding in the field of applied energy research for the first time, PtJ provides comprehensive information on submitting applications featuring all the important details on this procedure. | politics |
https://houston.org/news/resolution-needed-houston-dreamers-5th-circuit-rules-texas-v-usa | 2023-10-04T04:20:03 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511351.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20231004020329-20231004050329-00479.warc.gz | 0.951788 | 533 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__51585193 | en | Published Oct 06, 2022 by Stephen Reynolds
On October 5, 2022, the United States 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in State of Texas v USA the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program as an overstep in authority by the executive branch but has kept the renewal process open while litigation continues—potentially rising to the United States Supreme Court.
DACA, which was announced on June 15, 2012 by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, granted security and stability to hundreds of thousands of youth who’d been brought to our nation as children. Over the last 10 years, these children—now adults—known as Dreamers benefitted from a renewable, two-year permit protecting them from possible deportation.
In these last ten years, the DACA program has supported more than 800,000 eligible individuals across the United States; Dreamers have enrolled in education, expanded the economy, and enhanced our communities – especially in Texas. The 33,000 DACA recipients in the Houston region as well as the additional tens of thousands of DACA-eligible Houstonians have contributed hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes and possess nearly a billion dollars in spending power . We have become a better, more diverse nation because of Dreamers and Houston’s economy and diversity could suffer as a result of this decision and its implications.
However, for all of the benefits and opportunities provided by the program, DACA has been mired in controversy and confusion since its establishment. Lengthy lawsuits and countless pieces of legislation have been filed to try and create clarity for Dreamers; ultimately, these endeavors have failed in achieving any resolution.
While the future for Dreamers remains uncertain today, opportunity to resolve this issue remains.
Congress should resolve this matter with the passage of sensible solutions to ensure Dreamers continue to contribute to our economy and communities. It is important, now more than ever, for Dreamers to be given permanent protections; the Partnership continues to support Congressional action to achieve these ends.
Houstonians will have the opportunity to submit their vote on several initiatives and local elected positions on the ballot this November, including for City Controller, who will serve as the city's chief financial… | politics |
https://www.unilever.com.sg/news/press-releases/2015/statement-from-peter-ter-kulve.html | 2021-05-07T09:58:48 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-21/segments/1620243988775.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20210507090724-20210507120724-00459.warc.gz | 0.974203 | 331 | CC-MAIN-2021-21 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-21__0__111733541 | en | Statement from Peter Ter Kulve
As at 3.18am this morning, we were informed of the sad passing of the founding father of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew. He was 91.
We share in your grief. As a national leader, former Prime Minister Lee was much loved. He dedicated his life to Singapore, bringing Singapore from third world to first in one generation. Even beyond Singapore’s shores, he leaves a tremendous legacy. As a globally respected statesman, he has had a profound influence across Asia and indeed across the world. Throughout his life, he has been an inspiration and role model to us all.
Unilever and Singapore have had a long and close relationship since 1953, when we opened our first office in Singapore. Due in part to former Prime Minister Lee’s policies, we have grown steadily. Today we have a global hub in Singapore, housing many of our global operations. Unilever is proud and privileged to be a part of the Singapore community and our hearts go out to his family as well as all other Singaporeans during this time of national sadness and grief.
Even as we mourn his loss, we are hopeful that the values and principles of Singapore’s first Prime Minister will continue to serve as a foundation and compass for Singapore. We look forward to continue to work with Singapore and Singaporeans to build on his legacy in the years ahead.
Peter Ter Kulve
Unilever Singapore Pte Ltd
20 Pasir Panjang Road, #06-22
Mapletree Business City
1 800 661 9898
1 800 661 9767 | politics |
http://gigapica.geenstijl.nl/2015/07/ecb_frankfurt_takes_euro_down.html | 2017-02-25T22:37:52 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-09/segments/1487501171900.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20170219104611-00122-ip-10-171-10-108.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.950314 | 163 | CC-MAIN-2017-09 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-09__0__39865184 | en | ECB FRANKFURT TAKES EURO DOWN
Workers take down the stars at the Euro logo in front of the former headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) is seen in Frankfurt am Main, central Germany, on July 6, 2015. All eyes were on the European Central Bank following the resounding 'No' in the Greek referendum, with the ECB seen as the only institution capable of calming market panic and preventing the Greek economy from collapsing.
But more than that, these images form a brilliant metaphore for the current shape of the eurozone monetary union, where political panic, failed ideals, euroscepticism and the preservation of democratic values struggle for the upper hand. The timing could not have been better as Europe wonders: should they even bother putting the stars back up again? | politics |
https://www.21cclc.com/blog/fy2018-federal-spending-bill-includes-1.2-billion-for-afterschool-programs | 2023-02-07T12:05:32 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764500456.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20230207102930-20230207132930-00226.warc.gz | 0.965666 | 152 | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-06__0__8618144 | en | On Friday March 23, 2018 the U.S. Congress passed the $1.3 trillion FY2018 Omnibus Spending Bill in both the House and the Senate and it was signed by the President. This bill will fund the government for the remainder of the current fiscal year (until October 1, 2018). The Government had been operating on its fifth Continuing Resolution (or CR, a temporary government funding bill).
Good news for after school programs! The Title IV, Part B funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC), which Trump proposed for elimination in his budget proposal for this year and next, actually received an increase in funding. The 21CCLC funding levels will increase by $20 million to a total of $1.2 Billion. | politics |
https://internetdenver.org/ | 2021-12-07T08:28:24 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-49/segments/1637964363337.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20211207075308-20211207105308-00018.warc.gz | 0.953169 | 820 | CC-MAIN-2021-49 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-49__0__36492680 | en | Our mission is to ensure that all Denver residents have access to the Internet so that they can participate and thrive in the 21st century.
What are we trying to do?
Long term we are working to make sure that everyone in Denver has Internet at home. In November, we are taking the first step on this. We are voting to opt Denver out of a state law that prevents us from playing an active role in our Internet infrastructure. We aren’t issuing any bonds, spending money, or committing to a plan of action just yet. We’re removing this first barrier to our ultimate goal.
Who are we?
We’re a group of Denver residents who understand that Internet access is a necessity in order to succeed in today’s world. Does that sound like you? Email us at [email protected] to get involved, we can’t do this without you.
Why does this matter to me?
The Internet is big and means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. We want to tell you why this matters to you as specifically as we can. If you don’t see anything on here that feels like it pertains to you, email us at [email protected], and we will add something just for you :)
Why does this matter to me, I:
...have reliable Internet at home that I can afford.
Comcast customers in Centennial saw their speeds double while their prices stayed the same after opting out of Senate Bill 152. Voting YES will create negotiating opportunities for consumers where there currently are none. What if you could pay 50% less on your Internet bill? What if you could get higher speeds at lower prices, with better customer service? This is what we’re hoping to do for you.
...can’t afford Internet access at home.
Voting YES will put us in a better position to negotiate for solid needs-based plans. Opting out of SB 152 puts us in a better bargaining position. We have contracts with Comcast and CenturyLink, agreements that let them operate in our City. Those contracts expire soon and have to be negotiated.
...am a teacher.
Teachers and students without Internet access are set up for failure. Voting YES will put us in a better position to negotiate for solid needs-based plans. With COVID we need to make sure that all students (and also teachers) have strong Internet at home, and that they can afford it. After COVID has passed and we’re all back in school, together again, students will still need Internet access to do their homework and work on projects.
...am a cable cutter.
Voting YES puts us in a stronger negotiating position with Comcast and CenturyLink. We’ve seen SB 152 opt-outs in other counties result in lower prices for Internet access. We have contracts with them that let them operate in this City. When those contracts expire we’ll be in a stronger position to push back on data caps.
...am a healthcare professional or need healthcare services.
Voting YES helps ensure that everyone has Internet access at home so that they can receive the services that they need, and also provide services that others depend on for their well-being. Healthcare practices are moving as much business to telemedicine as possible since the onset of COVID-19. Telemedicine will continue to grow as costs and care become more affordable and effective.
Keep up with Us:
The State of Colorado's Internet
A summary of the Governor’s Broadband Initiatives Report.
Mar 16, 2021
Denver Public Schools Confirm What We Knew All Along
Internet access is DPS' biggest issue.
Apr 17, 2020
Response to Comcast’s Statement in Westword
Private-Public partnerships can still exist after opting out of SB-152. Opting out gives us more options.
Oct 13, 2019 | politics |
http://news-summary.blogspot.com/2010/06/general-kandahar-operation-will-take.html | 2018-06-18T03:26:56 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267860041.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20180618031628-20180618051628-00579.warc.gz | 0.96821 | 691 | CC-MAIN-2018-26 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-26__0__49687985 | en | General: Kandahar operation will take longer
By Craig Whitlock
Copyright by The Washington Post
Thursday, June 10, 2010; 11:00 AM
BRUSSELS -- The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said Thursday that major parts of the military operation to secure Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban movement, would be pushed back because it was taking longer than expected to win local support.
"I don't intend to hurry it," said Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, visiting Brussels for a meeting of NATO leaders. "It will take a number of months for this to play out. But I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. It's more important we get it right than we get it fast."
U.S. and NATO commanders began laying the groundwork this spring for their campaign to gain control of Kandahar, an operation considered crucial to the success of President Obama's strategy for the Afghan war. The military side of the campaign was originally scheduled to surge in June and largely end by August.
But McChrystal said it was taking longer than anticipated to gain the blessing of local tribal leaders -- and Kandaharis in general -- for the operation. He also said commanders needed more time to ensure that Afghan government could step in after the fighting stops and provide effective public services, something that has been lacking in Kandahar for years.
"When you go to protect people, the people have to want you to protect them," McChrystal told reporters. "It's a deliberate process. It takes time to convince people."
The Afghan government is already officially in charge of Kandahar, the country's second-largest city, but its control is extremely tenuous. Taliban leaders and supporters have steadily made a comeback since the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
U.S. and Afghan officials have been trying to negotiate deals with Kandahari leaders before foreign troops enter the city and surrounding province in greater force. The Taliban has responded with an intimidation campaign, assassinating several key leaders and making clear that anyone who cooperates with the foreigners or central government does so at high risk.
McChrystal said the decision to move more slowly in Kandahar was influenced by the experience of U.S. and NATO forces in next-door Helmand province. Led by U.S. Marines, foreign and Afghan troops in February took control of Marja and other districts long held by the Taliban. But the effort to install a functioning Afghan government in the wake of the fighting has stumbled and now the Taliban is trying to reassert itself.
"Some of the lessons we learned in Marja is we did very good coordination with the Afghan people, shuras and whatnot, but then as we did it, we found it even more complex than we thought," McChrystal said. "And so we need to educate ourselves from that and do it even better in Kandahar."
Asked whether he considered the Kandahar delay a setback in the Afgan war, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the NATO secretary general, said the difficulties were actually an indication of progress in the overall war effort.
"I foresee a very tough time in the coming weeks and months, because we are now targeting what I call the Taliban heartland in Helmand and Kandahar," he said at a news conference. "But that's exactly our goal." | politics |
http://joewickman.com/category/history/ | 2013-05-19T21:05:28 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698080772/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095440-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.977407 | 331 | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2013-20__0__96611167 | en | It’s easy to forget that just a few decades ago men and women in America had to endure persecution just to say, “Every man, woman and child should have basic human rights.” It’s mind-boggling to think that, just because of a person’s skin color, many used to be treated as second-class citizens.
Every free person should be reminded that the freedoms we take for granted aren’t necessarily guaranteed. In fact, if you take a brief glance at the history of the world you quickly realize that the free societies we live in today are the exception rather than the rule.
Please take 2 1/2 minutes and watch this excerpt of Dr. King’s speech.
Now consider this:
- This was his final speech. He was assassinated the next day.
- Fortunately, his words about equality came true. Thanks in large part to Dr. King and his fellow workers, America turned a corner in the battle of equal rights.
His words eerily haunt my mind and soul each time I listen to them. I am sure he sensed the looming danger all around him. Death threats were real and persistent. This man had a family that he didn’t want to leave behind. So what kept him going? Our only conclusion could be that he valued freedom and equality more than he valued his own life. Wow.
My question is this:
- What do you believe in so deeply that you would give your life for it?
An even better question is:
- What is worth living a life of sacrifice for? | politics |
https://houston.blac.media/news-features/hot-topics/president-biden-officially-launches-student-loan-debt-forgiveness-application/ | 2024-04-14T12:01:54 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296816879.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20240414095752-20240414125752-00603.warc.gz | 0.958292 | 540 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__105970709 | en | President Joe Biden on Monday officially launched the application for student loan relief, after the test version of the site went live this weekend — a long-awaited first step to fulfilling one of his campaign promises just weeks before the midterm elections.
“Today marks a big step among others that my administration is taking to make education a ticket to the middle class,” Biden said.President Joe Biden
“A new student loan application is now open. If you have federal student debt please visit student aid.gov. It’s easy, simple and fast. And it’s a new day for millions of Americans all across our nation,” he said.
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said after the Monday briefing that over 8 million borrowers have already applied for loan forgiveness through the “beta” — or test — version of the application, launched on Friday.
The rollout is a much-anticipated move to accomplish Biden’s August announcement that individuals with student loans making less that $125,00 can apply for up to $10,000 of debt relief, or as much as $20,000 for eligible borrowers who were also Pell Grant recipients.
“As millions of people fill out the application. We’re going to make sure the system continues to work as smoothly as possible so that we can deliver student loan relief for millions of Americans as quickly and as efficiently as possible,” Biden said on Monday.
“My commitment was, if elected president, I was going to make government work to deliver for the people. This rollout keeps that commitment, just as I’m keeping my commitment to relieve student debt as borrowers recover from this economic crisis caused by the once in a lifetime pandemic.”
The federal student loan forgiveness plan will cost $400 billion over 10 years, according to a revised estimate in late September from the Congressional Budget Office, which is a lower number than from one leading outside estimate.
“In total, more than 40 million Americans can stand to benefit from this relief, and about 90 percent — 90 percent of that relief is going to go people making less than $75,000 a year,” Biden said. “Let me be clear: Not a dime will go to those in the top 5 percent of the income bracket. Period.”
Biden said on Monday that the country is “on track” to reducing the federal deficit by $1 trillion this fiscal year, along with reducing it by another $300 billion over the next ten years because of a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that allows Medicaid to now negotiate drug prices with corporations. | politics |
http://wehub.telangana.gov.in/careers.html | 2018-05-24T07:38:59 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-22/segments/1526794866107.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20180524073324-20180524093324-00093.warc.gz | 0.909727 | 631 | CC-MAIN-2018-22 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-22__0__15862678 | en | ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
The WE-CAN! Fellowship is a year-long program to work with WE HUB, the first-of-its-kind and only State-run platform for Women Entrepreneurs, initiated by the Government of Telangana. WE HUB invites motivated candidates to apply for the position of WE-CAN! Fellow to undertake and produce original policy-oriented research and contribute to the implementation of WE HUB’s agenda of policy creation for enablement of women entrepreneurs and continuance of women in the workforce.
The position is available for a term of one year, renewable for one more year based on performance and funding availability.
The WE-CAN! Fellow is primarily expected to work on policy ideas focused on developing solutions to the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. The implementation of WE HUB’s agenda entails contributing to the design and implementation of a comprehensive strategy devoted to WE HUB's identified focus areas – Government liaisoning, Incubation and Entrepreneur development programs and financial inclusion for the poor, with the objective of creating knowledge products for policy impact. This includes but is not limited to initiating new ideas for Policy enablement, fund operationalization from the said policy, and partnerships; research and analysis on various under-explored/unexplored areas in policies related to women entrepreneurship; assisting in the process of policy creation, approvals, and playing an active role in organizing policy meetings, workshops, roundtables, and other public events. The program also enables the fellows to gain exposure to various stakeholders in the entrepreneurial space.
The incumbent will be based out of the WE HUB’s campus to be set up at Dr. BRAOU, Road No. 46, Jubilee Hills. The fellow will be a part of WE HUB’s core team, reporting directly to the CEO.
WE HUB is the first-of-its-kind and only State-run platform for Women Entrepreneurs initiated by the Government of Telangana. WE HUB’s primary goal is to ensure any women entrepreneur in Telangana and across India gets all the moral, financial, governmental and policy support needed to startup and scale up.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FELLOW
The fellow shall assist WE HUB in
- Operationalizing Government schemes for increased access to funding for Women Entrepreneurs.
- Creation of new policy and strengthening the existing policies to encourage entrepreneurship, women continuance in the workforce. This is achieved by working with Departments within Government of Telangana, Industry partners, Business organizations.
- Partnering with Departments within the GoTS to enable and support women entrepreneurs (Rural and Urban) through the existing framework such as DIPC.
- Creating and maintaining effective liaison with CSRs, Central Government and other prospective funding bodies.
- Managing the official social media handles & PR activities of WE-HUB, for an efficient media and social media outreach.
- Analyzing financial statements, forecasts and funding requirements of the incubatee startups.
This is a paid fellowship. | politics |
https://tl.wikibooks.org/wiki/Wikibooks:Kapihan | 2022-01-27T15:53:39 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320305266.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20220127133107-20220127163107-00364.warc.gz | 0.8984 | 1,012 | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-05__0__239166433 | en | |Maligayang Pagdating sa Kapihan!|
Ang Wikibooks:Kapihan ang puntahang pook ng Pamayanan ng buong Tagalog na Wikibooks na humahawak, tumatalakay, at nagsusulat hinggil sa mga paksang pang-aklat. Ang Kapihan ay isang salitang Tagalog na nangangahulugang isang pook na puntahan ng mga kasapi ng pamayanan upang magkape at mag-usap hinggil sa sari-saring mga bagay-bagay.
Sa Tagalog Wikibooks, ito ang lugar kung saan pinag-uusapan ang lahat ng mga may kaugnayan sa malayang aklatang ito. Malaya kang makapagtatala sa pahina ng usapan ng mga pabatid, katanungan, pagpapahalaga, at iba pang may kaugnayan sa Wikibooks. Maaaring makilahok ang lahat ng nakatalang mga tagagamit ng Wikibooks.
Call for Feedback about the Board of Trustees elections is now open[baguhin]
The Call for Feedback: Board of Trustees elections is now open and will close on 7 February 2022.
With this Call for Feedback, the Movement Strategy and Governance team is taking a different approach. This approach incorporates community feedback from 2021. Instead of leading with proposals, the Call is framed around key questions from the Board of Trustees. The key questions came from the feedback about the 2021 Board of Trustees election. The intention is to inspire collective conversation and collaborative proposal development about these key questions.
There are two confirmed questions that will be asked during this Call for Feedback:
- What is the best way to ensure more diverse representation among elected candidates? The Board of Trustees noted the importance of selecting candidates who represent the full diversity of the Wikimedia movement. The current processes have favored volunteers from North America and Europe.
- What are the expectations for the candidates during the election? Board candidates have traditionally completed applications and answered community questions. How can an election provide appropriate insight into candidates while also appreciating candidates’ status as volunteers?
There is one additional question that may be presented during the Call about selection processes. This question is still under discussion, but the Board wanted to give insight into the confirmed questions as soon as possible. Hopefully if an additional question is going to be asked, it will be ready during the first week of the Call for Feedback.
Movement Strategy and Governance
RamzyM (WMF) 03:12, 11 Enero 2022 (UTC)
Movement Strategy and Governance News #5[baguhin]
Movement Strategy and Governance News
Issue 5, January 2022Read the full newsletter
Welcome to the fifth issue of Movement Strategy and Governance News (formerly known as Universal Code of Conduct News)! This revamped newsletter distributes relevant news and events about the Movement Charter, Universal Code of Conduct, Movement Strategy Implementation grants, Board elections and other relevant MSG topics.
This Newsletter will be distributed quarterly, while more frequent Updates will also be delivered weekly or bi-weekly to subscribers. Please remember to subscribe here if you would like to receive these updates.
RamzyM (WMF) 07:14, 14 Enero 2022 (UTC)
Additional question to the Call for Feedback about the Board of Trustees elections[baguhin]
Dear ESEAP project communities,
I am reaching out to you today about an additional question to the Call for Feedback about Board of Trustees elections that I posted above. The Board has approved an additional question which we seek feedback to:
How should affiliates participate in the elections? Affiliates are an important part of the Wikimedia movement. Two seats of the Board of Trustees due to be filled this year were filled in 2019 through the Affiliate-selected Board seats process. A change in the Bylaws removed the distinction between community and affiliate seats. This leaves the important question: How should affiliates be involved in the selection of new seats?
The Board of Trustees is seeking feedback about this last question especially, although not solely, from the affiliate community. Everyone is invited to share proposals and join the conversation in the Call for Feedback channels. In addition to collecting online feedback, the Movement Strategy and Governance team will organize several video calls with affiliate members to collect feedback. These calls will be at different times and include Trustees.
On behalf of the Movement Strategy and Governance team,
RamzyM (WMF) 03:08, 22 Enero 2022 (UTC) | politics |
https://theartofhoney.com/en/bee-death-policy/ | 2024-04-15T11:46:32 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296816977.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20240415111434-20240415141434-00837.warc.gz | 0.970253 | 298 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__79845238 | en | Bee mortality Politics
In Chile, four beekeepers were arrested after a demonstration demanding government support for their industry.
