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<p>Nov. 18, 2012</p>
<p>Katy Grimes:&#160;The Nov. 6 election has clearly emboldened blockheaded union leaders into thinking that they drive business. But the smarter leaders know that they are merely putting off the inevitable with their election wins, and across the board tax increases.</p>
<p>The inevitable insolvency facing California, and even the federal government, doesn’t make union attacks any less painful.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Two weeks ago&#160; <a href="http://hostessbrands.com/Closed.aspx" type="external">Hostess Brands</a>, the maker of Twinkies, Wonder Bread and Ding Dongs, announced that the entire company would liquidate if its striking employees don’t return to work. This would result in the loss of nearly 18,500 jobs in 33 facilities.</p>
<p>Thousands of Hostess employees went on strike after voting to reject a contract offer that cut wages and some benefits.</p>
<p>Hostess is currently already in Chapter 11, it’s second bankruptcy reorganization in 10 years. According to news reports, Hostess reports that increasing pension costs, and health care cost increases necessitate more employee contributions toward their benefits.</p>
<p>When the union and employees refused to return to work,&#160;Hostess permanently closed three plants as a result of the work stoppage. The company has filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeking permission to close its business and sell its assets, including its iconic brands and facilities. Bakery operations have been suspended at all plants.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Raley’s Supermarkets, in Sacramento, CA, is a privately held, family-owned <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarket" type="external">supermarket</a> chain that operates all of the Raley’s, Bel Air Markets, Nob Hill Foods, and Food Source stores in Northern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" type="external">California</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada" type="external">Nevada</a>.</p>
<p>Raley’s is the classic American dream story. Founded in 1935 by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tom_Raley&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1" type="external">Tom Raley</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placerville" type="external">Placerville</a>, CA, which Raley called “Raley’s Drive-In Market,” Tom Raley grew his company over the years to 85 stores, and more than 13,000 employees.</p>
<p>But <a href="http://www.raleys.com/www/about_us.jsp" type="external">Raley’s</a> has been locked in a nasty battle with the United Food and Commercial Workers union over health care costs and wages. Negotiations between the company and union went on for 15 months before employees went on strike – the first strike ever in Raley’s 77 years in business.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Raley’s asked for a two-year wage freeze and the elimination of the premiums paid for employees working Sundays, nights and holidays, KGO News <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/state&amp;id=8882484" type="external">reported</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.raleys.com/www/about_us.jsp" type="external">Raley’s</a> spokesman John Segale said at the time that Raley’s urgently needed to cut costs in a “fiercely competitive” market. He said the Sacramento-based chain, which includes Raley’s, <a href="http://www.raleys.com/www/home.jsp" type="external">Nob Hill Foods</a> and <a href="http://www.raleys.com/www/home.jsp" type="external">Bel Air stores</a>, has closed five stores in the past year and seen the opening or expansion of 240 non-union stores in its markets since 2008. Perhaps that is really the crux of the issue.</p>
<p>While it was recently announced that the strike is over, this is not over.</p>
<p>Union intimidation is real. Union thugs accosted store employees and shoppers. Striking employees screamed at coworkers, and even threatened their fellow Raley’s employees who dared to work throughout the strike. Shoppers were accosted for crossing the picket line.</p>
<p>I know. I witnessed it first hand. I shop at a Raley’s in Sacramento.&#160; I’ve gone shopping several times since the employees went on strike. While I was appalled at seeing Raley’s clerks picketing, it was not all <a href="http://www.raleys.com/www/home.jsp" type="external">Raley’s</a> employees doing the striking.</p>
<p>Last week, I got into a hassle with a picketer as I tried to enter the store. “Support store employees, support the strike,” she yelled in my face as I walked by. I told her that she should be happy she had a job with benefits in this economy.</p>
<p>That did not go over well.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>“Unions are our defense against the rich,” one woman yelled, holding a picket sign.</p>
<p>“It’s our hard work that makes the company profitable,” another striking employee said.</p>
<p>A friend who crossed the picket line to grocery shop at a Sacramento Raley’s got into a tangle with a mouthy picketer. When she returned to her car, one headlight had been smashed, and was hanging by electrical wires.</p>
<p>On November 7, during the strike, United Food and Commercial Workers Local &#160;5 Communications Director Mike <a href="http://www.ufcw5.org/Communications.html" type="external">Hennebery</a> was arrested for&#160;battery&#160;on a Nob Hill Foods store director. Raley’s reported that Hennebery connected one punch to Store Director John Morin’s face, grabbed his phone and threw it to the ground.</p>
<p>The Director tried asking Hennebery to leave, as Henneberry was illegally trying to collect employee checks. Several employees reportedly told Morin that Henneberry’s presence within the store made them uncomfortable.</p>
<p>Henneberry was arrested using a a citizen’s arrest, and was booked into Alameda city jail.&#160;A police report was filed with Alameda Police Department, case number 12-6218.</p>
<p>Many of the picketers were actually non-union temps, as well as Safeway and SaveMart employees, according to one source close to the fracas.</p>
<p>Northern California grocery workers are the best paid in the nation. But more is never enough for a demanding union.</p>
<p>Most of the striking workers that I encountered did not understand what they were talking about. They used a few sound bites in their repertoire, but seemed to have no concept of the big picture of running a business. They had been told that Raley’s wanted to cut their wages and benefits, and that was what they were fixated on. They seemed more like zombies going along with the agenda, unable and unwilling to understand the serious difficulties the company has faced.</p>
<p>Union leadership ignored the financial and competitive challenges that Raley’s is up against, and made too many ridiculous demands the company simply could not afford.</p>
<p>Raley’s must reduce its operating costs or risk going out of business.&#160; 40 of the company’s stores are losing money, some as much as $2 million a year, according to Raley’s President, Michael Teel, grandson of Tom Raley.</p>
<p>By striking, the union&#160;put its strikers on the picket line rather than encouraging them to earn their paychecks. The union is now feeding on it’s own. If Raley’s closes more stores, jobs will disappear. &#160;The union leadership has put Raleys in a position of having to close stores, and union employees in danger of losing their jobs.</p>
<p>Raley’s offer was far more generous than&#160;what the&#160;union&#160;got from recent negotiations with other local grocery stores.&#160;Perhaps that is also part of the problem – give an inch, and the opposition will want a mile.</p>
<p>During negotiations the Union leadership made demands that were simply outrageous. They wanted Raley’s to grant “amnesty” to those union members who assaulted customers who crossed the picket line, and to hire back strikers who vandalized store property.</p>
<p>Another union demand included “signing bonuses” for all employees to end the strike. Whether emboldened or just stupid, the demands were ridiculous.</p>
<p>The agreement, which will not be made public until it is ratified by the Union members, ends 15 months of negotiations between the union and the store.</p>
| false | 