> The beekeepers had demonstrated in front of the presidential palace in the capital Santiago.
> Seven police officers were stung when they tried to remove the hives set up by the demonstrators, which were blocking a main road.
> The ongoing drought has severely affected beekeeping in Chile, affecting the bees’ food sources such as flowers and crops.
> To lend weight to their cause, the beekeepers set up around 60 hives with about 10,000 bees in front of the palace and prevented the police from breaking up the demonstration.
> One of the demonstrators told journalists that the death of the bee colonies was devastating not only for themselves but for the whole world.
> The demonstrators are demanding government reform to raise honey prices or provide subsidies to honey producers, Reuters news agency reports.
> > Agriculture ministry officials shared the protesters’ concerns about the impact of the drought, adding that they had been assisting 20 communities suffering from severe water shortages for months.
> However, the protest led to some of the bees flying around in the air, which worried passers-by.
> “This is dangerous for people who are allergic because it can lead to death,” a reporter said.
> Bee populations have declined rapidly around the world in recent years due to habitat loss, pollution and the use of pesticides, among other factors. | politics |
https://alliancerm.org/arm-event/dcforum/ | 2020-02-24T08:25:18 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875145910.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20200224071540-20200224101540-00314.warc.gz | 0.918098 | 117 | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-10__0__31732152 | en | About the Event
Join ARM in the nation’s capital for the 2020 Cell & Gene Washington Forum & Fly-In. In addition to a full day of committee meetings and programming, May 19 will culminate with the organization’s 11th Annual Dinner. The following morning, May 20, join 100+ ARM members on Capitol Hill for meetings with key members of Congress and Administration officials to describe the immense near-term potential of advanced therapies and the need for continued legislation that supports the development of these life saving treatments.
Check back soon for updates on the 2020 program! | politics |
http://www.risw.org/events-and-activities.htm?id=80 | 2021-09-19T11:24:06 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-39/segments/1631780056856.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20210919095911-20210919125911-00367.warc.gz | 0.963107 | 1,234 | CC-MAIN-2021-39 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-39__0__31196877 | en | Thu 10th Jan
The women's suffrage movement in Swansea / Y mudiad dros etholfraint i ferched yn Abertawe
Swansea was a centre for radical women campaigning for the right to vote in elections, including Emily Phipps and other members of the Womens’ Freedom League. Ryland Wallace, a leading historian of the suffrage movement in Wales, sheds light on the story.
Bu Abertawe yn ganolfan i ferched radical oedd yn ymgyrchu dros yr hawl i bleidleisio mewn etholiadau, gan gynnwys Emily Phipps ac aelodau eraill o’r Women’s Freedom League. Mae Ryland Wallace, hanesydd blaenllaw o'r mudiad etholfraint yng Nghymru, yn taflu goleuni ar yr hanes.
Thursday 10 January 2019 / Iau 10 Ionawr 2019 7:30pm
In Swansea Museum / Yn Amgueddfa Abertawe
Ryland Wallace, The Women’s Suffrage Movement in Swansea: summary
Andrew Green paid tribute to Avril Rolph who had agreed to give this talk but had sadly died in 2018, and was grateful to the historian of the suffrage movement in Wales, Ryland Wallace, for agreeing to give the lecture.
Then, in what was the most engaging and entertaining introduction to a speaker probably ever given at the RI, Ryland’s attributes as both as distinguished historian and cricketer were extolled.
In what Andrew later described as an ‘absolutely masterly’ presentation, Ryland explained the place of Swansea in the suffrage movement from the 1860s to 1928, concentrating particularly on the decade leading to the partial introduction of female enfranchisement in 1918. The different roles and tactics of the main suffrage organisations in Britain were explained: the non-militant National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), the militant and sometimes violent Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) and the least recognised and perhaps most undervalued, Women’s Freedom League (WFL) which was militant in being prepared to break the law in seeking to achieve ‘Votes for Women’, but remained non-violent. Founded in 1909, the strong WFL Swansea branch of over 100 members became a significant centre of WFL activity while the other two suffrage organisations had little lasting presence. With an agenda that was economic and social, as well as political, the WFL was the main local suffrage organisation as it took to the streets, heckling politicians and engaging in campaigns of civil disobedience, including refusing to pay some taxes or complete the census of 1911.
The actions of the most important local WFL leaders were highlighted, including Emily Phipps, and Clara Neal (both head teachers now recognised with blue plaques), the Australian actor Muriel Matters and Mary McLeod Cleeves. While Matters boldly defaced the census form in defiance, Phipps, Neal and others spent census night in a cave on Gower to avoid being in a registered property. The talk also benefited in hearing of Jennie Ross, a local working class woman, whose papers are held in Swansea Museum, who spent that night, with others, sticking posters to all letter boxes across Swansea.
With WFL dominance, Swansea was not exposed to the violence of the WSPU (and in their attempt to burn down Abergavenny Cricket Club in which Ryland was later prominent , one senses that for him the WSPU may in that instance have strayed too far on the wrong side of history). Other forms of suffrage activity in Swansea included a NUWSS branch coming into being immediately before the Great War which quickly grew to having more than 400 members; a Church League for Women’s Suffrage, which was established in 1913 and a non-conformist Swansea Free Church Suffrage League.
With the outbreak of the Great War, some national WSPU leaders became militaristic, suspended their suffrage activity and supported war aims. The WFL continued to campaign on the suffrage issue. The impact of war probably helped achieve partial suffrage in 1918. All men over 21 were given the vote (as well as men in the forces aged 19 and over), while women over 30 with property were granted the vote. Ryland estimated this left 42% of women – 3 million women aged 21-29 years old and 2 million women disqualified through being without property still disenfranchised. Swansea women continued to be prominent in campaigning for full enfranchisement in the 1920s, though not for a further decade, until 1928, were women put on an equal footing with men.
When the vote was won, in Swansea women held a victory dinner October 1928 for those who had successfully engaged in the struggle for the campaign for ‘Votes for Women’. Notably though, long after the vote had been won, the WFL, with its broader social justice agenda continued its work on other women’s issues into the 1930s.
It is often said it is a privilege to have been present at a lecture. In this case all who were in attendance valued the brilliantly stimulating, detailed and evocative talk, as confirmed by the number and quality of questions asked. Ryland is, in effect, a one-person road show, having already given a tailored talk to Newport. With a bespoke presentation forthcoming in Cardiff, that city too will equally be able to count its good fortune, and I for one will be making the 40 mile journey east to learn of the similarities and differences in what happened there compared with what the sisters in Swansea did for the Cause of ‘Votes for Women’
If you would like to download the slide show for viewing, click here. | politics |
https://discuss.analyticsvidhya.com/t/how-to-predict-the-outcome-of-elections-in-a-multi-party-setup/825 | 2019-02-23T05:21:21 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-09/segments/1550249468313.97/warc/CC-MAIN-20190223041554-20190223063554-00371.warc.gz | 0.948058 | 168 | CC-MAIN-2019-09 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-09__0__127805888 | en | I want to create a model to predict election outcomes in a multi-party elections. I want to do so at each constituency. We have the following variables:
- Outcomes in the constituency for last 5 elections
- Demographics of the candidates who contested the elections from these constituency
- Social media sentiments through twitter
- Relative presence of the candidates on the social media (vs. other candidates from same constituency)
- Share of Voice and some indicators on the spend in the run up to elections
- Average demographics of people in the constituency (e.g. Age, Income, family size)
We want to predict the percent votes received by each of these parties. Since this is not a bi-party system, we can not use Logistic regression.
What should be the right modeling technique to make these predictions? | politics |
http://aci.cvent.com/events/2017-international-conference-on-cyber-conflict-cycon-u-s-/event-summary-004d598d31684f21ac82050a9000369f.aspx | 2017-04-25T16:17:43 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917120694.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031200-00430-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.901681 | 427 | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-17__0__83206983 | en | The 2017 International Conference on Cyber Conflict U.S.
(CyCon U.S.) will take place 7-8 Nov 2017 at the Ronald Reagan Building in
CyCon U.S. is a premier conference on cyber conflict. It provides a venue for fresh ideas, relevant and actionable content, insight into future trends, and access to industry, government, and military leaders, cyber innovators, and pioneers in the discipline. The conference promotes multidisciplinary cyber initiatives and furthers research and cooperation on cyber threats and opportunities.
CyCon U.S. is a collaborative effort between the Army Cyber Institute at the United States Military Academy and the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. CyCon U.S. complements the CyCon Conference held every spring in Estonia.
CyCon U.S. 2017 Theme: The Future of Cyber Conflict
Cyberspace has emerged as the fifth domain of conflict that permeates the other four domains of land, sea, air, and space. Cyberspace dramatically impacts opportunities, provocations, and threats between allies, adversaries, competitors, and industry. Cyber redefines social normative behaviors in our societies and challenges current paradigms of conflict. The ubiquitous nature of cyberspace combined with emerging technologies and scientific breakthroughs such as quantum computing, machine learning, Big Data, and robotics greatly expands battlespace and even redefines the concepts of war and peace. CyCon U.S. will explore The Future of Cyber Conflict across a spectrum of technical, legal, political, military, and economic positions and research.
CyCon U.S. seeks technical, legal, political, military, and economic positions and research related to The Future of Cyber Conflict in the areas of:
CyCon U.S. is jointly organized by the Army Cyber Institute at the United States Military Academy and the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn, Estonia.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by authors and speakers presenting at the conference are not those of the United States Military Academy, the Department of the Army, or any other agency of the U.S. Government. | politics |
https://tidyco.ir/press-announcements-home-passes-pressley-bill-to/ | 2021-05-10T07:23:39 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-21/segments/1620243989115.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20210510064318-20210510094318-00629.warc.gz | 0.960325 | 1,224 | CC-MAIN-2021-21 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-21__0__174819052 | en | Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3621, the Comprehensive credit scoring Enhancement, Disclosure, Innovation, and Transparency Act of 2020 (“Comprehensive CREDIT Act”), legislation sponsored by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), by a vote of 221 to 189.
H.R. 3621 would overhaul the credit system that is reporting empowering customers with increased control over their information and needing customer reporting agencies (CRAs) like Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian, to raised make sure the data on credit rating reports is accurate and complete.
See below for Chairwoman Waters’ floor statement regarding the bill.
As Ready for Distribution
Mr. Chairman, we increase today in strong help of H.R. 3621, the Comprehensive credit scoring Enhancement, Disclosure, Innovation, and Transparency Act, legislation sponsored by Representative Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts. This package of bills develops upon reforms that people in the Financial solutions Committee happen developing for many Congresses.
Mr. Chairman, credit rating is unlike any kind of company. Individuals are perhaps not customers of credit rating agencies—they would be the item. Credit scoring agencies package up consumers’ information to sell to loan providers, companies along with other companies.
Regrettably, our bodies of credit reporting is poorly broken, and customers have actually small recourse. It really is typical for credit history to be full of unacceptable mistakes which can be problematic for customers to fix. A Federal Trade Commission (FTC) research discovered that 1 in 5 customers have actually verified mistakes within their credit file, and 1 in 20 consumers have actually errors therefore severe they will be rejected credit or need certainly to spend more for this. What this means is about 42 million customers have actually mistakes inside their credit file, and 10 million have errors that may be life changing.
Individuals are frustrated with all the present system. In 2018, the customer Financial Protection Bureau received 126,300 customer complaints on credit rating, that was significantly more than one-third of most complaints submitted. The buyer Bureau received more complaints about credit rating than some other problem.
This legislative package makes critical reforms to assist customers by addressing issues with the credit system that is reporting.
The legislation includes H.R. 3642, the Improving Credit Reporting for All customers Act, a bill sponsored by Representative Alma Adams, which would address burdens consumers experience when wanting to eliminate mistakes from their customer reports, including by giving a brand new directly to appeal the outcomes of initial reviews concerning the precision or completeness of disputed products in the report.
The package also incorporates H.R. 3622, the Restoring Unfairly Impaired Credit and Protecting Consumers Act, a bill sponsored by Representative Rashida Tlaib. This the main bill would restrict the length of time negative credit information remains on customer reports, and it also would protect customer victims by detatching unfavorable information relating to predatory, discriminatory or perhaps unlawful loans produced by a lender. It might additionally prohibit reporting financial obligation associated with medically-necessary procedures and postpone reporting by a year for any other debt that is medical.
In addition, the package includes H.R. 3614, the Restricting utilization of Credit Checks for Employment Decisions Act, a bill sponsored by Representative Al Lawson. This the main bill would prohibit employers from making use of credit history for work choices, except whenever a credit report is otherwise needed to conduct a history check by Federal, state or neighborhood legislation or even for a security clearance that is national.
H.R. 3621, the scholar Borrower Credit Improvement Act, a bill sponsored by Representative Pressley, normally contained in the legislation. This area of the bill would assist pupil borrowers and also require been delinquent on having to pay their personal figuratively speaking to fix their credit when they prove a past reputation for prompt loan repayments of these loans, comparable to how a credit history of borrowers with Federal student education loans could be rehabilitated.
Another measure that is key in this package is H.R. 3629, the Clarity in credit rating development Act sponsored by Representative Stephen Lynch. This legislation would direct the CFPB to supply oversight and set requirements for validating the precision and predictive worth of credit scoring models, and it also would market innovation by needing a research how the usage non-traditional information might affect the access and affordability of credit for customers with restricted or no old-fashioned credit records.
Finally, the package includes H.R. 3618, the Free Credit Scores for Consumers Act sponsored by Representative Joyce Beatty, which may direct the nationwide CRAs to offer customers free copies of the fico scores which are employed by creditors to make credit decisions, as dependant on the CFPB, whenever customers get their free consumer that is annual. payday loans list phone number
I will be happy that this bill also incorporates a supply that i’ve labored on with a variety of other members that excludes from credit reports any adverse information about an employee that is federal other individuals who are influenced by a federal government shutdown.
We urge all Members to help these commonsense reforms to enhance the nation’s customer reporting system and advantage hardworking American customers
Chairwoman Waters and Committee Democrats been employed by tirelessly on solutions to repair the nation’s broken credit rating system.
In July 2019, the Committee passed critical legislation to reform credit rating, credit ratings in addition to credit rating agencies.
In February 2019, Chairwoman Waters convened a complete committee hearing entitled, “who is Keeping rating? Holding Credit reporting agencies Accountable and fixing A broken System, ” with all the ceos of Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
In October 2017, Committee Democrats, led by then-Ranking Member Waters, convened a minority time hearing on ensuring the integrity of y our country’s customer reporting system and safeguarding customer information. The CEOs of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion each declined Waters’ invite to testify. | politics |
https://www.fisheries.gov.bb/looking-back-before-moving-forward-learning-from-history-to-develop-aquaculture-in-barbados/ | 2024-03-02T04:13:26 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475727.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20240302020802-20240302050802-00468.warc.gz | 0.921068 | 438 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__75199323 | en | Authors: Christopher Parker and Colvin Taylor
To meet local demands, Barbados currently imports much more fish and fish products than it produces. In recent years this disparity has been worsened by the significant reduction in catches of flyingfish and dolphinfish resulting from the mass influxes of Sargassum spp. into traditional fishing grounds. Against this background, the Barbados Fisheries Policy (BFP) 2023-2033 requires Government to support the contribution of sustainable aquaculture to economic growth, food security and income diversification. At this juncture, it is prudent to critically review and assess the island’s past aquaculture and mariculture ventures with the objective of applying any lessons learnt to the formulation of sound policies and plans for the development and management of viable and sustainable aquaculture and mariculture in Barbados. This is the main objective of this paper.
Scarcity of available land and water resources significantly limits opportunities for large-scale, land-based aquaculture ventures in Barbados. As such, the island’s few commercial-scale ventures have necessarily tilized Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS). However, most of these businesses have not been sustainably profitable for various reasons, with most not progressing beyond the pilot-phase. Small-scale “backyard” ventures often rearing primarily Tilapia in small tanks as well as in aquaponics arrays, have emerged as the predominant forms of aquaculture on the island. Options for mariculture are also constrained by the island’s densely populated land area, and limited and crowded coastline. It is emphasized that it is the duty of government through cogent legislation to ensure that all aquaculture and mariculture ventures are financially sustainable and redound to the benefit of Barbados without damaging the environment. To this end, a new policy framework for aquaculture and mariculture and regulations were approved by Cabinet on 9th June 2023. Regular consultations with stakeholder experts is necessary for implementation and to chart the way forward for the sector.
KEYWORDS: Barbados, aquaculture, mariculture, history, lessons learnt | politics |
http://www.zentrum-mehrsprachigkeit.ch/en/content/merging-communes | 2021-04-17T02:42:31 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-17/segments/1618038098638.52/warc/CC-MAIN-20210417011815-20210417041815-00633.warc.gz | 0.931336 | 265 | CC-MAIN-2021-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-17__0__145798948 | en | Merging of communes at the language borders in Graubünden and the consequences for (minority) languages
PhD project supervisors: Prof. Alexandre Duchêne, Prof. em. Georges Darms, University of Fribourg
The focus of the PhD project is placed on linguistic and cultural discourses which come to light in the course of merging communes in the Canton of Graubünden. The reform of political structures is currently a major topic on the political agenda, and the issues of language and culture are particularly sensitive at the language borders in Graubünden. Merging communes can create new linguistic compositions in an area, which has major implications for the official languages and the languages spoken at school, and results in fears within language minorities that their language may become marginalised or even replaced. This study aims to shed light on the conditions under which language becomes a factor in merging processes and how this phenomenon is manifested. The thesis further explores reasons for language becoming a factor, and examines how the structural reforms influence the affected languages and their speakers.
By means of a historiographic approach and institutional ethnography, the project aims to compile information on current debates on language and language practices, on the political developments, and on tensions between the language groups. | politics |
https://www.lumen.global/ | 2020-10-22T01:50:48 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-45/segments/1603107878662.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20201021235030-20201022025030-00388.warc.gz | 0.958837 | 117 | CC-MAIN-2020-45 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-45__0__200925955 | en | Martyn Williams is a long-time North Korea watcher and expert in North Korea's use of technology. He runs the North Korea Tech website and is based in San Francisco.
Jieun is leading the LUMEN team in their impassioned efforts to bring information into North Korea. She authored "North Korea's Hidden Revolution: How the Information Underground is Transforming a Closed Society," and is a PhD candidate at Oxford University. She received her Bachelors and Masters in Public Policy at Harvard.
For security purposes, the rest of the team will remain anonymous. | politics |
https://mayflowerpromise.com/ | 2022-08-16T23:06:56 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572581.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20220816211628-20220817001628-00209.warc.gz | 0.941732 | 649 | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-33__0__123326577 | en | On November 11th in 1620, exactly 400 years ago, the Pilgrims arrived on the American continent with the hope and promise of a new life of liberty and religious freedom.
In celebration of that momentous event, we invite you to attend the Mayflower Promise: 2020, a digital conference celebrating the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival in America and our heritage of religious freedom. As part of the celebration, we invite Americans from all faith traditions and backgrounds to submit videos sharing why religious freedom is important to them which will be released each day of the conference from November 11-25.
We hope you will join us in what will be an inspiring celebration of that pivotal event in human history and a memorable gathering in the defense of religious freedom.
After learning about the Pilgrims’ desire to establish a society based on the opportunity to worship God freely, please consider sharing your uplifting thoughts about the positive influence of religion in America. By using our hashtags, your video will be reviewed by our team and considered for use during our conference. It may also be included in our playlists and re-shared by our channels.
Use this form to invite others to participate. The form will send a pre-written invitation and provide you the opportunity to share some personal comments. Feel free to send a message to yourself to see the draft!
400 years ago, 102 English puritans set sail from Holland on their way to the New World. On November 11th, 1620 they dropped anchor near the tip of Cape Cod and began the process of establishing this land as a land of liberty with the Promise of religious freedom at its core. This Promise did not die with the pilgrims, but was reaffirmed by the Founding Fathers of the United States. Thomas Paine recognized that “Spiritual freedom is the root of political liberty” (Thoughts on Defensive War, 1775) and James Madison, the chief architect of the Constitution, said, “Conscience is the most sacred of all property…more sacred than his castle [home]” (“Property” James Madison, National Gazette, March 29, 1792).
A firm belief in the sacred right of conscience and right of free exercise of religion, being guaranteed in the first amendment to the United States Constitution, has inspired thousands to flee the Old World in search of a better life with religious freedom. While not always perfectly upheld, this Promise has held together the fabric of America. Today, as many question the relevance of religious freedom in a 21st-century pluralistic, secular society, the Promise is in jeopardy. Americans and people of faith must ensure that the Mayflower Promise is kept today.
This conference celebrates those courageous pilgrims’ arrival 400 years ago and the heritage of religious freedom that they, and those that came after them, left us. Throughout the course of this conference, attendees will hear Americans of all faiths and backgrounds share why religious freedom is important today, and speakers highlighting the challenges facing religious freedom and the need for people of faith to unite in its defense.
Join us as we remember the priceless heritage of religious freedom and help ensure that the Mayflower Promise is kept. | politics |
https://myinquisitor.in/farm-bill-2020-complete-explanation/ | 2021-07-26T05:54:20 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-31/segments/1627046152000.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20210726031942-20210726061942-00641.warc.gz | 0.896214 | 1,209 | CC-MAIN-2021-31 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-31__0__129363931 | en | Complete Farm Bill 2020 explanation in a very easy way.
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What Are The Three Bills?
- The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, seeks to give freedom to farmers to sell their produce outside the notified APMC market yards (mandis). The government says this is aimed at facilitating remunerative prices through competitive alternative trading channels.
- The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, seeks to give farmers the right to enter into a contract with agribusiness firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters, or large retailers for the sale of future farming produce at a pre-agreed price.
- The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, seeks to remove commodities like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, onion, and potato from the list of essential commodities and will do away with the imposition of stock holding limits.
Bill on Agri market
The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020,
- To create an ecosystem where farmers and traders enjoy the freedom to sell and purchase farm produce outside registered ‘mandis’ under states’ APMCs.
- To promote barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade of farmers’ produce.
- To reduce marketing/transportation costs and help farmers in getting better prices.
- To provide a facilitative framework for electronic trading.
- States will lose revenue as they won’t be able to collect ‘mandi fees’ if farmers sell their produce outside registered APMC markets.
- What happens to ‘commission agents’ in states if entire farm trade moves out of mandis?
- It may eventually end the MSP-based procurement system.
- Electronic trading like in e-NAM uses physical ‘mandi’ structure. What will happen to e-NAM if ‘mandis’ are destroyed in absence of trading?
2. Bill on contract farming
The Farmer (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020
- Farmers can enter into a contract with agribusiness firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters or large retailers for sale of future farming produce at a pre-agreed price.
- Marginal and small farmers, with land less than five hectare to gain via aggregation and contract (Marginal and small farmers account for 86% of total farmers in India).
- To transfer the risk of market unpredictability from farmers to sponsors.
- To enable farmers to access modern tech and get better inputs.
- To reduce cost of marketing and boost farmer’s income.
- Farmers can engage in direct marketing by eliminating intermediaries for full price realisation.
- Effective dispute resolution mechanism with redressal timelines.
- Farmers in contract farming arrangements will be the weaker players in terms of their ability to negotiate what they need.
- The sponsors may not like to deal with a multitude of small and marginal farmers.
- Being big private companies, exporters, wholesalers and processors, the sponsors will have an edge in disputes.
3. Bill relating to commodities
The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020
- To remove commodities like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, onion and potatoes from the list of essential commodities. It will do away with the imposition of stockholding limits on such items except under “extraordinary circumstances” like war.
- This provision will attract private sector/FDI into farm sector as it will remove fears of private investors of excessive regulatory interference in business operations.
- To bring investment for farm infrastructure like cold storages, and modernising food supply chain.
- To help both farmers and consumers by bringing in price stability.
- To create competitive market environment and cut wastage of farm produce.
- Price limits for “extraordinary circumstances” are so high that they are likely to be never triggered.
- Big companies will have the freedom to stock commodities- it means they will dictate terms to farmers which may lead to less prices for the cultivators.
- Recent decision on export ban on onion creates doubt on its implementation.
Here is what we must know about the Farm Bill 2020 passed in the Upper and Lower House of Parliament.
- The Farm Bill envisages providing farmers an alternative platform to sell. Since it will be outside the APMC Mandi, the transactions in such “trade areas” will not be charged APMC market fee or cess.
- The APMCs will not stop functioning but will now have to compete with these alternate platforms since farmers will have a choice. It is like allowing private competition in banking, insurance or telecom.
- The Farm Bill does not envisage discontinuation of the current MSP-based procurement of food grains. The modalities of how the mandi purchase will co-exist with alternate platforms remains to be seen.
- This bill gives the farmer the power to sell directly to the corporate or exporter buying in bulk from the farm gate and can enter into forward contracts too. Even the barriers on inter-state sale are removed.
- In 2019-20, government agencies procured 201 lakh tons of wheat and 227 lakh tons of paddy at MSP from Punjab and Haryana worth Rs80,300cr through commission agents (Arhatiyas). These Arhatiyas will lose their 2.5% commission and interest on loans. | politics |
https://endtimeheadlines.wordpress.com/2014/01/14/new-iran-agreement-includes-secret-side-deal-tehran-official-says/ | 2017-05-28T18:39:44 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-22/segments/1495463610374.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20170528181608-20170528201608-00473.warc.gz | 0.9629 | 425 | CC-MAIN-2017-22 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-22__0__180396431 | en | Key elements of a new nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers are contained in an informal, 30-page text not yet publicly acknowledged by Western officials, Iran’s chief negotiator said Monday. Abbas Araqchi disclosed the existence of the document in a Persian-language interview with the semiofficial Iranian Students News Agency. The new agreement, announced over the weekend, sets out a timetable for how Iran and the six nations, led by the United States, will implement a deal reached in November that is aimed at restraining Iran’s nuclear ambitions. When officials from Iran and the world powers announced that they had completed the implementing agreement, they didn’t release the text of the deal, nor did they acknowledge the existence of an informal addendum. In the interview, Araqchi referred to the side agreement using the English word “nonpaper,” a diplomatic term used for an informal side agreement that doesn’t have to be disclosed publicly.
The nonpaper deals with such important details as the operation of a joint commission to oversee how the deal is implemented and Iran’s right to continue nuclear research and development during the next several months, he said. Araqchi described the joint commission as an influential body that will have authority to decide disputes. U.S. officials have described it as a discussion forum rather than a venue for arbitrating major disputes. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Monday that the text of the implementing agreement would be released to lawmakers. He said the six parties were weighing how much of the text they could release publicly. Asked late Monday about the existence of the informal nonpaper, White House officials referred the question to the State Department. A State Department comment wasn’t immediately available. Ray Takeyh, an Iran specialist at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Iran and the other six countries may have written the nonpaper to record understandings that they didn’t want to release publicly. The governments may plan to release “just a short text, with broad principles and broad strokes,” Takeyh said. More | politics |
http://150.illinois.edu/conference/Humanities_and_Public_Life.html | 2018-02-18T08:44:03 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-09/segments/1518891811795.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20180218081112-20180218101112-00293.warc.gz | 0.939744 | 133 | CC-MAIN-2018-09 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-09__0__53315491 | en | A democracy, John Dewey wrote, "is more than a form of government; it is primarily a mode of associated living, of conjoint communicated experience." Perhaps then, the key institutions in a democratic society are not governmental but educational. At the heart of a democracy are practices and institutions that work to support communicative relations, and to cultivate in the citizenry the dispositions needed to participate in the conversation that is democracy. And within educational institutions, it is the arts and humanities that have consistently devoted themselves to addressing the plight of the public by cultivating the arts of conversation and the rigors of self-knowledge.
- Australian Catholic University
- Harvard University | politics |
https://2018.apvrs.org/2018/07/12/apvrs-2018-abstract-awards-at-apvrs-2018/ | 2023-12-05T09:03:28 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100550.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20231205073336-20231205103336-00264.warc.gz | 0.954635 | 117 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__223347459 | en | The APVRS Congress will present awards for the best abstracts in several different categories at APVRS 2018, as outlined below.
- Free Papers (5 awards)
- Posters (3 awards)
- E-Posters (3 awards)
- Videos (3 awards)
All winning authors will be recognized in the APVRS final program book and receive complimentary tickets to the Congress Party on Saturday, December 15, 2018, where they will be presented with their award certificate. All winners must attend the Congress Party or nominate a representative to accept their award. | politics |
https://www.ss.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/11_000001_00174.html | 2022-08-13T18:27:36 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571982.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813172349-20220813202349-00373.warc.gz | 0.932522 | 1,403 | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-33__0__84506631 | en | The Handing-over Ceremony of Freedom Bridge (19 May 2022)
On 19 May, Japan and South Sudan together celebrated the opening of Freedom Bridge. The Handing-over Ceremony of Freedom Bridge was attended by H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit and other dignitaries of South Sudan. From Japan, Ambassador TSUTSUMI Naohiro, Dr TANAKA Akihiko, JICA President, Mr MISHINA Takahiro, President of CTI Engineering International, and Mr BABA Yoshio, President of Dai Nippon Construction participated in the ceremony.
Full Text of Speech by Ambassador TSUTSUMI Naohiro
His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan,
His Excellency Dr. Riek Machar Teny, First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan,
His Excellency Taban Deng Gai, Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan,
His Excellency Dr. James Wani Igga, Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan,
Honourable Simon Mijok Mijak, Minister of Roads and Bridges of the Republic of South Sudan,
Honourable Emmanuel Adil Anthony, Governor of Central Equatoria State,
Right Honourable Raila Amollo Odinga, African Union Representative for Infrastructure Development and Former Prime Minister of Kenya,
Dr. TANAKA Akihiko, President, Japan International Cooperation Agency,
Mr MISHINA Takahiro, President, and CEO, CTI Engineering International Company Limited,
Mr BABA Yoshio, President, Representative Director, Dai Nippon Construction,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As-salaam Alaykum, good morning! It is my greatest pleasure to join you all today to celebrate the handing-over of Freedom Bridge.
First and foremost, I would like to praise the construction team of JICA, CTI Engineering and Dai Nippon Construction, composed of Japanese, South Sudanese as well as people from the third countries. They did complete this huge bridge. During the construction, they fully demonstrated the top-notch skills, professionalism, and self-sacrifice. They shared such skills with many South Sudanese engineers and technicians, too. As Ambassador of Japan, I am immensely proud of you.
I would also like to extend sincere appreciation to His Excellency President Kiir, the attending dignitaries, and the Government of South Sudan for giving the construction team necessary supports to overcome many difficulties having faced them.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Japan has been enthusiastically assisting South Sudan for peace and nation building since its independence through from UNMISS (United Nations Mission in South Sudan), development projects to humanitarian assistances with more than 700 million US dollars and more than 4,000 Japanese nationals' involvement.
Taking this occasion, let me share my thought on one basic question: why does Japan help South Sudan?
There are five causes and motivations or, in other words, legitimate interests of Japan for doing so.
Firstly, helping South Sudan is perfectly in line with Japan’s foreign policy, “Proactive Contribution to the Global Peace”. Under the policy, Japan is always willing to help a peace building effort on the globe however it is far from Japan. Why? It is because such peace building is an indispensable component of the global peace on which Japan’s peace and security depends. The Japanese assistance to the peace building and nation building in South Sudan is embodying the Proactive Contribution to the Global Peace.
Secondly, Japan attaches great importance to the realisation of “Human Security” across the globe. This Human Security is the concept that every single human being should be entitled to live a safe and dignified life and should be allowed to develop his / her potentials to the maximum extent possible. Japan believes that Human Security should be guaranteed for South Sudanese people who have long suffered civil wars. To Japan, I believe, the contribution to the realisation of Human Security in South Sudan would add a glorious page to Japan’s History, too.
Thirdly, Japan needs stability in East Africa. To Japan, East Africa is the gateway to the African Continent. South Sudan’s peace and stability interrelates with that of East Africa. Japan expects that South Sudan will remain a stabilising factor in the region.
Fourthly, Japan wants to strengthen the cooperation with South Sudan in addressing global issues such as the rules-based international order, the UN reform, environment, etc. Until now, the bilateral cooperation is in a great shape. South Sudan extends support to many Japan’s candidacies in international elections. Japan highly appreciates South Sudan’s supporting of the UN General Assembly resolution of 24 March 2022 on improvement of the humanitarian situation of civilians in Ukraine under the Russian invasion. Japan hopes to continuously work with South Sudan in protecting universal values underpinning the global peace, security, and prosperity, including the rules-based international order.
And fifthly, Japan expects more active bilateral exchanges. I hear South Sudanese honey is popular among health conscious Japanese for its purity and naturalness. Maebashi City, north of Tokyo, hosted South Sudan national Olympic team for more than a year in preparation for TOKYO Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is a good example of grass-roots exchange. We hope to see more of them in the future.
These five causes and motivations and the achievements out of them show us that our bilateral relationship has not been unilateral, but mutually beneficial, and will be so.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Japan highly commends the recent progress made in the implementation of the R-ARCSS including agreements pertaining to the formation of the unified forces. This demonstrates the unwavering leadership of the South Sudanese government to build a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic nation of South Sudan.
I reassure you, South Sudanese friends, that Japan will be continuously standing by you and assisting you as long as your self-help effort for durable peace and nation building continues. And Japan hopes to further strengthen the bilateral relations which would be even more mutually beneficial than ever.
Lastly but not least, dear South Sudanese friends, now Freedom Bridge is in your hands. Please take good care of it. This bridge will work very hard for you, laying itself down for you as “Bridge Over the Troubled Water,” for the development of this country, for the welfare and happiness of the South Sudanese people. And I am sure, Freedom Bridge will stand as the symbol of “true friendship” between Japan and South Sudan for many generations to come.
Shukuran Jazeelan! Thank you very much. | politics |
https://www.sawasdeeusa.com/190-years-of-thai-us-relations-opportunities-and-challenges/ | 2024-03-02T19:57:45 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947475897.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20240302184020-20240302214020-00136.warc.gz | 0.947781 | 1,181 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__30530203 | en | Thailand is known to Americans for food, culture, and as a popular tourist destination attracting over a million Americans before the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet perhaps few are aware that Thailand is the oldest treaty ally of the US in Asia, and this year both countries celebrate 190 years of diplomatic relations, one of the longest the US has with any country. On March 20, 2023 the Asia Foundation and Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C. co-hosted a conference marking this occasion with distinguished guests including Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) who spoke of how she will be, “forever proud” to call herself a
Thai-American, and how the alliance provides a “sense of security” in a future
of unpredictability. The seminar provided an opportunity for both an analytical survey and a glimpse into the future of Thai-US diplomatic, economic, cultural, and security ties. This year, Thailand and the US turn the corner, and people in both nations have the opportunity to reflect on this shared past and envision the future of the alliance.
The two nations have long collaborated as amicable friends, beginning with the Treaty of Amity and Commerce in 1833. The US was one of the powers that Thailand leveraged against colonial powers. The two countries also collaborated during and after World War II. Later, military cooperation was established through defense pacts. These promises were upheld throughout the Cold War. Thailand became the domino that did not fall and escaped major regional conflicts. When terrorism emerged as a global threat, the two countries supported one another. Security cooperation continues today with many programs, including the annual Cobra Gold joint military exercise and humanitarian response drills, Hanuman Guardian, and Cope Tiger.
Exemplifying prospects for the future, on the economic side, Thailand-US trade is already stronger than ever, with over $74 billion in volume in 2022, a 23.48% increase from the year prior. Thailand is also positioning itself to be an advanced hi-tech and digital economy with reliable supply chains. It is already in the top 10 of global automotive production hubs and has one of the largest EV markets in the region. The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), an exclusive specialized development zone of Thailand, has attracted significant investment from the US and other investors, and it will prove to be a stellar opportunity for US corporations to strengthen their processing and distribution networks. Conversely, Thailand has invested more than $10 billion in the US, ranging from renewable energy, plastics, petrochemicals, food and beverages, software and IT services, and auto components, creating jobs for more than 60,000 Americans, across 27 states.
The alliance has provided a solid base for current and future partnerships. Last year, Thailand and the US signed two landmark documents: the Communiqué on Strategic Alliance and Partnership and the MOU on Promoting Supply Chain Resilience. Both sides are intensifying cooperation in areas including defense and weapons procurement, energy and food security, and the digital economy and related supply chains. This year and beyond is the time to translate the aspirations stipulated into concrete progress. As the US hosts the eight APEC ministerial meetings this year, both Thailand and the US should find considerable interest in also having bilateral visits or discussions to enhance cooperation after the APEC ministerial meetings, while both countries expect to hold the 2+2 Strategic Dialogue and key high-level bilateral engagements.
The alliance should also be expanded to encompass and strengthen other areas of cooperation, such as the creative economy and innovation, science and technology, telecommunications, space technology, education, particularly STEAM, and the environment, among others. The Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C., has founded the Global Innovation Club to forge collaboration between startups, venture capitalists, and related entities of the two countries.
Both nations can also join forces in advancing innovation to advance sustainability. With a strong EV support policy, battery manufacturing and charging innovation, and robust domestic demand, Thailand looks forward to working with US companies to promote investment in EVs. The official launch of Tesla sales in Thailand last year received more than 7,800 bookings in one month’s time, the second-highest number in the region.
Beyond bilateral relations and cooperation, Thailand is also well-positioned to support sustainable development in the Mekong sub-region through a trilateral forum or multilateral frameworks such as the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) and the Mekong-US Partnership (MUSP). Thailand has focused on education, health care, and agriculture in development partnerships with Mekong sub-regional neighbors and other partners, but these efforts can be further strengthened with the U.S. in areas of the latter’s strengths such as renewable energy, cyber, and food security, to name a few.
Looking beyond mainland Southeast Asia, in an increasingly uncertain world with threats of climate change and natural or man-made disasters, Thailand can leverage its alliance with the US in regional and global humanitarian assistance by providing support in times of crisis in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Thailand has done this well, such as in peacekeeping operations and development in Timor-Leste and in tsunami response efforts in southern Thailand and across the region.
While recent global events and supply chain disruptions are emblematic of continued unsettling events and hardship that people around the world may face, Thailand and the US must, therefore, work together with friends around the globe to address any possible threats in the most efficient way. The two sides should also elevate bilateral relations and the alliance in key areas from defense to trade, investment to the digital economy, as well as people-to-people ties, while at the same time together, addressing regional and global challenges. | politics |
http://www.italoeuropeo.com/2009/01/07/russia-ukraine-gas-supply-dispute-meps-to-meet-gazprom-and-naftogaz/ | 2023-12-04T00:04:54 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100518.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203225036-20231204015036-00061.warc.gz | 0.887657 | 245 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__53988405 | en | The Foreign Affairs Committee will hold an extraordinary meeting on the current Ukraine-Russia gas supply dispute on Thursday 8 January with Aleksey Miller, Gazprom Chair, and Igor Didenko, First Deputy Chair of Naftogaz, the Ukrainian gas company.
The meeting takes place at 1100-1230 Room ASP 5 G 3.
Parliamentarians from Russia and Ukraine and Ukrainian ministers will also take part: the other Russian participants are Konstantin Kosachev, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian Duma and Juri Lipatov, Chair of the Duma’s Energy Committee. Ukraine will be represented by Hryhoriy Nemyria, Deputy Prime Minister, Yuriy Progan, Minister of Energy, and Borys Tarasyuk, Chair of European Integration Committee of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament).
This meeting is jointly organised with the European Parliament’s Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, chaired by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (EPP-ED, NL) and the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, chaired by Adrian Severin (PES, RO). | politics |
https://offcourseocadu.com/Chaos-in-Power | 2019-12-15T16:50:22 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-51/segments/1575541308604.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20191215145836-20191215173836-00338.warc.gz | 0.953242 | 130 | CC-MAIN-2019-51 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-51__0__49060906 | en | Chaos in Power
The practice of graphic design is, at its core, an act of communication; of transmitting ideas and shaping our view of the world. As such it is inextricably linked to institutions of power and the dominant ideologies of a time and place.
This project is a series of collages using imagery from the 1953 coup d’etat, carried out against the democratically elected government of Iran by Britain and the United States. The intention is to communicate the chaos and ensuing anger felt by many Iranians towards Western imperialism which continues to shape the often fraught relationship between Iran and the West today.
Photography: Nicole Torres | politics |
http://absoluteconsulting.com/news/2014/apr/court-of-appeals-upholds-mats-ruling.aspx?feed=news | 2019-05-27T01:08:35 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232260358.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20190527005538-20190527031538-00061.warc.gz | 0.871245 | 269 | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-22__0__22424250 | en | On April 15, the U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) finalized Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). These key standards, originally published in February of 2012, dictate emission standards for many hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) typically emitted by power plants utilizing coal and oil as fuel sources.
The high-profile case, White Stallion Energy Center, LLC v. EPA, targeted a number of petitions against MATS, including the EPA’s use of the “appropriate and necessary” provision and lack of consideration for costs. The federal court determined that the EPA lawfully utilized Section 112(n)(1)(A) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), which states the EPA may regulate generating units if the standards are “appropriate and necessary” to mitigate public health hazards. Additionally, the court found that “112(n)(1)(A) neither requires EPA to consider costs nor prohibits EPA from doing so.” Though the costs of complying with MATS will likely cost the industry $9.6 billion per year, the EPA estimates the benefits would likely exceed $37 billion to $90 billion.
Click here to view the court’s final ruling in detail.
Written by: Absolute Consulting
Source: POWER Magazine | politics |
https://www.nookboards.com/forum/80-man-steel/9909-broad-assassination-timeline.html | 2019-08-20T10:29:32 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027315321.52/warc/CC-MAIN-20190820092326-20190820114326-00383.warc.gz | 0.981153 | 506 | CC-MAIN-2019-35 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-35__0__210671442 | en | Here's a very general time line (in paragraph form) of what happened that weekend in Dallas.
On Friday, November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy arrived in Dallas at 11:40 a.m. Central Standard time. He embarked on a motorcade to the Dallas Business and Trade Mart where he was scheduled to make a speech at a luncheon. At 12:30 the motorcade passed through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, with the president riding in an open limousine. He was shot in the head and rushed to nearby Parkland Hospital. By 2:00 p.m. a tearful Walter Cronkite told the country by television broadcast that the president was dead. Vice President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as president later that afternoon aboard Air Force One as it departed for Washington.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who worked in a building on the plaza, was initially arrested in a dark movie theater and charged with the shooting murder of Dallas police officer J.D. Tippit. Before long he became the prime suspect in the assassination investigation.
On Sunday, November 24, Oswald was led into the basement of the Dallas Police Department building in order to be transferred from the city jail to the county jail. Before he could be loaded into a vehicle for the transfer a local businessman (he ran lounges and strip clubs) named Jack Ruby stepped from the crowd and fatally shot Oswald in front of a live, worldwide television audience. That's the photograph on the cover of the book.
At the time the world was a tense place. Just two and a half years earlier President Kennedy had ordered an invasion of Cuba, a staunch ally of the Soviet Union. The invasion ended in disaster but greatly heightened tensions between America and the Soviet Union. Two years later, just a year before the assassination, the world teetered on the brink of nuclear war when the Soviets began building launch sites for nuclear missiles in Cuba, just ninety miles off the Florida coast. In part to calm the American people and assure them that the situation was in hand, President Johnson established the Warren Commission to investigate and report on the assassination.
Ruby was tried and convicted of murdering Oswald in February and March of 1964. The sentence was death. He languished in prison during the appeal process and died of cancer while still imprisoned on January 3, 1967. He spent his last three years, including hours of testimony before the Warren Commission, begging to be taken to a place of safety where he could tell his story. | politics |
https://sydneylightrailactiongroup.com/2018/11/13/former-head-of-transport-nsw-slams-decision-to-run-trams-along-george-street/ | 2019-07-17T06:38:47 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-30/segments/1563195525094.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20190717061451-20190717083451-00023.warc.gz | 0.966157 | 533 | CC-MAIN-2019-30 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-30__0__174256933 | en | Bruce McDougall, The Daily Telegraph
November 9, 2018 12:00am
PLANNING genius John Bradfield would “turn in his grave” if he saw the transport “catastrophes” unfolding in Sydney today, one of NSW’s former top bureaucrats says.
John Lee, who headed the Department of Premier and Cabinet and Transport for NSW, has slammed the decision to run trams along George Street as “ill conceived, rushed, late and over budget”.
“It is the government’s biggest mistake and Bradfield would be horrified,” Mr Lee will tell a conference of 400 transport leaders in Sydney today.
John Lee has described the project as “ill conceived, rushed, late and over budget”.
He said John Bradfield would be “turning in his grave”.
The former transport tsar who has also run the Roosters and Rabbitohs rugby league clubs, told The Daily Telegraph yesterday light rail should never have been considered for George St when trains already ran underneath the city.
“Bradfield would have pointed out that directly under George St sits loads of wires and utility cables and a little thing called the City Circle,” he said.
“Heavy railway delivers up to 40,000 people an hour — trams are lucky to deliver one quarter of that. This has been a very expensive exercise for very little good outcome.”
RELATED: Upcoming Sydney Light Rail Tribunal Hearing 21 November 2018 (Open to the public.)
Mr Lee said light rail should never have been considered for George St as trains deliver more people than trams.
It is 75 years since the death of Bradfield, who planned the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the electrification of the railways and the design and construction of the City Circle underground.
Mr Lee said Bradfield would not have supported a plan to turn his underground tunnels beneath Hyde Park into bars, night clubs and retail shops.
A better idea would be to use the tunnels to “put the buses underground”.
Daily Telegraph November 9 2018
Footnote: Former Transport Engineer Alex Kleytman (part of the Sydney Light Rail Action Group) has been saying this for the last four years, and, as recently as the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Light Rail.
Mr Kleytman still maintains that the project should be immediately stopped, due to the massive congestion that it will cause the city, and the casualties and fatalities that it will cause due to the non-separation of the light rail from pedestrians and motor vehicles. | politics |
https://www.hector-fellow-academy.de/en/news/details/info/hector-fellows-sind-mitglieder-in-acatech.html | 2020-10-25T04:34:06 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-45/segments/1603107887810.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20201025041701-20201025071701-00638.warc.gz | 0.875063 | 182 | CC-MAIN-2020-45 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-45__0__55165107 | en | Hector Fellows are member of acatech
02.19.2019 | Awards
Hector Fellows Karl Leo and Martin Wegener take on honorary mandate.
The Hector Fellows Karl Leo and Martin Wegener as well as 25 other scientists from the engineering, natural, economic and social sciences accept the membership of acatech, the German academy of science and engineering. The honorary mandate consists of participation in the development of recommendations for action in technology-related questions for politics and society.
“acatech - Deutsche Akademie der Technikwissenschaften” is a national academy, funded by the German federal and state governments and under the patronage of the Federal President, with a mandate to advise policymakers and society on issues relating to technology.
We congratulate Karl Leo and Martin Wegener!
- Symposium 2021
Expeditions into the Unknown
8th July, 2021 | politics |
https://www.jonashworth.org/about | 2019-09-19T02:26:21 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514573415.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20190919015534-20190919041534-00270.warc.gz | 0.979875 | 341 | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-39__0__205453483 | en | Hello, I’m Jon Ashworth
I was elected Member of Parliament for Leicester South at a by-election in May 2011.
In October 2016 I was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Health, by Jeremy Corbyn, having previously served as Shadow Minister without Portfolio.
I was also in Ed Miliband’s front bench team as Shadow Cabinet Office Minister from October 2013.
Before becoming an MP I worked in the Treasury as a special advisor to Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor, and continued to work for Gordon Brown when he became Prime Minister.
Outside of politics I’m a keen book-worm, and runner. My wife and I have two little girls and live in Leicester.
On Your Side in Leicester South
Since being elected as your MP in 2011 I’ve worked hard with you to improve our community and give a better future to our children and grandchildren.
Every week I stand up for people here and I’m always out and out across Leicester helping thousands upon thousands of local people with issues and problems.
I’m always on your side and always fighting your corner.
Your Voice in Parliament
As your MP, it is my job to make sure your voice is heard in Parliament. Because you elected me and put your trust in me, I will always be on your side.
Each week I stand up for you in the House of Commons, raising issues for debate directly in the chamber. As the Shadow Secretary of State for Health, I mainly speak on the NHS and better care for people.
If you have any issues that you would like me to raise at the Parliament, please get in touch with my Office. | politics |
https://gb.hrichina.org/en/citizens-square/statement-shi-tao | 2023-09-25T20:15:55 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510085.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20230925183615-20230925213615-00871.warc.gz | 0.762239 | 795 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__278072364 | en | On June 5, Shi Tao, former editor of “Contemporary Business News,” issued a statement protesting the deletion of contents from his WeChat “Moments,” and condemning WeChat for having become a shameful accomplice to powerful officials. Afterwards, he registered for a NetEase account. Despite being cautious in both posting and reposting, he was still prevented from logging in. In this new statement, Shi Tao denounces the operators of WeChat and NetEase for aiding the censors. In 2004, Shi Tao was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for "providing state secrets to foreign entities,” after he sent overseas a summary of a Chinese official directive entitled “Notification Regarding Current Efforts to Maintain Stability” in advance of on the 15th anniversary of June Fourth. He was released in 2013. | politics |
https://www.silverafood.com/news/Seafood-market-news/vietnam-to-enjoy-a-seven-day-holiday-for-2020-lunar-new-year-10108.html | 2020-05-31T22:36:53 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347413786.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20200531213917-20200601003917-00113.warc.gz | 0.975214 | 224 | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-24__0__150345636 | en | By Silvera Food
Wednesday, November 27, 2019, 13:55 (GMT+7)
Last October, 2019, the seven-day 2020 Tet holiday plan was approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Government officers and workers will, accordingly, be on vacation from January 23rd to 29th, 2020, which is from December 29th to January 5th on the Lunar calendar.
The Tet holiday plan was approved by the Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the proposal of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) with five prescribed holidays and two compensatory holidays due to the 1st and 2nd days of the holiday fall on Saturday and Sunday.
Vietnam To Enjoy A Seven-Day Holiday For 2020 Lunar New Year. Credit: Silvera Food
PM Phuc asked agencies and units to arrange work based on their plans and schedule during the holidays to ensure the fulfillment of their tasks and serve the people. On the other hand, agencies and organizations that do not take regular holidays on Saturdays and Sundays will coordinate their work based on their own schedule. | politics |
https://viettel.com.vn/en/news-events/news/viettel-commits-to-bring-vinh-long-into-top-30-of-nationwide-digital-transformation-index/ | 2022-07-01T08:34:30 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656103922377.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20220701064920-20220701094920-00682.warc.gz | 0.905124 | 493 | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-27__0__167708106 | en | Viettel hosted the signing ceremony with the participation of Chairman, General Director, Tao Duc Thang; Secretary of the Party Committee, Deputy General Director, Nguyen Thanh Nam and leaders from affiliated units. Attending the ceremony, there were Member of the Vinh Long Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Vinh Long Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Vinh Long Provincial People's Council, Bui Van Nghiem; Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Lu Quang Ngoi; and representatives of provincial departments.
In his speech, Secretary of the Vinh Long Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Bui Van Nghiem showed impression with Viettel's mastery in telecommunications infrastructure, security and defense, and its contributions to the fight against Covid-19 pandemic in healthcare, education, and commerce sector. Vinh Long expects Viettel to support the province in the race of digital transformation, focusing on: digital government, digital economy and digital society.
Viettel committed to put Vinh Long Province in the top 30 provinces and cities in the Nationwide Digital Transformation Index (DTI) by 2022
Around the sectors that Viettel aims to further invest in, Deputy Secretary of the Vinh Long Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee, Lu Quang Ngoi affirmed to direct relevant agencies to review and promote cooperation.
Chairman, General Director of Viettel, Tao Duc Thang committed to bring Vinh Long from 52/63 to the top 30 provinces with the highest digital transformation index nationwide by 2022. With that goal, Viettel plans to accelerate the deployment of 5G; complete connection of fiber optic infrastructure to households; speed up the 2G conversion… Viettel also proposes to support Vinh Long in applying IT for administrative reform; smart urban development; information security; digital transformation in the fields of health, education and agriculture; promote e-commerce….
6 strategic cooperation categories between Viettel and Vinh Long include: 1) Cooperation in providing IT solutions for administrative reform; 2) Cooperation in building telecommunications infrastructure and IT solutions for smart city development; 3) Cooperation in promoting cybersecurity solutions; 4) Consultancy and cooperation in digital transformation in certain priority industries; 5) Cooperation in promoting e-commerce; 6) Other contents according to the needs of Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee and Viettel's capacity. | politics |
https://www.tribunalconstitucional.cl/atribuciones-english-version/atribuciones-english-version | 2019-09-21T09:58:55 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514574377.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20190921084226-20190921110226-00446.warc.gz | 0.971844 | 791 | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-39__0__53301832 | en | a. To exert judicial review: the Constitutional Court reviews the constitutionality of legal precepts (including executive decrees that are equivalent to statutes), preemptively (a priori) and subsequently (a posteriori) of being enacted, either by way of inapplicability or unconstitutional remedies. Preemptive review can be classified as discretionary (at the request of the President of the Republic, the Chambers of Congress, or a number of its members in office) and as compulsory (regarding interpretative constitutional laws, organic constitutional laws, and international treaties dealing with matters that should be regulated by organic constitutional laws). The [Constitutional] Court also reviews, preemptively and subsequently, proposals of amendment of the Constitution, and international treaties subject to congressional approval. It also exerts preemptive and subsequent monitoring of executive orders and similar secondary legislation (decrees and resolutions). Finally, it resolves questions of constitutionality concerning regulations (Autos Acordados) issued by the highest judicial courts of the country (Supreme Court and Courts of Appeals), as well as those issued by the Electoral Court.
b. To settle inter-organic disputes: It resolves disputes between political or administrative authorities and courts that should not be resolved by the Senate.
c. To decide about inabilities, incompatibilities, resignations and grounds for removal from certain public offices, such as the President of the Republic, Ministers and Legislators.
d. To decide about constitutional wrongs: It declares as unconstitutional organizations, movements or political parties, as well as the President (in office or elected), who have committed the constitutional wrongs set forth by the Constitution in Article 19 No. 15, sixth and following paragraphs.
Chile’s Constitutional Court is composed of ten members who are called ‘Ministers’. The highest authority of the Constitutional Court is its President, who is elected by its members, by majority vote, lasts two years in office, and may be reappointed for the following term.
The order of precedence is determined by the Court itself, and the President is subrogated by the Minister who follows in that order of precedence.
The Court works as a Grand Chamber or Plenum to exercise its powers, especially to judge the constitutionality of laws, or divided into two Chambers. The Plenum is made up of eight members, while the Chambers are made up of four.
Decisions and agreements require simply majority, as a general rule, and judgments must be granted according to law. Chambers shall rule on the admissibility of inapplicability remedies and of applications for stay of proceedings appealed within those remedies.
In accordance with the provisions set forth in Article 92 of the Constitution, the ten Ministers comprising the Constitutional Court are appointed as follows:
– 3 are freely appointed by the President.– 4 are elected by the National Congress: 2 are straightforwardly appointed by the Senate, and the other 2 are also appointed by the Senate but after the proposal from the Chamber of Deputies (or House of Representatives).
– 3 are straightforwardly appointed by the Supreme Court by secret election.
The Court has two Acting Ministers, who are elected every three years, [and] who shall take the place of Ministers and form part of the Grand Chamber (or Plenary Court) or of either of the chambers only if the quorum for holding sessions is not reached. Acting Ministers are appointed by the President of the Republic, with approval of the Senate, chosen from a list of seven names proposed by the Constitutional Court after a public competition.
The Court has a lawyer who acts as Secretary Attorney and Certifying Officer. Court officials are subject to the immediate authority of the Secretary or of the Rapporteur Attorney, or its subrogate, if any. Currently, the Court has four Rapporteur Attorneys.
The Court appoints its officials following a public exam and a merit-based selection process. | politics |
http://kulzerdipadova.com/tax-reform-advice-for-presidents-task-force/ | 2017-12-18T01:20:23 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-51/segments/1512948599549.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20171218005540-20171218031540-00017.warc.gz | 0.964388 | 296 | CC-MAIN-2017-51 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-51__0__147453203 | en | On March 25 President Obama announced the creation of a special task force to review the shortcomings of the U.S. tax system. The group is part of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board. Headed by Paul Volcke, the task force has come to be known as the Volcker task force and is charged with presenting Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner with a report and recommendations by December 4.
Tax Analysts, a nonprofit publisher of tax infomration, has released Toward Tax Reform: Recommendations for President Obama’s Task Force. The book is a complilation of tax policy and reform essays by 32 prominent tax experts — lawyers, economists, and academics from across the political spectrum.
Each essayist was presented with a hypothetical scenario: Imagine having five minutes alone with task force members to advise them on what features of the tax system most need fixing and how you would change them.
The result was 32 conicse essays on a wide range of federal tax policy issues is an interesting read for tax professionals and citizen taxpayers.
A PDF of the book is available for free by clicking here.
Tax Analysts is a nonprofit publisher that provides the latest and most in-depth tax information worldwide. By working for the transparency of tax rules, fostering increased dialogue between taxing authorities and taxpayers, and providing forums for education and debate, Tax Analysts encourages the creation of tax systems that are fairer, simpler, and more economically efficient. | politics |
http://medic-alert-bracelets.blogspot.com/2014/08/federal-obamacare-market-still-faces.html | 2017-07-26T06:32:18 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549426050.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20170726062224-20170726082224-00410.warc.gz | 0.950225 | 779 | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-30__0__60533757 | en | WASHINGTON Wed Jul 30, 2014 4:49pm EDT0 Comments Tweet Share this EmailPrint Related Topics Politics » Health »
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ten months after the botched rollout of HealthCare.gov, Obamacare's federal health insurance exchange is still dogged by cost overruns and technology delays that could hamper enrollment when it resumes in November, a U.S. watchdog said.
The total cost of HealthCare.gov and its supporting systems hit $840 million in March, according to a forthcoming report by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO). Excerpts of the report were released on Wednesday by a U.S. House of Representatives oversight committee.
Part of the cost stems from the federal government's work with Accenture Plc, the lead contractor for the HealthCare.gov website. The value of that contract soared more than 92 percent in less than six months, from $91 million in January to more than $175 million by early June, a GAO investigation found.
The GAO report blamed cost increases on lax oversight, the complexity of the system and the need to rework technology. Multiple failures caused HealthCare.gov to crash during its Oct. 1 debut, hampering early enrollment for benefits under President Barack Obama's healthcare law and prompting a congressional investigation.
The administration spent weeks repairing the site, helping more than 5 million people use it to sign up for coverage in 2014. It has since changed many of the contractors that worked on the initial website.
The overall cost of developing the federal marketplace, which helps consumers in 36 states sign up for subsidized private health insurance, nearly quadrupled to $209 million by last February from $56 million in September 2011, GAO said. The cost of developing a related federal data hub jumped from $30 million to $85 million.
Meanwhile, large segments of the marketplace system still remain unbuilt, including a financial management system to automate payments of federal subsidies to health insurers that is due to be completed in December.
A senior official with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, part of the Department of Health and Human Services and the government's lead agency on Obamacare implementation, said it has taken steps to tighten contractor oversight. But the GAO said inconsistent oversight had led CMS officials to inappropriately authorize more than $30 million in contractor spending.
The GAO report is not due to be released until early Thursday, ahead of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on implementation of Obama's Affordable Care Act. GAO acquisition and sourcing management director William Woods is scheduled to testify.
Enrollment for 2015 health coverage is scheduled to open on Nov. 15.
"Unless CMS improves contract management and adheres to a structured governance process, significant risks remain that upcoming open enrollment periods could encounter challenges," Woods said in written testimony.
Despite concerns about the performance of HealthCare.gov's former lead contractor, CGI Federal, CMS was able to withhold only about 2 percent of the contractor's fees paid. That was partly because CGI Federal's contract allowed for payment even when work was not completed.
(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Tom Brown)FILED UNDER: PoliticsHealth Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this EmailPrintReprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/Comments (0)Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above.
View the Original article | politics |
http://travellingfeministe.org/blog/?p=2062 | 2021-10-18T11:22:54 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323585201.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20211018093606-20211018123606-00709.warc.gz | 0.899265 | 605 | CC-MAIN-2021-43 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2021-43__0__84190634 | en | « To Exist is to Resist: Black Feminism in Europe »
Call for Chapters
Why Black Feminism in Europe?
How might we theorise and practice Black feminism and womanism in Europe today? This is a provocative question for women of colour as our politics are too often erased from or misrecognised in the European imagination (Mirza 1997; Bilge 2013; Tomlinson 2013; Wekker 2016; Bassel and Emejulu forthcoming 2017). By ‘women of colour’ we mean women who experience processes of racialisation and hierarchies of gender, class, sexuality and legal status. Constructed as alien Others, women of colour exist in a contradictory state of invisibility—we are assumed to be absent from and irrelevant to European societies—or hypervisibility—we are presumed to be oppressed and passive and/or highly sexualised, angry and irrational. Across the political spectrum among ostensible allies, women of colour must struggle against our erasure and the debilitating constructions of ourselves that delegimitise our politics, interests and activisms. Furthermore, women of colour in Europe must negotiate the dominant discourses of racial, gender and intersectional politics of North American Black feminists and womanists that make it difficult to name and take action on our particular racialised, gendered and classed experiences in a European context.
Women of colour in Europe have always maintained critical spaces of analysis and activism based on our race, class, gender, sexuality and other categories of difference. Whether under the mantle of Black feminism, Afro-feminism, decolonial feminism or, increasingly in a European context, womanism, women of colour are undertaking creative resistances to and subversion of our institutionalised inequalities, to imagine radical new futures outside and against the neo-colonial frames and practices of contemporary Europe.
About the edited collection
Building on our successful one-day conference, Black Feminism, Womanism and the Politics of Women of Colour in Europe, we organised in Edinburgh in 2016 and the follow-up conference taking place in Amsterdam in 2017, this edited collection will explore how women of colour:
- Theorise Black feminism and womanism from European perspectives
- Build and sustain activist spaces for survival and resistance
- Challenge, subvert and transform socialist, feminist, populist and/or anarchist politics
- Develop transnational alliances and intersectional and intergenerational coalitions for equality and social justice
- Engage with creative practice as a means of activism and self-preservation
We have an agreement in principle from Pluto Press to publish this edited collection.
We seek 3,000-5,000 word chapters (including bibliography) in English from activists, practitioners, artists, students and scholars by Monday, 18th September 2017.
To discuss your potential contribution, please feel free to contact Akwugo Emejulu, a.emejulu [at] warwick [dot] ac [dot] uk. | politics |
https://thebeacon.co.nz/2019/11/recount-request-sees-returning-councillor-back-in/ | 2020-05-25T00:56:41 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347387155.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20200525001747-20200525031747-00082.warc.gz | 0.987226 | 731 | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-24__0__118354131 | en | IN requesting a recount, Alison Silcock says she simply wanted a definitive answer and closure following her eviction from the Whakatane District Council based on random chance.
“I did the recount to satisfy myself that that was the community’s final decision,” said Mrs Silcock.
“Of course I stood to win, just like Hinerangi (Goodman) and Jackie (Te Amo) stood to win – you don’t run to come second. But, to me, it was a final result and closure whatever it was.”
Many have questioned Mrs Silcock’s timing in requesting the recount, but she said she could not request the recount until the result had been publicly announced, which only gave her two days before the council’s swearing-in ceremony.
“Whakatane is not the only one, there are various mayors and councillors going for recounts throughout the country,” said Mrs Silcock.
“But, we had a unique situation with the annual report needing to be approved for the auditor-general.”
There has also been anger from many in the Murupara community who were delighted to have a Maori representative for the predominately Maori town and were disappointed to see that prospect leave.
This anger has seen many vent their frustrations online, insulting Mrs Silcock and claiming the process was racist, rigged and a circus.
Mrs Silcock has been avoiding Facebook but said she also had many supporters, including Mem Jenner who wrote a post in support of her, which attracted many positive comments.
“Whatever you do there will always be a faction that will be anti, I haven’t seen it, but I know it has been torrid,” she said.
“But, there are a lot of people, Maori and non-Maori, who are pleased the process has been followed correctly and this is the outcome.
“Those people supported the process and support what I have done previously in the community.”
Despite the negativity and controversy surrounding her re-election to council, Mrs Silcock is reluctant to say whether change is needed in the system.
Some have said a recount should have been done before the random chance election was made, but Mrs Silcock said she had heard anecdotally that a tie was made in Queenstown following a recount.
“I think, like all legislation, there needs to be a review from time to time,” she said.
“Not a whole change, but just like the bylaws that come through council, there are checks, balances and tweaks that are more in keeping with 2019 rather than 2010 or further back when these laws were drafted.”
Mrs Silcock’s recount was made through the Electoral Act 2001, section 90.
The council originally announced Mrs Silcock would be sworn in on November 7, but this has been delayed until November 13. She believes this is so the council can arrange something that would not impact Mrs Goodman’s mana.
“I am not sure what they are planning but I believe something should be done for every councillor who might find themselves in her position.”
Mayor Judy Turner said the delay was due to the changing availability of speakers and reports for the agenda that were initially intended.
“We are very mindful of the number of meetings and training sessions the council has between now and Christmas and want to be as efficient with people’s precious time as practicable,” said Mrs Turner. | politics |
http://www.batfinland.fi/group/sites/BAT_899JXP.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/DO899K7T?opendocument&SKN=1 | 2013-05-20T17:19:51 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699138006/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101218-00049-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.955871 | 337 | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2013-20__0__53326822 | en | Regulation of our industry has increased in recent years, including more prominent health warnings on packs and restrictions or bans on advertising and public place smoking.
The scope of regulation is expected to widen further as countries implement the provisions of the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), which is setting the agenda for most national tobacco regulation worldwide. Tobacco consumption poses real and serious risks to health, so we agree that the manufacture, distribution, marketing and sale of tobacco products should be regulated in appropriate ways.
Balanced evidence-based tobacco regulation
We support, and want to help deliver, balanced evidence-based tobacco regulation that can help to measurably reduce the public health impacts of the use of tobacco products, while respecting the choices and rights of adults who choose to use them. Like other businesses, we seek to be included in the debates that shape our regulatory environment.
Guidelines recently adopted under the WHO FCTC suggest that governments should minimise contact with the tobacco industry. We believe that well run and responsible companies such as ours should not be marginalised or excluded. We believe we should be able, like other interested parties, to contribute to the development of public policies that affect our business and its stakeholders, and we are willing to do so constructively and transparently.
Cooperation between governments and the industry
Balanced and workable tobacco regulation needs cooperation between governments and the industry, and we have much experience to offer in helping to block tobacco sales to children, fight illicit trade, set standards for appropriate marketing and research potentially lower risk products – as well as supporting jobs and paying valuable taxes, especially in tough economic times. | politics |
https://headcoverings-by-devorah.com/Anit_Zionism_MartinLutherKing.html | 2023-06-03T08:43:10 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224649177.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20230603064842-20230603094842-00106.warc.gz | 0.870023 | 117 | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-23__0__276983067 | en | Martin Luther King on Anti-Zionism
"You declare that you do not hate Jews, you are merely anti-Zionist. And I say, let the truth ring forth from high on the mountain tops. When people criticize Zionism, they mean Jews. What is anti-Zionist? It is the denial of the Jewish people of a fundamental right that we justly claim for the people of Africa and freely accord all other nations of the globe."
-Martin Luther King, 1968
Yisrael Index | Articles | Orach Chayim Index | Home | politics |
https://www.taiwan-jinsei.com/defi-to-face-regulation-despite-anonymity-cftc-chair/ | 2023-06-02T09:00:48 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224648465.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20230602072202-20230602102202-00611.warc.gz | 0.943758 | 374 | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-23__0__32089439 | en | • CFTC Chair Rostin Behnam stated that DeFi applications must comply with all financial regulations, despite its autonomous and anonymous nature.
• The real question is what these protocols do and who ultimately runs them, according to Behnam.
• However, there remain questions about how the CFTC will enforce regulations on non-compliant DeFi platforms.
CFTC Chair Comment on DeFi Regulations
CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam recently clarified the agency’s view on DeFi regulation. He underlined that DeFi apps must comply with all financial rules on the books, despite its autonomous and anonymous nature.
What Are The Questions?
Behnam suggested that the key questions are what these protocols do and who ultimately runs them. “It’s really about what are U.S. customers being offered and exposed to,” he said. “And who is either the individual or group of individuals who set up that entity, that code, to offer those products?”
The stance raises questions about how it will enforce regulations on autonomous, non-compliant DeFi platforms in the US market where government agencies don’t agree on which agency has jurisdiction over crypto assets.
SEC’s Overlapping Jurisdiction
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler claims all crypto assets except Bitcoin are securities which adds another layer of complexity since SEC’s jurisdiction overlaps with CFTCs when it comes to enforcing regulations for crypto assets.
Despite concerns from proponents of DeFi applications, CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam has made it clear that all financial rules must be followed regardless of anonymity or self-executing nature of DeFI apps in order to protect U.S customers from potential harm caused by unregulated activities in this sector. | politics |
https://www.hourlybook.com/evolution/darwins-law-jungle-led-fascism/ | 2020-12-02T16:16:29 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-50/segments/1606141711306.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20201202144450-20201202174450-00574.warc.gz | 0.957331 | 496 | CC-MAIN-2020-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-50__0__7329128 | en | As Darwinism fed racism in the 19th century, it formed the basis of an ideology that would develop and drown the world in blood in the 20th century: Nazism.
A strong Darwinist influence can be seen in Nazi ideologues. When one examines this theory, which was given shape by Adolf Hitler and Alfred Rosenberg, one comes across such concepts as “natural selection”, “selective mating”, and “the struggle for survival between the races”, which are repeated dozens of time in the works of Darwin. When calling his book Mein Kampf (My Struggle), Hitler was inspired by the Darwinist struggle for survival and the principle that victory went to the fittest. He particularly talks about the struggle between the races:
History would culminate in a new millennial empire of unparalleled splendour, based on a new racial hierarchy ordained by nature herself (Source:-Richard Dawkins, The Blind Watchmaker, London: W. W. Norton, 1986, p. 159.)
In the 1933 Nuremberg party rally, Hitler proclaimed that “a higher race subjects to itself a lower race… a right which we see in nature and which can be regarded as the sole conceivable right”.
That the Nazis were influenced by Darwinism is a fact that almost all historians who are expert in the matter accept. The historian Hickman describes Darwinism’s influence on Hitler as follows:
(Hitler) was a firm believer and preacher of evolution. Whatever the deeper, profound, complexities of his psychosis, it is certain that [the concept of struggle was important because]… his book, Mein Kampf, clearly set forth a number of evolutionary ideas, particularly those emphasizing struggle, survival of the fittest and the extermination of the weak to produce a better society.(Source:-Jonathan Wells, Icons of Evolution: Science or Myth? Why Much of What We Teach About Evolution is Wrong, Regnery Publishing, 2000, pp. 235-236)
Hitler, who emerged with these views, dragged the world to violence that had never before been seen. Many ethnic and political groups, and especially the Jews, were exposed to terrible cruelty and slaughter in the Nazi concentration camps. World War II, which began with the Nazi invasion, cost 55 million lives. What lay behind the greatest tragedy in world history was Darwinism’s concept of the “struggle for survival.” | politics |
https://www.globalsocialwelfaresummit.com/speaker/tanya-bonner/ | 2019-02-21T02:01:34 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-09/segments/1550247497858.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20190221010932-20190221032932-00455.warc.gz | 0.976255 | 140 | CC-MAIN-2019-09 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2019-09__0__229458416 | en | Tanya Bonner is a social policy and media consultant based out of New York City and Chicago, IL. She helps grassroots and nonprofit organizations, and faith-based organizations gain recognition and support for their social justice initiatives, including making sure those initiatives demonstrate cultural competence.
Tanya is a policy creator and dismantler, a social justice advocate, writer, MBA, filmmaker, and former daily newspaper reporter. She has written blog posts on major social justice issues and has written and reported on law enforcement issues for over 10 years as a reporter at several major daily newspapers around the country.
She also likes to brag that she and former First Lady Michelle Obama graduated from the same high school in Chicago. | politics |
https://www.ktsu2.com/news/early-vote-at-tsu/ | 2023-11-28T14:22:29 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679099514.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20231128115347-20231128145347-00226.warc.gz | 0.973382 | 123 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__197928350 | en | Early vote at TSU
Written by admin on October 13, 2020
Early voting starts today, October 13, and Texas Southern University has a polling precinct on its campus.
The precinct is located in the West Parking garage office suites at Ennis and Blodgett.
The precinct will be opened from 7a.m. to 7p.m. Mondays through Fridays and Saturdays noon to 7p.m. through October 30. Election day is Tuesday, November 3 from 7a.m. to 7p.m.
For more information about voting, visit harrisvotes.org. | politics |
https://www.oregonrecovers.org/give-recovery/ | 2023-03-20T18:57:01 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296943555.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20230320175948-20230320205948-00765.warc.gz | 0.93388 | 411 | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-14__0__94088400 | en | Donate to End Oregon's Addiction Crisis
Oregon’s recovery community—and the movement to end Oregon’s addiction crisis—have been battered tremendously by the pandemic. Virtually all recovery support programs were shut down in March and Oregonian’s in early recovery were especially impacted by the loss of jobs.
Oregon Recovers moved quickly to respond:
- Oregon Recovers launched www.OregonRecoveryNetwork.org to immediately connect people in recovery with online support.
- Oregon Recovers convened key stakeholders across the state to make recommendations to Oregon Health Authority (OHA) on launching a “Relapse Prevention Program.”
- Oregon Recovers mobilized legislative pressure on the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) to adhere to CDC and WHO guidelines relating to access to alcohol during the pandemic, resulting in a requirement that all OLCC decisions require OHA vetting.
- Oregon Recovers partnered with MRG Foundation and OHA to launch the Addiction Recovery Assistance Fund to assist people in recovery struggling to pay their rent.
Simultaneously, Oregon Recovers has continued the work of building a new system of care. Rep. Tawna Sanchez introduced the “Addiction Crisis Recovery Act” for consideration in the 2021 legislative session. This bill will raise the price of alcohol in Oregon, reducing harmful underage and binge drinking and generating enough revenue to fully fund the new system of care designed by the Alcohol & Drug Policy Commission. It is landmark, unprecedented legislation that will significantly reduce Oregon’s addiction rate and increase the state’s recovery rate.
The alcohol industry has already begun organizing against these changes and we need your help to counter their unlimited resources.
"(Oregon Recovers) brings a level of sophistication to the alcohol tax discussion that the industry here hasn't encountered before. . .(Oregon Recovers) is building a very potent organizational force around recovery. What Oregon Recovers brings to the table is the ability to mobilize hundreds of people at any time." | politics |
http://welshmuseumsfederation.org/news/43/32/Federation-response-to-firearms-consultation.html | 2017-05-01T04:11:00 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917127681.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031207-00516-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.946681 | 647 | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-17__0__99483281 | en | Federation response to firearms consultation
Feb 22, 2017
The Federation has recently responded to the Home Office consultation on firearms licencing fees: prohibited weapons, museums, and approved shooting clubs:
We are responding to the above consultation as it directly affects a number of our member museums.
We have considerable concerns that the changes proposed – to considerably increase the licence fees – could have a significant, detrimental effect on museums holding items that make an important contribution to the nation’s heritage and community memory. Whilst we understand the financial circumstances that have led to this review, all museums have, and continue to be subject to considerable reductions in funding. Any increase in fees – and on such a scale – will be difficult to meet in the current financial climate. We urge the government to make no change in the current charges made to museums.
Museums hold items that have particular historical and cultural value to the communities they serve. Some will have national and international significance. Firearms held in military museums are essential to tell the story of Britain’s military history and what we can learn from international conflicts; firearms held in local museums often have very local historical and community connections. Whilst military museums may have a wide range of weapons that reflect the history of the regiments they interpret, other museums (especially local authority) may also have weapons. In this latter case it is likely to be only one or two items.
Previous governments recognised these values by introducing the Museums Firearms Licence which enabled museums to hold firearms without individuals or curators having to have a firearms licence. Firearms are held in museums for the contribution they can make to the interpretation of history – not for use – indeed most are decommissioned. Even if decommissioned we understand a licence still has to be held.
Local police forces, following firearms seizures or amnesties, still offer/transfer historical firearms to museums that hold a Museums Firearms Licence. This ensures that items which have some significance or historical value are not destroyed.
We would point out that having firearms in collections is not cost neutral – there are costs of storage and collection care to be met if museums are to meet their obligations to society. Raising the fee from £200 to £1,240, at a time when it is well documented that museums are receiving significant budget cuts, many losing staff and/or drawing back on public services, will probably mean that many will consider not renewing their licence. If many do this there will be no other museums to pass weapons to. We understand in that case historic items then pass to the police who will destroy them.
The potential impact of this can be seen if considering it in terms of the current centenary commemorations of the First World War as an example. If museums felt unable to afford a licence, leading the subsequent loss of historic objects in the public domain, there will be a clear, detrimental effect on our ability to learn from the past, appreciate the sacrifice of our ancestors and promote tolerance, understanding and peace for our future.
We therefore urge the government to reject these changes and allow museums to continue to hold firearms on the current basis.
President, Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales | politics |
http://unevoc-magdeburg.de/News/Opening+Event+for+the+Intercultural+Week.html | 2022-06-29T18:23:17 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656103642979.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20220629180939-20220629210939-00474.warc.gz | 0.929401 | 779 | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-27__0__179741228 | en | Opening Event for the Intercultural Week
Holger Hövelmann, Home Secretary of Saxony-Anhalt, and Dr. Harry Stolte, InWEnt; Picture: Andreas Bader
Within the strategic guidelines on developmental education, InWEnt Saxony-Anhalt planned a symposium on “Labour Market Potentials of Immigrants” as opening event for this year´s Intercultural Week.
85 representatives of private enterprises, regional trade associations, immigrant organisations, education providers and other non-governmental organizations participated in the conference.
In his opening statement, Holger Hövelmann, Home Secretary of Saxony-Anhalt, pointed to the great impor-tance of exploring the potentials of immigrants in various contexts and closed his presentation by saying “Our federal state needs immigrants”.
Susi Möbbeck, the Integration Commissioner of Saxony-Anhalt, afterwards presented facts and figures on the current situation of immigrants in Germany and in Saxony-Anhalt in particular and highlighted attempts for integrating them into the labour market.
In his presentation, Dr. Thomas Brockmeier, director of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Halle-Dessau, shed light on the demand of the private sector for skilled foreign personnel in different economic sectors.
Daike Witt from the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts gave an introduction on the topic of the recogni-tion of foreign qualifications and training certificates in the context of the new immigration law which is cur-rently in the making.
Dialogue betwen conference participants. Picture: Andreas Lander
Subsequently, four working groups were formed to discuss the following topics:
- Transition from general education to vocational education/Higher Education
- Access to the labour market and recognition of diplomas and certificates
- Exploration of potentials
- Immigrants as entrepreneurs in Saxony-Anhalt
The four working groups identified priorities and developed recommendations for further actions which were then presented in a panel discussion.
Wolfgang Beck, Head of the Division „Vocational Education and Training/Qualification“ of the Ministry of Economics and Labour of Saxony-Anhalt, used his presentation on “Securing the supply of skilled labour in Saxony-Anhalt Utilizing the potential of immigrants” to point out regional political strategies of a new “Pact on Securing Skilled Labour Supply” that has been made by the government and different social partners.
In his final statement, Dr. Harry Stolte, Director of the Regional Centre Saxony-Anhalt, expressed his grati-tude to all participants and cooperation partners for their support in the preparation and implementation of the conference. He also expressed the expectation that all partners would continue their work to ensure that the conference results will be communicated and implemented in public policy, the economy and also in the civil society.
- the Integration Commissioner of Saxony-Anhalt,
- die Auslandsgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt e. V. (non-profit making institution for foreigners to learn lan-guages, culture etc.)
- the Commissioner for Foreigners of the city of Magdeburg,
- the Confederation for Immigration and Integration in Saxony-Anhalt,
- the Caritas Centre for Intercultural Competence for the Integration of Immigrants into the Labour Market of the Diocese of Magdeburg,
- the Red Cross regional association Magdeburg-Jerichower Land,
- the Chambers of Trade Halle-Dessau and Magdeburg,
- the Department for Vocational Pedagogy and
- the regional working group of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce of Saxony-Anhalt | politics |
https://www.navybook.com/no-higher-honor/timeline/operation-nimble-archer/ | 2024-04-24T17:02:15 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296819668.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20240424143432-20240424173432-00147.warc.gz | 0.945545 | 403 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__184839167 | en | On 16 October 1987, Iranian troops fired a Silkworm anti-ship missile from a launcher on Iran’s northwestern coast. It streaked across open Gulf waters and struck the MV Sea Isle City, a reflagged Kuwaiti oil tanker at anchor off Kuwait. The missile exploded, blinding the tanker’s American captain. It was the first successful strike against a tanker reflagged as part of Operation Earnest Will. U.S. officials took pains to point out that the attack had happened after the tanker had been turned loose by its naval escorts, but the White House nevertheless decided to deal a retaliatory blow. Three days later, on 19 October, the U.S. Navy mounted Operation Nimble Archer.
Two oil platforms were selected as targets; both were being used by Iranian forces as command-and-control posts. Four U.S. destroyers lined up — USS Hoel (DDG-13), USS John Young (DD-973), USS Kidd (DDG-993), and USS Leftwich (DD-984) — and began to steam past one of the platforms. At 2 p.m., Gulf time, the ships began firing hundreds of naval gun shells at the platforms. The facilities stubbornly refused to crumble; their steel lattice proved almost impervious to the blasting shells. But the incendiary effect eventually set them afire.
In a subsequent press conference, President Ronald Reagan called Nimble Archer “a prudent yet restrained response.”
U.S. NAVY PHOTOS BY PHOTOGRAPHER’S MATE 3RD CLASS HENRY CLEVELAND
USS John Young (DD-973) shells one of the Iranian oil platforms.
A U.S. Navy helicopter flies past one of the burning Iranian oil platforms.
Another Iranian oil platform burns.
John Young sails by one of the Iranian oil platforms.
A Spruance-class destroyer passes the burning platforms. | politics |
https://www.liftedgorilla.com/africa/blog/african-mountain-gorillas-are-under-threat-from-oil-survey.html | 2022-05-23T07:42:13 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652662556725.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220523071517-20220523101517-00078.warc.gz | 0.954966 | 779 | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-21__0__130609846 | en | Controversial aerial studies focused on finding oil under Africa’s eldest national park have been begun by a British company betwixt fears that drilling in the region could genuinely threaten the world’s last asylum for mountain gorillas.
The moves towards possible oil drilling in Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, have been denounced by the United Kingdom government and by the World Wildlife Fund.
This week World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is starting a campaign, Draw the Line, against the exploitation of Virunga National Park, which was gazzated in 1925 and designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979.
SOCO International, whose head offices are found in London, has defended its aerial study, saying it was being governed and monitored under the terms of the Environmental Acceptability Certificate issued by the Democratic Republic of Congo’s ministry of environment, nature protection, and tourism.
At the same time prior in this year the UNESCO world heritage committee called for the retraction of all such Virunga oil licenses and appealed to two concession holders, Total and SOCO International, not to embrace exploration in world heritage sites. The total has since consented to respect Virunga National park’s current borders, leaving SOCO as the main oil and Gas Company planning to explore inside the national park’s 7,800 sq km. It claims its region of interest is not near the gorillas’ habitat. Rangers and wildlife experts oppose this idea.
Virunga national park is as of now in a delicate state, because of poachers. Also, it sits close to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s boundaries with Uganda and Rwanda and has been influenced by refugees and militias throughout both the Congo civil war and the Rwandan genocide, and in addition continuous conflicts with rebel groups. It is home to 200 of the endangered mountain gorillas, a quarter of the world’s population. Despite the fact that recent years have been a success story for the national park, thanks to the efforts of protectionists and local park rangers and the number of mountain gorillas have more than multiplied in the previous years, numerous park staff has been killed by poachers and militias. Virunga National Park is temporarily closed to tourists as a result of the rebel activities.
A year ago the United Kingdom government expressed its opposition to oil drilling inside the Virunga National Park. A Foreign Office spokesman said: “The UK opposes oil exploration inside Virunga National Park, a world heritage site recorded by UNESCO as being ‘in threat’. We urge any company included, and the government of Democratic Republic of Congo, to respect the global conventions to which it is a signatory.”
Drew McVey is the provincial manager for East Africa at World Wildlife Fund in the UK and has recently come back from the region. He said: “Virunga has been a phenomenal success in the previous few years. We’ve seen the population of mountain gorillas in the park jump and tourists are beginning to come to visit them. As far as the local people, they comprehend the imperativeness of the mountain gorillas to their prospective flourishing, and we have even had reports of rebel groups in the national park no longer poaching, but making money pretending to be approved, tour operators. Unexpectedly that is an indication of how significant these big mammals are.
“Virunga National park has the most biodiversity in all of Africa … it is vigorously populated around the national park, so there’s a big demand on the park and its resources. The conflict that has gone ahead in the region includes another dimension of fragility.
“Anyhow now to have this awful threat hanging over it of oil exploration is just so disturbing.” | politics |
https://centralbrooklyncsa.com/2010/05/13/farmworkers-rights-and-preserving-small-farms-a-conversation-about-the-farmworkers-fair-labor-practices-act/ | 2023-06-11T00:03:22 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224646652.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20230610233020-20230611023020-00619.warc.gz | 0.945667 | 354 | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-23__0__119201480 | en | Our farmer, Martin Rodriguez will be participating in this panel discussion, sponsored in part by our supporting organization, The New York City Coalition Against Hunger. This is going to be a fantastic event, so make sure to register soon!
The Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act is a New York State bill that was intended to provide fair labor protections to farmworkers who were excluded from the federal fair labor laws enacted in 1939. The legislation’s opponents have argued that, in its current form, the bill is not fair to smaller farms, which predominate in New York State. This forum will explore how the rights of farmworkers can be ensured without endangering the livelihoods of small farmers.
When: May 20th, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Where: Draesel Hall, Church of the Holy Trinity, 316 East 88th St
(between 1st and 2nd Avenues), New York, NY 10128
Suggested donation: $5-$20. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. This is to cover the cost of panelists who traveled to speak at this event
Ms. Jody Bolluyt, farmer, Roxbury Farm, policy committee member for NOFA-NY
Dr. Margaret Gray, Assistant Professor, Adelphi University, currently completing a book manuscript about Hudson Valley agriculture, food politics, and farmworkers.
Ms. Lea Kone, Assistant Director of NOFA NY
Ms. Librada Paz, former farmworker for several decades, farmworker advocate
Mr. Martin Rodriguez, farmer/owner, Mimo Mex Farm
Reverend Richard Witt, Executive Director, Rural & Migrant Ministry
Register for the event here. | politics |
https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=423 | 2023-06-08T21:19:15 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224655143.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20230608204017-20230608234017-00714.warc.gz | 0.894349 | 444 | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-23__0__156618914 | en | Rep. Jackson Introduces Legislation to Block Joe Biden’s Efforts to Surrender U.S. Sovereignty to the World Health Organization
Washington, May 31, 2022
Tags: Health , National Security and Defense
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) introduced the Protecting American Sovereignty Act to prevent the Biden Administration from surrendering U.S. sovereignty to the World Health Organization (WHO) through the proposed Global Pandemic Treaty. Specifically, the legislation prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars from carrying out the treaty, therefore blocking it from taking effect.
Jackson said: “Since the onset of COVID-19, the WHO has proven to be as corrupt as its leaders are incompetent. The WHO was complicit in helping the Chinese Communist Party cover up COVID-19’s initial spread and origin, yet Joe Biden wants to give them control over public health matters in America. It’s an insult to every American citizen who has been affected by the pandemic, and I will not stay silent as this farce of a treaty is negotiated behind the American peoples’ backs. Joe Biden should be leading the charge to abolish rogue, anti-American organizations like the WHO, not surrendering American sovereignty to people who side with communist regimes. This administration is America Last!”
Bill text can be found here.
Original cosponsors of the legislation include Representatives Tom Emmer (MN-06), Mike Bost (IL-12), Rodney Davis (IL-13), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Michael Cloud (TX-27), August Pfluger (TX-11), Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Rob Wittman (VA-01), Greg Steube (FL-17), Michael Waltz (FL-06), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Bill Posey (FL-08), Austin Scott (GA-08), Carlos Gimenez (FL-26), Mary Miller (IL-15), and Paul Gosar (AZ-04). | politics |
https://www.wittobriens.com/witt-obriens-participates-in-santa-rosa-city-council-meeting-to-discuss-wildfire-after-action-report-findings/ | 2020-01-22T12:46:32 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250606975.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20200122101729-20200122130729-00147.warc.gz | 0.952446 | 162 | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2020-05__0__10561027 | en | May 5, 2019 – Will Schmitt with The Press Democrat reported on the City of Santa Rosa’s City Council meeting where they reviewed Witt O’Brien’s 103-page After Action report that addressed actions from the October 2017 firestorm and recommended that the City form a new regional disaster response agency to improve how it gathers and shares information when disasters occur.
Charlie Fisher, Senior Managing Director, served as the Project Lead for the after action report completed for the City. He attended the City Council meeting and told them that the fires were the worst disaster he’s ever analyzed during his tenure at Witt O’Brien’s.
Read full article by Will Schmitt of The Press Democrat HERE.
View the City of Santa Rosa’s After Action Report HERE. | politics |
https://china.bayareacouncil.org/staff/keith-carson/ | 2023-03-29T05:54:13 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296948951.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20230329054547-20230329084547-00672.warc.gz | 0.912208 | 224 | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-14__0__157112472 | en | Keith CarsonPresident, Alameda County Board of Supervisors, 5th District
Elected in 1992, Supervisor Keith Carson, President of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors on a platform dedicated to inclusive and accessible government. He represents the 5th District that includes Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont, and one-third of Oakland.
Supervisor Carson works to bring together people with talent and creative resources to address our shared problems like access to healthcare, addressing poverty, homelessness, crime, improving business retention, and job scarcity.
He serves on numerous Board of Directors, Alameda County committees and organizations including: the East Bay Economic Development Alliance – one of the largest business organization with public/private partnerships serving the San Francisco/East Bay Area; the Bay Area Council Economic Institute; Chairs the Alameda County Budget Work Group and the Personnel, Administration and Legislation Committees; member of the Health Committee; Board member of the California State Association of Counties, National Association of Counties; Treasurer of the National Organization of Black County Officials; and member of the Alameda County Employees Retirement Association. | politics |
http://fixcas.com/cgi-bin/go.py?2012e.Fife | 2018-01-19T23:03:17 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084888302.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20180119224212-20180120004212-00725.warc.gz | 0.966273 | 865 | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-05__0__60228411 | en | Press one of the expand buttons to see the full text of an article. Later press collapse to revert to the original form. The buttons below expand or collapse all articles.
September 7, 2012 permalink
When Progressive-Conservative MPP Elizabeth Witmer resigned her seat in the Ontario legislature, it created the possibility that the Liberals could upgrade their one seat minority to a one seat majority. Yesterday Catherine Fife of the NDP won the seat in a byelection. The new party alignment is Liberals 53 seats, Progressive Conservatives 36 and New Democrats 18. The Liberals will not become the majority party, and there is still a chance of enacting bill 110 to provide for ombudsman oversight of children's aid societies.
Fife win a ‘positive change’
WATERLOO — Catherine Fife repainted the formerly blue Tory stronghold — belonging to Elizabeth Witmer for 22 years — a New Democratic shade of orange.
Supporters packed St. George Hall in Waterloo on Thursday night as they celebrated Fife’s victory with party leader Andrea Horwath.
“Today families in Kitchener-Waterloo have handed me a big responsibility,” Fife said.
“Over nine years I’ve learned about the kind of leadership they expect. They expect listening, hard work, and real results, I’m excited to take that experience to Queen’s Park,” said Fife. “I am so proud of the people that supported me, and I am grateful to the voters that have put their trust in me.
“Tonight’s results were a team effort. Voters across Kitchener-Waterloo who have never voted NDP in the past cast their ballots for positive change.”
The night before the election, Fife was knocking on doors until 9 p.m. in the suburbs of west Waterloo — an area she desperately needed to take her over the top.
“We worked right to the bitter end,” said Fife, who also campaigned on election day with Horwath, a frequent visitor to the riding in the last few weeks.
The byelection campaign was a gruelling one, with long days and endless media scrutiny on a riding that had the ability to change the fate of the Dalton McGuinty minority government.
“The scrutiny was incredible,” Fife said. “It was a high-pressured byelection, but we stayed above the fray.”
A poll conducted earlier this week in the riding suggested a NDP victory with Fife at 42 per cent, while the Liberals’ Eric Davis and the Conservatives’ Tracey Weiler were trailing, both at 26 per cent of the vote.
The momentum for a possible NDP victory brought many out to support Fife. About 700 volunteers were polling voters on Thursday.
This was the second provincial campaign for Fife. She finished third in 2007 with the best results the NDP has ever shown in the riding.
Fife’s strength has traditionally seen support in central and campus areas, whereas the suburbs were a challenge.
Fife said the dynamics of this campaign were the opposite of her previous campaign.
“The NDP is in a different place. We stayed focused on education and health care and people were listening,” she said. “People know me. They know how committed I am.”
Fife has been a trustee with the Waterloo Region District School Board for nine years and sat as chair of the board until taking a leave of absence to run for the NDP.
She’s the mother of two children, Claire, 11, and Aiden, 13, and her husband Dale is a history and law teacher at Waterloo Oxford Secondary School.
Fife served as the president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association and vice-president of the Canadian School Boards Association.
She said her work on the school board prepared her for understanding how government works and advocating on behalf of the community.
She is a moderate within the NDP party, who “understands that in order to further our social policy goals, we need to have a strong economy.”
Source: Metroland / Waterloo Record | politics |
https://www.terrylaw.us/Articles/MAGNA-CA.htm | 2023-09-30T10:43:50 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510671.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20230930082033-20230930112033-00310.warc.gz | 0.987237 | 504 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__207411144 | en | WHAT IS THE MAGNA CARTA?
If one is a student of History and/or the Law at all, you have to have heard of the Magna Carta. However, the general perception of the Magna Carta is probably not accurate. It is perceived as the basis of our Constitution. The Magna Carta did play some portion of the background for our democracy, but it was not a "Bill of Rights" for all citizens as my be the perception of some.
King John of England used considerable resources to defend English territory in France, but lost his ancestral lands there in Normandy and Anjou to the French king Philip II. King John to attempt to regain these lands imposed high taxes without his baron's consent which was a violation of feudal law and custom.
King John alienated the Catholic Church by quarreling with Pope Innocent III over the appointment of the archbishop of Canterbury. He made amends with the Catholic Church, but in 1214, King John lost the Battle of Bouvines (in what is now Belgium). He had ruled harshly and when he returned to collect even more money, many of the English barons revolted and captured London. However, they could not defeat King John's forces, so a stalemate developed and they negotiated.
The Magna Carta was the result and was imposed upon King John by the barons in 1215 at Runnymede, a meadow near Windsor. The Magna Carta contained 63 clauses of which apparently only two remain part of English law today as the others became outdated or were repealed. The two which are important to our heritage are #39 and #40.
Shortly after the Magna Carta was signed, King John applied to the Catholic Church to invalidate it contending it was extracted under duress, which the Church granted. It was later reinstated and adopted by subsequent kings.
Clause 39 established that the King would follow legal procedure before he punished someone. Clause 40 established the principle of equal access to the courts for all citizens without large fees.
There has been much debate as to whom the rights established in the Magna Carta were for. Originally, it is believed that they were not intended for all people, but for the barons. As time went on, the concepts of these rights were broadened to apply to all "free" men. No included, even then, were slaves, indentured persons, and women.
Note: 398 words. | politics |
http://dspt.edu/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=162&ViewID=7b97f7ed-8e5e-4120-848f-a8b4987d588f&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=776&PageID=459 | 2014-11-01T06:48:31 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-42/segments/1414637904722.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20141030025824-00077-ip-10-16-133-185.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.968379 | 3,262 | CC-MAIN-2014-42 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2014-42__0__178236258 | en | Keynote Address at the Mazatlán Forum
By Fr. Michael Sweeney, OP
When this conference was first proposed I supported the idea enthusiastically. I tend to be an optimist and I welcomed the idea of an exchange across cultures that might shed new light upon the issues that we propose to engage. I still hold that hope. But I am also aware that what have become conventional approaches to analyzing these issues will defeat my hope. One cannot place new wine in old skins and if anything new is to be said, we will need to break with convention in order to uncover it.
What convention or conventions do I have in mind?
It has, for example, become conventional to attempt to categorize every social issue in pseudo-political terms such as “left” and “right”, “liberal” and “conservative”, “tolerant” and “intolerant”, “progressive” and “reactionary.” This has become so much the case that, if the media in the United States (I dare not speak of Mexico) were forbidden the use of these epithets they would be reduced almost to silence.
This sort of convention is obvious, even trite and relatively easy to avoid, although I have often enough caught myself speaking of certain prelates as liberal or conservative, progressive or reactionary. Categories such as these can appear to be useful for the sake of contrasting opinions and approaches. Yet their use always renders the relationships they purport to describe impersonal. Intimate relationship is not liberal or conservative; no one is progressive or reactionary in friendship or in making love. The one who would say to his beloved, with quivering voice, “I tolerate you” would strictly deserve what would likely happen next.
The convention that we must break with is, I think, more subtle.
In 1958 Eric Voegelin delivered a paper at the University of Munich. In it he identified a “…phenomenon unknown to antiquity that permeates our modern societies so completely that its ubiquity scarcely leaves us any room to see it at all: the prohibition of questioning." Voegelin proceeded to ground this assertion philosophically, probing the systems of “…persons who know that, and why, their opinions cannot stand up under critical analysis and who therefore make the prohibition of the examination of their premises part of their dogma.”
One might contend with Voegelin that his criticism of Marx, Nietzsche, Comte and Heidegger - all of whom he accused of an intellectual swindle - might have been overdrawn. However, there is no doubt that in the Soviet regimes of the Cold War era there existed a prohibition of questions and the corresponding triumph of a party ideology, which might be characterized as an adherence according to which the explanation of any matter invariably preceded the facts.
We inhabit a different world than did Voegelin lecturing in 1958. The Iron Curtain has fallen and we in the United States take pride in the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech. In principle, there are no forbidden questions. Yet we should not too soon dismiss Voegelin's concern. I would suggest that, if there are no prohibited questions, nonetheless we have grown accustomed to an impatience with questions that can prove in practice to be tantamount to the same thing.
If the Soviet regimes were ideologically driven, the American system was economically driven by production and markets. Victory in the Cold War accrued largely to the fact that the NATO powers overwhelmingly out-produced the Eastern bloc. But we can now begin to see that this occurred at a cost: we in the United States have grown more and more to speak of all things as if they were commodities. What impact policies will have upon the economy controls most political thinking and determines the questions that are considered to be worthy of public consideration. Even men and women are regarded as economic resources; every corporation has a "department of human resources" - a terminology that would have appalled our grandparents and that betrays a much closer affinity to Marx than most Americans would like to concede.
In a public environment that emphasizes economic considerations almost to the exclusion of all else conversation is necessarily limited. We deal with problems to be solved; even if we acknowledge that there is a realm of human activity that transcends the problematic and that cannot be adequately accounted for by means of economic measures, we relegate that realm to what is personal and esoteric. Perhaps the reason for such a clamor over individual rights in American society has much to do with the fact that, for all of the political rhetoric, individuals do not figure very much into our economic or political calculus. The dimensions of the human person that ground and determine our individuality - our personal narratives, our fidelities, our intimate relationships - are regarded as private and have little place in our public debates.
I am convinced that the poverty of our public discourse is due to a convention of focusing upon "issues" requiring resolution rather than upon persons and things in relationship. In the place of real questions we address problems; we are not prohibited from asking questions except that there is a convention according to which any question that is deserving of our common attention must practically address a problem that needs resolution. In other words, a question must have the character of a problem in order for us to address it. Here we should notice, parenthetically, that only issues can be resolved; the resolution of a relationship is the death of it. Marriage, for example, is never resolved, except in divorce.
Gabriel Marcel once offered the helpful distinction between real and ersatz questions. According to Marcel, questions are real when we do not hold the answer to them, whereas questions to which we possess the answer are merely answers in question form. Such "questions" tend to close conversation rather than to open it. Yet in our emphasis upon production and the increase of wealth most of the questions that are publicly entertained tend to have the character of answers in the form of questions in that, almost invariably, they are concerned with means and not ends.
There can be real questions concerning the best manner in which we should proceed to accomplish something; we may not yet grasp the most felicitous means at hand and we may even be invited to debate what they might be. Yet conversation concerning the means must, of necessity, presume some sort of end, even if it is so vague as "strengthening the economy." But if the end is presumed known, then at best we have a very partial question.
For example, having posited that a certain growth rate is essential to the economy and having further estimated the rate of new immigrants according to that growth rate, we might ask how best to adjust the immigration rate in order to preserve the health of the economy. There is here a real question about the means, but with respect to the end we have, in Marcel's terms, an ersatz question, an answer in the form of a question. Questions such as these do not open conversation; they close it.
This convention of presuming the end is what, in my perception, has become ubiquitous in American society and is what defeats the posing of real questions. I cannot remember the last time I witnessed a real political question being discussed in a public political forum: a question that would concern the end to be achieved rather than the adequate means to serve an end that is already presumed and therefore hardly articulated. In the recent election rhetoric to which we were subjected in the U.S., debate concerned the integrity of the candidates and, occasionally, the means that they would institute if elected, but the ends, because presumed, were entirely vague. People should be "better off" than before; the world should be safer than it is, and so on; hardly enough to keep the mind alive. The candidates most likely to be elected are those who are convincing in their apparent sincerity, photogenic, and glib. To admit that any question touching upon the election might be real - a question to which the candidate does not have a ready answer - tends to be regarded as a sign of weakness, of incapacity to hold office or to lead.
I might add, parenthetically, that there are those who seem to hold the position that religious faith requires that there be no real questions, that to ask a real question is not merely a sign of weakness but of betrayal. I hold that there is, indeed, a revelation, which means that we have an access to knowledge about the human person that would otherwise be closed to us. But it is precisely the revelation that requires the posing of real questions - that is, questions to which we do not have an answer. The whole project of theology is an attempt to understand God, the human person and the world in the light of what has been revealed. Not to question in the light of the revelation is to refuse to receive it.
In much contemporary conversation we tend to presume the end. There is also an attendant tendency according to which the means can replace the end altogether. So, for example, what began as an attempt to establish equality of opportunity for the sake of a greater justice in society has turned into a practical egalitarianism. So conceived, it means that no person ought to have more than one has oneself. That this might not be just - that, for example, the common good itself might require some inequality in the distribution of goods - is, in such a view, no longer considered. Equal opportunity has become egalitarian treatment: all must be treated the same, and this premise is hardly challenged.
Again, we ought to notice that any conversation about what is economical must, necessarily, be a question of means, not of ends. We can determine what is the most economical approach to public health only if we have defined what is our end, what public health might be. Again, it is not economical, for example, to put a pianist of the caliber of Vladimir Horowitz at a cheap spinet. It is economical to offer him the best concert grand piano that we can find. The end, the music of which he is capable, must determine the means. Yet we have aggregated our various financial relationships to the extent that we now speak of "the economy" as if it were a thing, an end in itself, a subject that can be treated independently of other ends. Moreover, not only is it no longer regarded as a means; rather, it is the end that determines other ends - political, social, individual.
These are, in my judgment, examples of our substituting means for ends. There has also grown up a curious habit of despairing of any agreement concerning the ends in such a way that real questions are, if not prohibited, regarded as futile. We have, instead, process as an end. So, for example, radical pluralism is now presumed in public conversation in the U.S. to the degree that it is taken as a matter of course that there cannot be agreement among citizens even upon a common world view. Each individual, according to the Supreme Court, must be free to determine his or her own reality, his or her own world view. The function of government is then to preserve a radical individual autonomy. The project is negative; it is to avoid the assertion of a common good apart from a rule of law - which has now become a process - that respects pluralism and individual prerogative. The consequences of this assumption are drastic.
For example, immigration is a problem because immigrants threaten the individual prerogatives of citizens. What an immigrant might contribute to the society cannot be seriously addressed, because there is little notion of what is a society, apart from economic cooperation for the sake of the individual. Therefore laws are enacted to protect "the economy" and immigration is then treated under the rubric of legal or illegal. The rights of citizens require limiting the rights of non-citizens lest they prove a drain on the economy or a threat to the employment of citizens, and immigration is fundamentally viewed as an intrusion. This is not entirely a new development in the U.S. The great jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes held that the law of the land is whatever the privileged intend it to be.
Unless we can address the confusion of means and ends, the substitution of means for ends and, to add to the mix, a despair of achieving common ends, all of which in my judgment have becomes conventional in public discourse, we will have have little to say that is new.
We here gathered have proposed to consider together a number of issues - individual rights, subsidiarity in governance, immigration, the relation of Church and state, the market economy, the impact of social media and so on; the reason for choosing these topics and not others is that there are urgent and practical problems associated with each, problems that impact both U.S. and Mexican societies. It is my hope that we will not merely attempt new solutions to these problems - that is, by addressing the means - but that we can offer new perspectives because we pose real questions to which we do not, at first, have an answer; questions that have a bearing upon the ends, not merely the means.
To do this requires, I think, certain virtues on our part.
First, we must have the humility to expect that our conversation has a real purpose, which is to say that we require the conversation in order to address questions to which we do not have a ready answer. For me the whole advantage to the conversation will be found in the fact that others have a purchase upon the truth that I do not myself have.
Second, we must have the courage and honesty to express our own uneasiness around the premises that we ourselves will advance. If a question is real to me it means that I do not know the answer to it and that I experience an uneasiness with respect to my own approach. Often my best contribution may well be to give an account of the points upon which I am least clear, least certain. Not only will I then not prohibit questioning; rather, I will insist upon questions, careful to examine my own premises and to concede where I find them lacking. I am convinced that expertise in any subject does not imply an absence of questions; rather it is to have some insight into what the real questions are that ought to be asked.
We must also keep faith. I am convinced that there is not only supernatural faith, but also a natural disposition that ought to be called faith. To be faithful is to remain, to stay; it is to look and not look away. If I am faithful to a friend it means that I will remain in relationship, even and especially when we disagree, when to stay is only achieved at a cost. If we are to speak of such things as rights, or immigration, or social media and youth we are required to remain faithful to the experience of others as well as our own; to look and not look away. We will avoid easy generalizations and refuse to relegate their situations or circumstances to the problematic.
I am indeed hopeful for our conversations. My most specific hope is that we will surface some of the questions that have hitherto gone unasked or unexplored. There are, certainly, cultural differences between Mexico and the U.S which can serve us very well as we frame the questions that ought to be asked.
To begin our conversation I would be very interested to solicit your judgment concerning my remarks. To my colleagues in the College of Fellows: Is the situation in the U.S. as I have described it? And, if you agree at some points with my analysis, I would very much like to know from our Mexican colleagues whether there are resonances with respect to public discourse in Mexico.
Further, if you judge that there is some merit in my approach, then I would invite us to commence conversation over the next few days with a consideration of the questions that, perhaps, cause us to be uneasy, admissions of our need for conversation.
I appreciate your attention. | politics |
https://global.econ.kwansei.ac.jp/people/maeda-takashi | 2023-12-07T16:09:25 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100677.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20231207153748-20231207183748-00681.warc.gz | 0.902924 | 139 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__86719581 | en | Public Finance, Local Government Finance, Fiscal Federalism and Decentralization, Regional Economic Policy
Recent Research Interests
My academic specialty is Public Finance and recent research interests are tax reform, local government finance, fiscal decentralization. Today, Japan is facing a decrease in a total of population and the graying of population. Under this situation, in order to vitalize the economy, how should the tax system to be reform? How can local governments work more effectively? Isn’t the decentralized fiscal system more desirable for our future than the present centralized system? My research focuses on these matters.
I also work for the national and local governments as a member of many advisory committees. | politics |
https://www.wearetheunitedstates.org/campaign | 2024-04-15T12:35:33 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296816977.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20240415111434-20240415141434-00106.warc.gz | 0.916266 | 281 | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-18__0__114760476 | en | WE ARE THE UNITED STATES
A National Symbol. A Unifying Force.
A CAUSE FOR ALL OF US.
The extraordinary story of America’s Flagship is a story of our nation coming together on a great quest. The SS United States is a symbol of the values that define us as a nation:
our ingenuity and innovation, our creativity and initiative, and our ability to join arm-in-arm to advance common goals.
Select an image to open in full size. Navigate with arrow buttons on the left and right edges.
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America’s Flagship can once again be a unifying force for our divided nation.
She can reconnect us with our history, with the wider world, and with each other.
The only ship bearing the name of our great nation is now in danger of being lost to history. She's still the fastest ocean liner ever built, and despite her peeling paint, remains ready for revitalization. She needs your help now. And you can help us save her.
THE WE ARE THE UNITED STATES CAMPAIGN will help protect and revitalize America’s Flagship by raising essential funds to pay for her upkeep and honor her legacy. The Campaign emphasizes the nation’s bedrock values that created the United States and keep the American Dream alive. | politics |
https://whatilearned.world/2018/08/27/why-i-admire-mandela/ | 2023-01-31T12:32:16 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764499871.68/warc/CC-MAIN-20230131122916-20230131152916-00033.warc.gz | 0.958212 | 839 | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-06__0__150040481 | en | “Goodness, armed with power, is corrupted; and pure love without power is destroyed.”
Mandela was not a passivist. In 1955 Nelson Mandela reversed his position on non-violent protest and concluded that violent action would be necessary to end apartheid and white minority rule. This lead him to found Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC and to lead the armed resistance. He was ultimately arrested in 1962 and convicted and jailed in 1964. Some people criticize him for embracing the armed struggle, but it was a realistic response to a situation where the white minority government used the power of the state to maintain their entrenched interests.
“The path of those who preach love, and not hatred, is not easy. They often have to wear a crown of thorns.”
Mandela was a man of high ideals and strong convictions. From his Rivonia Trial Speech in 1964: “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to see realized. But if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
“Revenge is like drinking poison and hoping it will kill your enemies.”
Yet the reason I admire Mandela is forgiveness. He forgave his oppressors. He forgave his captors. Its one thing to declare your commitment to a democratic and free society, its quite another to emerge after 27 years in jail without bitterness or hatred, and from a position of power embrace reconciliation and nation building. This is why Mandela is my hero.
“A too simple social radicalism does not recognize how quickly the poor, the weak, the despised of yesterday, may, on gaining a social victory over their detractors, exhibit the same arrogance and the same will-to-power which they abhorred in their opponents and which they were inclined to regard as a congenital sin of their enemies.”
Mandela’s social radicalism won the day but he restrained the will-to-power of his newly enfranchised African National Congress (ANC). Instead of retribution for centuries of injustice, Mandela convened the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as the cornerstone of a national reconciliation process. He embraced a personal and visible outreach to white South Africans epitomized by his support for the national rugby team at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Traditionally the white mans sport, the Springbok was for many the symbol of apartheid. Through his moral leadership, South Africa transitioned from apartheid to democracy peacefully. Even the most committed atheist happily embraced the South African miracle.
“Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we must be saved by love.”
I don’t hold Mandela to be a paragon of virtue. His personal life reflects infidelity and divorce, and by his own admission he was an absent father. But his ability to forgive and put aside his pride is remarkable, historically impactful, and represents the best of what a human can be. The last word goes to Oprah: “I think in the world of heros, living heroes, he is number one for me. His ability to withstand years of apartheid and 27 years in prison and to come out of it with grace and forgiveness. It is the greatest lesson of our time.”
“Forgiveness is the final form of love.”
Or instead of suffering through my writing, you could take it from Trevor.
- Mandela, Nelson. A Long Walk To Freedom. Back Bay Books, 1995.
- Niebuhr, Reinhold. Moral Man and Immoral Society. Westminster John Knox Press, 2013. | politics |
http://engineeringevil.com/ | 2014-03-07T11:00:08 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1393999642170/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305060722-00030-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.945333 | 317 | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2014-10__0__149245714 | en | (13:42, Thursday, March 6, 2014)
Ukrainian News Agency
The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea at the closed meeting on Thursday has resolved the region to enter Russia as a constituent territory of the Russian Federation, reads the Crimean Parliament’s resolution, a copy thereof Ukrainian News Agency has obtained.
The decision received votes of 78 out of 86 Councillors (100 seats on the Council in all).
By this decision the Crimean Parliament turned to President Vladimir Putin of Russia and the State Duma of the Federal Assembly with a proposition to start the procedure of affiliation with Russia as a constituent territory of the Russian Federation.
“There was an annexion of Crimea by Ukraine, and namely of these sentiments and concerns we have made a decision on affiliation with the Russian Federation. I think we will be better and more comfortable there,” deputy chairman of the Crimean Council Serhii Tsekov told journalists in Simferopol.
By the same decision the Crimean Parliament moved the referendum from March 30 to 16.
Bulletins will be printed in the Russian, Ukrainian, and Crimean Tartar languages.
Tsekov thinks the Crimean Parliament’s today decision will spark indignation in Ukraine’s government, which is regarded illegitimate in Ukraine.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea at the meeting on Thursday decided to move the referendum on Crimea’s status from March 30 to 16 and made one of the questions inclusion of the region into the Russian Federation. | politics |
https://aubreehughes.wordpress.com/category/media/ | 2018-12-17T09:59:28 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-51/segments/1544376828501.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20181217091227-20181217113227-00347.warc.gz | 0.90946 | 738 | CC-MAIN-2018-51 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-51__0__4688877 | en | When I hear the word surveillance, I’m quick to criticize and assume it indicates Big Brother is watching like in George Orwell’s 1984. However, the surveillance function of the press empowers citizens with information to ensure a fair democratic society. The function is essential for democracy because it helps the media share news that most citizens do not have access to and can benefit from. It is a right that allows journalists to tell us what is happening in our country.
For example, the surveillance function has allowed reporters to investigate Russia’s election meddling, the Watergate scandal and Clinton e-mail controversy. The surveillance function allows the press to inform the public not only on matters of politics, but also of safety. The media was able to give citizens living along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean time to prepare for the recent hurricanes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration discovered two months beforehand that there would be 14 to 19 hurricanes, and the media helped distribute the message (Coghlan, 2017).
One of the greatest threats to the surveillance function of the press is skepticism. In a time of fake news and alternative facts, people do not look to the media as a reliable source. According to a Gallup poll, only about 30 percent of Americans trust any source to bring objective and accurate news (2016). Journalists can no longer claim to be the watchdogs they once were; now many insert their opinions and spin the truth. President Trump generalizes the media by indicating they are all evil truth-twisters. In fact, Trump has repeatedly called journalists “an enemy of the American people” (Mullin, 2017).
This skepticism makes another threat to the surveillance function. Many journalists are under a microscope of stricter scrutiny, growing more and more susceptible to litigation. Melania Trump recently won a lawsuit against a journalist’s false accusations (Gonzalez, 2017). Some thought the $2 million compensatory and punitive damages were excessive and should have been protected under neutral reportage, which protects journalists for publishing accurate defamatory information by a responsible party.
The surveillance function allows the media to be the eyes and ears of society. The First Amendment protects the rights of a free press, but the limitations and challenges are growing every day.
Mullin, B. (2017, February 22). Journalists react to being called ‘the enemy of the American people’. Retrieved September 24, 2017, from https://www.poynter.org/news/journalists-react-being-called-enemy-american-people
Coghlan, A. (2017, September 20). Hurricane Maria confirms dire warnings for 2017 hurricane season. Retrieved September 24, 2017, from https://www.newscientist.com/article/2148116-hurricane-maria-confirms-dire-warnings-for-2017-hurricane-season/
Gallup, I. (2016, September 14). Americans’ Trust in Mass Media Sinks to New Low. Retrieved September 24, 2017, from http://news.gallup.com/poll/195542/americans-trust-mass-media-sinks-new-low.aspx
Gonzalez, G. (2017, May 1). Media Risks Rise As Public Trust Fades. Retrieved September 24, 2017, from http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20170501/NEWS06/912313178/News-provider-risks-rise-as-public-trust-fades-critics-increase-scrutiny-Trump | politics |
https://kenyan.link/2021/10/12/kenya-defaults-on-arror-and-kimwarer-dam-loans/ | 2023-05-28T06:27:19 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224643585.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20230528051321-20230528081321-00774.warc.gz | 0.965202 | 263 | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-23__0__111562158 | en | Intesa San Paolo, the Italian bank, says that Kenya has failed instalment payment even amid investigations into the allegations that billions of shillings shared in foreign banks and never wired to Kenya government accounts. Kenya defaulted on the Sh19.6 billion loan for the controversial Arror and Kimwarer dams, failing to make the first instalment payment to the Italian bank in May. According to documents presented to Parliament, the Treasury has yet to make payments on loans associated with the two dams.
According to court filings by Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji, Mr Rotich facilitated the direct payment of the amount to Italy’s SACE Insurance, which is illegal in Kenyan law. This requires that all payments be processed through the consolidated account in Kenya. The State believes that the push to avoid wiring money to the consolidated fund was designed to facilitate bribes and kickbacks.
President Uhuru Kenyatta cancelled the projects in September 2019 after receiving a report from a specialised committee he formed in response to the discovery of irregularities and improprieties surrounding the two mega infrastructure projects. The cancellations occurred during a game fiscal year in which the Arror dam received Sh11 billion and an additional Sh5.2 billion intended for Kimwarer was wired to Kenya. | politics |
https://carehires.com/white-papers/ | 2023-10-04T01:02:45 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511284.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231003224357-20231004014357-00490.warc.gz | 0.921392 | 175 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__96101474 | en | Why Finding and Retaining Qualified Staff is Becoming Increasingly Difficult in the UK
The shortage of qualified and experienced care workers is a predominant issue that the UK care industry is currently facing. In particular, the rising demand for competent staff to provide consistent care for growing numbers of care residents has brought attention to the necessity of reliable long-term solutions.
Exploring the Importance of the Modern Slavery Act in Social Care
Modern slavery, a harrowing and pervasive issue on a global scale, is characterised by coercion, force, deception, or fraud used to exploit individuals. This modern-day scourge impacts nearly 50 million people worldwide, with the United Kingdom alone estimating over 100,000 victims. In response to this grave challenge, the UK introduced the Modern Slavery Act in 2015, consolidating historical trafficking and slavery offences to combat this exploitation within its borders. | politics |
http://www.thecolbyecho.com/features/school-consolidation-in-maine-up-for-revote-in-november-elec | 2013-05-22T23:46:51 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702525329/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110845-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | 0.97258 | 1,221 | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2013-20__0__84436543 | en | School consolidation in Maine up for revote in November elec
Students on the Hill traveling to the polls on November 3 will have to cast a vote on Question 3, which, if passed, would repeal the law mandating school district restructuring. The "Repeal the School District Consolidation Law" reform is a statewide veto referendum that attempts to overturn the school consolidation law that was passed by the Maine State Legislature in 2008.
Governor John Baldacci created the School District Consolidation Law with the intent to reduce costs and improve the Maine school system. Under this law, the number of total school districts would be reduced from 285 to 80. In an e-mail addressing the Maine Democratic Party, Baldacci stated that the law creates a "smarter, more sustainable public education program."
The School Consolidation Law, which was originally proposed in 2007 and voted on in 2008, stirred up much controversy then. It has drawn even more attention being disputed the second time around. Supporters claim that 85 percent of Maine schools are already in compliance with the law.
The force behind the push for consolidation comes from the Maine People for Improved School Education, as well as Governor Baldacci. The key arguments for consolidation include the fact that it will save Maine taxpayers $39 million a year and it will create a more efficient school system overall. The focus of the law is not on the individual schools and the teachers, but rather, the administrations that run those schools. "Every teacher will be working and every school will be open--in fact, every school will be stronger because of [the reforms]," Baldacci said.
Maine currently has 285 school districts, a number that has been argued as far too high for Maine's small student population. In a statement released by the Maine People for Improved School Education, the "average number of students in a district, nationally, is about 3,200. In Maine, it's less than 750."
The issue now, claim the consolidation supporters, is that pulling out of the program would cause the state more harm than good. The money that has been saved by consolidating would be lost, which includes the loss of many Gifted and Talented, Advanced Placement, Language and Special Education programs that have been created with the savings. "If Question 3 passes it will be a disaster for our schools and our students," Baldacci said. "Question 3 would be a terrible step in the wrong direction. We cannot afford to go back to the old, inefficient, overly bureaucratic way of doing things in Maine, especially when it doesn't do anything to help our kids."
On the other side of the issue is the Maine Coalition to Save Schools. The head of the campaign, Skip Greenlaw, argues that the consolidation law is not an attempt to improve the school system, but rather a way for the state to escape debt. "Basically, the Governor needed to cut $37 million in expenditures to balance his budget last year. Now he's trying to influence the outcome of the referendum vote by rewriting history."
The "Yes on 3" supporters argue that those supporting the consolidation law have been misrepresenting the facts to Maine citizens. They argue that there would be no net cost savings by consolidating the school districts. In fact, according to an article in The Maine View, school consolidation would result in the largest single increase in property taxes in the history of the state of Maine, and that among the 26 new districts that did consolidate, property tax has gone up in some areas by 25 to 30 percent.
The claim that 85 percent of Maine schools have already consolidated is also a misleading fact. The mandate exempted 65 districts in Maine, and another 100 districts refused to consolidate. Of the exempted districts, many are in large, costly areas, mostly the southern region of the state. If the districts in the regions where the majority of school funding is spent are exempt, they will be forced to take other measures to reduce their spending. And the districts that refused to consolidate were fined, with the current total reaching over $5 million in penalties.
"The state told people up front they would be penalized if they didn't vote for consolidation and that's just not right in a democracy. Even with that threat hanging over their heads, 88,916 voters said "no" to the mandate because they thought it was a bad idea for their communities and their schools," Greenlaw said.
Another penalty of the consolidation law would be the leveling of salaries and programs in consolidated schools. Teacher contracts would have to be merged, resulting in salary increases for some and decreases for others. The same goes for school programs. If a strong school and a weaker school consolidate, the stronger school may be forced to give up some of its special programming to the weaker school in order to balance them.
Instead of dismissing the consolidation law outright, Greenlaw instead calls for a combined effort. "Why aren't we encouraging all districts to work together on collaborations that make sense for the cities and towns involved instead of trying to perpetuate failed legislation?"
And Greenlaw makes a good point. For many citizens in Maine what may be good for one is terrible for another. The consolidation law, which may work for many of the smaller districts in northern Maine, would cause nothing but harm to the larger, more populated districts of the greater Portland area. In fact, simply comparing the populations of northern and southern Maine makes one realize how different the two are. The population of southern Maine at 870,000, is nearly twice that of the northern half with barely over 400,000. Many in the state would argue that the two are nearly different states, and that it is impossible for one uniform law to help both in the same way.
Either way, students on the Hill are encouraged to make an informed decision at the polls. Voting "no" on Question 3 would drastically change the Maine school system, and some say it would not necessarily be for the better. Voting "yes" would maintain the status quo, even though it may not be the most cost efficient system. | politics |
https://dryade.info/?lang=en | 2024-02-28T12:38:23 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474715.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20240228112121-20240228142121-00403.warc.gz | 0.947458 | 117 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__184685111 | en | Nature does not have a voice of its own. It cannot defend its own interests. The same goes for the future generations. Nevertheless their interests are violated by climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
Dryade uses the force of law to defend the interests of both nature and mankind.
By protecting nature, one takes care of man, and vice versa. A healthy environment for ourselves, our children and grandchildren is an environment in which nature thrives. If we manage to reconcile nature and economy, everybody wins. We want to bridge contradictions and forge alliances between mankind and nature. | politics |
https://www.sanpud.org/decolonising-drug-policy-the-war-on-drugs-and-denial-of-indigenous-rights/ | 2022-11-28T08:11:23 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446710488.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20221128070816-20221128100816-00209.warc.gz | 0.869034 | 354 | CC-MAIN-2022-49 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-49__0__150593447 | en | Decolonising drug policy: The war on drugs and denial of indigenous rights
As a colonial construct, the global drug control regime has undermined the rights of indigenous peoples (including the right to self determination, and to practice and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs), obliging all states to abolish traditional uses of coca, cannabis and opium by means of crop eradication and drug law enforcement.
This webinar, which will take place on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2021, will shed light on the conflict between the drug control regime and Indigenous rights, and challenge prevailing narratives that these tensions are possible to reconcile while the UN retains the goal of a society free of drugs.
David Choquehuanca Céspedes, Vice-President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
- Freddy Condo Riveros, Member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (Bolivia)
- Natalia Rebollo Corral, Human rights lawyer, International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research and Service (ICEERS)
- Greek Zweni, Spokesperson for Umzimvubu Farmers Support Network (UFSA) and traditional health practitioner (Mpondoland, South Africa)
- Tuari Potiki, Director of Maori Development, University of Otago, New Zealand
Moderated by: Marie Nougier, Head of Research and Communications, IDPC
Organised by Dejusticia, the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) and the Transnational Institute (TNI) in collaboration with Harm Reduction International, Release, the UK centre for expertise on drugs and drugs law and Voices of Community Action & Leadership, Kenya. | politics |
https://quatre-bornes.com/manchester-arena-explosion/ | 2018-02-22T16:15:25 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-09/segments/1518891814140.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20180222160706-20180222180706-00455.warc.gz | 0.963238 | 788 | CC-MAIN-2018-09 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2018-09__0__214168611 | en | At least 22 people have died and more than 59 injured after what Theresa May described as an “appalling terror attack” at the Manchester Arena during an Ariana Grande pop concert. Here are the latest updates:
• At least 22 people killed and 59 injured
• Suicide bomber had IED around his waist
• Police say male, lone attacker is responsible
• Theresa May says police treating it as ‘appalling terrorist attack’
• ‘Evil losers’: Donald Trump responds to attack
• Katie Hopkins reported to police for hate speech tweet
• First victim named as Georgina Callander
• All parties suspend election campaigning
• Ariana Grande tweets: ‘From the bottom of my heart, I am so, so sorry.’
• Video shows moment concert-goers flee in terror
• Eyewitnesses: ‘People were lying on the ground covered in blood’
• People in Manchester open their homes to victims
Ariana Grande, who was not harmed in the attack, tweeted: “broken. from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don’t have words.” Her manager Scooter Braun said they mourned “the lives of children and loved ones taken by this cowardly act”.
Manchester Arena said the incident had happened outside the venue “in a public space”.
Others said it happened close to the ticket offices in a foyer area. Concert-goers affected by the suspected terror attack were offered shelter by residents, taxi drivers offered free rides and a hotel near the venue took in dozens of children.
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham tweeted: “My heart goes out to families who have lost loved ones, my admiration to our brave emergency services. A terrible night for our great city.”
Theresa May said her thoughts were with the victims and families of those affected and has condemned “what is being treated by the police as an appalling terrorist attack”.
Election campaigning by the Conservatives, Labour and UKIP has been suspended, with other parties expected to do the same. Home Secretary Amber Rudd also condemned the “barbaric attack, deliberately targeting some of the most vulnerable in our society”.
She said: “The full details of exactly what happened are still emerging, but I am proud of the police and first responders who reacted to this tragic incident so swiftly.”
An emergency COBRA meeting is expected to take place in Downing Street at 9am.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “I am horrified by the horrendous events in Manchester last night. “My thoughts are with families and friends of those who have died and been injured. Today the whole country will grieve for the people who have lost their lives.”
Manchester Fire and Rescue tweeted a statement to say crews were helping police and paramedics at “the scene of this horrific incident”. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected and especially the families who lost their loved ones tonight – utterly heartbreaking,” they said.
North West Ambulance Service Trust has urged people to only call in the case of life-threatening emergencies.
“If you require our assistance over the next few hours, please bear with us we have a large number of resources at the incident in Manchester,” the trust tweeted.
Two US officials speaking to the Reuters news agency suggested that initial signs pointed to a suicide bombing. If it is confirmed to be a terrorist attack, the explosion will become the worst atrocity in the UK since the deaths of the 52 victims of the 7/7 London bombings in 2005. In the capita;, the Met police urged people to stay “vigilant” and added: “You’ll see more police in London today.” | politics |
http://www.ibpsguide.com/important-current-affairs-daily-updates-21st-june-2017-specially-for-upcoming-exams-2017 | 2017-09-22T11:33:08 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818688940.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20170922112142-20170922132142-00549.warc.gz | 0.927556 | 1,421 | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2017-39__0__200874045 | en | Important Current Affairs Daily Updates (21st June 2017) – Specially for Upcoming Exams 2017:
Dear Readers, Daily Current affairs News Updates about the National and International events were listed here. Candidates those who are preparing for IBPS/SBI/PO/Clerk exam and all other competitive exams can use this.
For More Daily Current Affairs Updates – Click Here
June 21st – International Day of Yoga
The International Day of Yoga is celebrated across the world on 21 June. It aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga. The theme for the 2017 celebration, organized by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, is ‘Yoga for Health.’ The theme highlights the fact that yoga can contribute in a holistic way to achieving equilibrium between mind and body.
Ram Nath Kovind resigned from the post of governor of Bihar
Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind has resigned from his gubernatorial post. The resignation follows his nomination as the ruling NDA’s presidential candidate. President Pranab Mukherjee has accepted the resignation of Kovind as the Governor of Bihar. West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi will discharge the functions of the Governor of Bihar, in addition to his own duties.
NDA – National Democratic Alliance
First female president of India – Pratibha Devisingh Patil
Wi-Fi hotspots across Hyderabad launched
Hyderabad Mayor B. Rammohan on Tuesday launched the ‘Hyderabad City Wi-Fi Project’ or ‘Hy-Fi’ with over 1,000 hotspots where citizens can access Internet free for about half-an-hour. Mr. Rammohan said these hotspots would be upgraded to 3,000 across different areas of the twin cities.
State – Telangana
Capital – Hyderabad
CM –K. Chandrashekar Rao
Governor – E. S. L. Narasimhan
To promote Cooperation in the Field of Archives, India and Portugal sign an agreement
A Protocol of Cooperation was signed between the National Archives of India and the Minister of Culture of the Portuguese Republic in the field of archives in Lisbon, Portugal. As a first step under this agreement, the Torre do Tombo (National Archives of Portugal) handed over to the National Archives of India digital copies of 62 volumes of the collection known as ‘Moncoes do Reino’ (Monsoon correspondence). These volumes were originally part of over 456 volumes that cover the period from 1568 to 1914 and form the largest of all record collections in the Goa State Archives.
Country – Portugal
Capital – Lisbon
Currency – Euro
Saudi king names son Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince
Saudi King Salman today named his son Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince. This completes a gradual removal of powers from the previous prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who has been fired. According to a royal decree issued by the official Saudi Press Agency, Mohammed bin Salman, was also named deputy Prime Minister, and maintains his post as minister of defence.
Country – Saudi Arabia
Capital – Riyadh
Currency – Saudi riyal
French Defence Minister Sylvie Goulard quits
French Defence Minister Sylvie Goulard quit her job on Tuesday, saying she did not want to stay on because of a probe overshadowing her MoDem party’s afairs in the European Parliament.
Government asks banks, post offices to deposit scrapped Rs. 500, Rs. 1,000 notes to RBI by 20th July
Government has asked banks to deposit demonetised notes at RBI by the 20th of next month. The government has permitted banks and post offices to deposit junked Rs. 500 and 1,000 notes with the Reserve Bank by the deadline. This is the second window being provided to banks, post offices and cooperative banks for depositing the notes. The earlier window was open till December 31, a day after the 50-day period of demonetisation of high value currency.
India’s history with demonetization
1stDemonetisation – 1946 (ban of 1000 Rs& 10000 Rs)
2ndDemonetisation – 1978 (ban of 1000, 5000& 10000 Rs)
3rdDemonetisation – 2016 (ban of 500& 1000 Rs)
RBI – Reserve Bank of India
HQ – Mumbai
Governor – Urjit Patel
4 Deputy Governors – BP Kanungo, S S Mundra, N S Vishwanathan and Viral Acharya
Tata Group has signed an agreement with Lockheed Martin to produce and export new generation F-16 fighter aircraft
The defence arm of the Tata Group has signed an agreement with American firm Lockheed Martin to produce and export new generation F-16 fighter aircraft, potentially kick-starting a mega ‘Make in India’ project. The agreement has been signed at the Paris Airshow, Lockheed to produce F-16 fighter planes in India. It is the newest and most advanced version of the world’s most successful, combat-proven multi-role fighter.
Lockheed Martin HQ – Bethesda, Maryland, United States
CEO– Marillyn Hewson
The first recipient of the PM’s Award for outstanding contribution to promotion and development of Yoga is Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute
Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune has been selected as the first recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for outstanding contribution to promotion and development of Yoga. The Institute has worked to spread Yoga, internationally, over a period of four decades.
The institute was established on January 19, 1975
The Indian Navy’s first indigenously built floating dock (FDN-2), developed by Larsen& Toubro Ltd. (L&T), was launched at L&T’s shipyard in Kattupalli on Tuesday. The floating dock is 185 metres long and 40 metres wide and will enable docking of all kinds of vessels, including Naval ships and submarines (excepting aircraft carriers and tankers) of up to 8,000 tonnes displacement, with draughts of up to seven metres, during both day and night.
larsen and toubro HQ – Mumbai
The Chief of the Naval Staff – Admiral Sunil Lanba
Anil Kumble,the former Indian Captain, resigned from the post of Head Coach of the Indian Cricket team. His resignation came before the limited-overs tour of the West Indies team.
For More Daily Current Affairs Updates – Click Here
English Learning Session :– (Day-1)
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English Learning Session :– (Day-7) | politics |
https://www.vacationsmadeeasy.com/GreaterWashingtonDCAreaDC/articles/TouringtheWhiteHouse.cfm | 2023-11-28T09:00:51 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679099281.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20231128083443-20231128113443-00096.warc.gz | 0.941633 | 1,019 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__46782782 | en | White House Tours
Can you tour the White House?
The White House in Washington DC is utilized as both home to the President of the United States and their family, and a collection dedicated to everything of American History. Every US President since John Adams has resided there during their Presidential term. Tours of the White House are free, self-guided tours that allow you to see a limited portion of the famous house, including the Red Room, Blue Room, Green Room, and the East Room where state dinners and receptions are held, and where Presidents Lincoln and Kenney laid in state following their untimely deaths.
The President and their home must be protected by the utmost in security measures at all times, but the First Family strives to make the White House open to visitors. In order to ensure safety of both the Presidential family and visitors, certain protocol must be followed in order to enter and tour the White House. We've posted the current guidelines for exploring the White House below, to help you easily solidify your plans for having a stupendous time in Washington DC.
White House Tours Request Process
- Must send a request through your Member of Congress. If you're unsure who is your representative, you can find out at https://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ and enter your zip code. Each Representative has their own procedure for processing requests, but typically you can make the request online. Be prepared to provide information including name, address, phone number and arrival/departure dates.
- Requestings are accepted up to six months in advance, but must be at least 21 days prior.
- Requestings are typically responded to within one month of requested tour date.The White House does provide a limited number of wheelchairs for handicapped visitors. Be sure to make the request as soon as you arrive at the White House Complex. Of certain, service animals are allowed on tours, with prior approval.
- All White House Tours may be subject to last minute cancellation.
- For the most current information on White House Tours, call 202-456-7041.
If you gain permission for a White House Tour, you will undergo security screening several times at the White House Complex. Each visitor over 18 years must show valid government issued ID, and the information much match exactly that provided in the request. The list of prohibited items is extensive, and changes often. To be safe, plan to leave behind everything but your car keys.
While it is certainly a one-of-a-kind experience to tour the inside of the White House, it can be a very challenging procedure. However, those who prefer ease of planning will find a variety of sightseeing tours that stop by the White House Visitor's Center. As with the actual White House Tours, visits to the White House Visitor Center are also subject to last minute cancellation, though the booking process is infinitely easier, and with the tours you'll be taken to numerous other popular sites in Washington DC to ensure that your plans are not entirely ruined.
Tours Visiting the White House Visitor's Center
Old Town Narrated Excursion
The Old Town Trolley Narrated Tour offers hop-on/hop-off privileges for a flexible tour option that stops by the White House Visitor's Center. Aside from visiting the White House Visitor's Center, the Old Town Trolley Narrated Tour also makes stops at, or offers views of, sites including U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, Lincoln Memorial, Veterans Memorial, FDR Memorial and numerous other popular landmarks throughout the DC area.
All Day Interior Buildings Tour
The All Day Washington DC Interior Buildings Tour is just that — a full nine hour tour experience that offers an encompassing look at Washington DC. As with every tour on this list, you'll stop at the White House Visitor Center, and stop at other entrancing locales including Ford's Theatre, Peterson House, World War 2 Memorial, National Museum of American History, U.S. Capitol and National Air and Space Museum. Additionally, you'll find views of many other sites including the FBI Building, Washington Monument, Library of Congress and much more.
Two Day Grand Tour
Those wanting a full look at Washington DC will find the Two Day Grand Tour to be just the ticket. Providing two nine hour days of sightseeing, you'll feel as if Washington DC is your home town. Tour stops include the White House Visitor's Center, the stops along the All Day Washington DC Interior Buildings Tour, and more. And just as with the tour stops, you'll find the same scenery from the All Day Tour and then some along the Two Day Grand Tour for an in depth look at our nation's capitol.
Regardless of the journey that you embark upon, you will have a fantastic time seeing all of DC's hottest landmarks, memorials, and dedication areas. Since it is home to some of the most famed and notable historical happenings in the country, it is absolutely a great place to experience. | politics |
https://africaishare.com/kenya-usa-free-trade-area-negotiations/ | 2023-12-05T08:00:18 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100550.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20231205073336-20231205103336-00132.warc.gz | 0.93828 | 676 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__305233830 | en | The negotiations for a Free Trade Area (FTA) between Kenya and the United States of America (‘USA’) are ongoing.
This article provides a summary of a podcast discussion hosted at Africa iShare on the topic. You can listen to the full podcast at – https://54ishare.com/podcasts-africa-ishare/.
What are the motivations for both countries in negotiating an FTA.
The motivations for FTA from the Kenya perspective are largely:
- The African Growth and Opportunity Act (‘AGOA’) will expire in 2025. It is not certain that the USA Congress will renew AGOA. The AGOA has been effective since 2000. It offers a preferential trade regime for select countries in sub-Sahara Africa. Kenya wants to secure the access it has to the USA market through a FTA should the AGOA not be renewed.
- USA is the third largest export market for Kenya. The main exports from Kenya to USA consist of, coffee, tea, apparel and nuts. Bearing the AGOA in mind and the access it grants to Kenya, the imminent expiry of the AGOA worries Kenya. Thus, the prospects of an FTA look appealing to Kenya.
For the USA side, the motivation for having an FTA in Kenya has been subject to debate and is seen as questionable. This is especially in view of the fact that, the AGOA has been used by the USA as leverage for negotiating for US interests within Sub-Sahara Africa. Moreover, the AGOA has largely been of greater benefit to the US than the African countries party to the agreement. That said, some of the likely motivations for USA are:
- China has been increasing its influence within Africa through the Belt and Road Initiative (‘BRI’) and through loans made to Africa. The USA, especially under the Trump administration, has been a strong opponent to domination of China. Kenya, being a pioneer in the China BRI becomes a good target for US to dilute China’s growing influence.
- To protect any other USA interests in Kenya and Africa. The interests being economic and political.
What are some reactions to the negotiations?
The negotiations have generated quite some heat within Africa. This is especially because Kenya is within the East Africa Community (‘EAC’) that is already operating a customs union. Additionally, Kenya is part of the Africa Union (‘AU’) and Common Market for Eastern and southern Africa (‘COMESA’). Moreover, the Africa Continental Free Trade Afrea (‘AcFTA’) which is aimed at creating a Free Trade Area in Africa is set to quick off in 2021 and Kenya is part of the AcFTA.
A number of sources have questioned the benefits that Kenya may derive from the FTA with USA. This is especially in view of the difference in development levels between USA and Kenya. Being at different development levels means that US companies are likely to flood the Kenyan market. This will pose a threat to domestic industries which largely comprise of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Have a listen to the whole podcast for the full discussion on Kenya Free Trade Area with USA here.
Listen to all our past discussions on our YouTube Channel. | politics |
http://www.obscurelyfamous.net/category/other/ | 2022-08-14T05:33:05 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571996.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20220814052950-20220814082950-00565.warc.gz | 0.982933 | 187 | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2022-33__0__210965329 | en | (1902 – 1920)
Kevin Barry was the First Irish Republican to be executed by the British since the Easter uprising of 1916 in Ireland. His execution caused outrage in Irish opinion and brought the tension to a fever pitch. His execution also precipitated a dramatic increase in violence as the Irish War for Independence entered its most bloody phase. His refusal to talk(despite torture) made him one of the most celebrated Irish Republicans. He is also known as one of the “Forgotten Ten”, a group of Irish republicans executed by the British in 1920-21.
He was only 18 years old.
He was originally buried in a plot at Mountjoy Prison in Dublin, but all ten are now in Glasnevin Prison. They were given a state funeral in 2001.
There is a bar called “Kevin Barry’s” named after him in Savannah GA. | politics |
https://originsafaris.com/tanzania-introduces-ban-on-plastic-bags/ | 2023-09-27T21:39:57 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510326.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20230927203115-20230927233115-00464.warc.gz | 0.924755 | 382 | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-40__0__217700415 | en | The effort to eliminate plastic bags is becoming unstoppable. Following over 60 countries across the globe in the war against plastic pollution, the government of the United Republic of Tanzania announced the ban on all plastic carrier bags effective from the first of June this Year.
“All plastic carrier bags, regardless of their thickness will be prohibited from being imported, exported, manufactured, sold, stored, supplied and used in mainland Tanzania”, read part of the statement from the Office of the Vice President of Tanzania.
Though the exceptions to the new rule for medical, industrial, constructional, agricultural, and waste management packaging, as well as small “ziploc” bags used to carry toiletries (as long as they leave the country when the visitors do) will be implemented.
In support of the Tanzanian government’s environmental law, we would like to notify all our guests, partners and supporters that any travellers entering the country refrain from using any and all forms of ‘disposable’ plastic carry bags. This would include plastic being found in both the guest’s main luggage as well as hand luggage.
In addition, please kindly note that when guests purchase duty free goods before entering Tanzania, they will be required to leave their duty free plastic carry bags at the port of entry. A special desk will be designated at all entry points.
For more information please visit the Vice President’s Office website at http://vpo.go.tz/travelers-note/
ABOUT ORIGINS SAFARIS
At Origins Safaris we have over 50 years of authentic African safari experience and we are passionate about wildlife, cultural heritage, adventure and exploration. We customize each and every safari to your personal requirements and expectations, ensuring an exclusive, unique and authentic experience every time.
Origins Safaris – Authentic African Experiences Since 1963 | politics |
https://www.repmetzgar.com/News/33008/Latest-News/Metzgar%E2%80%99s-Bill-Criminalizing-Illicit-Xylazine-Possession-Passes-House | 2023-12-04T07:13:01 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100525.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204052342-20231204082342-00721.warc.gz | 0.925942 | 266 | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-50__0__26615316 | en | – In an effort to ensure animal sedatives are used for their intended purposes, Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar (R-Somerset) announced his bill, which would criminalize illicit possession of xylazine with a veterinary use exemption, passed the House by a 169-34 vote.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), xylazine is a prescription sedative approved only for use in animals.
Metzgar said the Department of Health earlier this year temporarily scheduled xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance in Pennsylvania because it is increasingly being found in mixtures of illicit drugs. House Bill 1661
would codify this decision in part by criminalizing illicit possession in order to keep people alive and protect the safety of individuals.
“One of the first cases involving recreational xylazine usage was in Somerset County,” said Metzgar. “The person used it at a baby changing station at a gas station. Illicit xylazine in combination with illicit drugs is a serious public health concern, and I am pleased to see bipartisan support in advancing my legislation.”
House Bill 1661 now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Representative Carl Walker Metzgar
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Nate Temple | politics |
https://www.petra-stelzmueller.at/en/stories/poster-contest-vienna-design-week/ | 2024-02-21T21:50:55 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947473558.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20240221202132-20240221232132-00539.warc.gz | 0.945034 | 323 | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2024-10__0__175589927 | en | „Studio Protest“ is a poster-competition put to tender as an open call by the VIENNA DESIGN WEEK. It is supposed to call on to a critical and provocative analysis of current and personal protest-topics.
Due to current events I have changed the design of my 2015’s stamp, still the content is the same. Why?
In spite of industrialisation and huge progress the issue of human rights has not yet lost its importance: there is more surveillance than ever, slavery has never been abolished but simply hidden under new clothes, wage labour is carried out under inhumane conditions not only in third world countries, freedom of expression is under the state’s control and so on and so on.
One could – and mind you! This is the 21st century! – substantiate violations of the 30 articles of the „Universal Declaration of Human Rights“ with examples in every single country on this world.
Fact is: in 1958 Austria has professed itself to the European Commission for Human Rights.
“Man is born free and everywhere he lies in chains.” J. J. Rousseau 1758
Today human rights are violated in a way that it seems nothing has changed for the better since the times of Rousseau and despite Georg Orwell’s „1984“; only the means and the priorities have been shifted. Man as an individual (fingerprint) shall be reminded of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a maxim of conduct in daily life. The fingerprint as a symbol of absolute individuality versus total security. | politics |
https://jangaijap.com/2021/09/28/can-encounters-with-the-state-improve-minority-state-relations-evidence-from-myanmar/ | 2023-03-30T02:56:06 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296949093.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20230330004340-20230330034340-00207.warc.gz | 0.947522 | 190 | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | webtext-fineweb__CC-MAIN-2023-14__0__166202659 | en | Can Encounters with the State Improve Minority-State Relations? Evidence from Myanmar
What determines ethnic minorities’ attachment to the state? Diverging from existing explanations which focus on structural factors like nation-building initiatives and representation, I theorize that ethnic minorities’ experiences with the state shape their political attitudes. Positive experiences ease their apprehension about their fate as citizens of a state dominated by another ethnic group whereas negative experiences reinforce their suspicion of the state. Therefore, I argue that positive experiences with the state facilitate their attachment to the state. I evaluate the implications of my claim with data from Myanmar and beyond. Using original survey data fielded in five local languages, I show that ethnic minorities who have had positive encounters with street-level bureaucrats express stronger attachment to the state. This is the case even when an ethnic group is in direct conflict with the state. I also find that experiences with the state do not affect ethnic majorities’ attachment to the state. | politics |
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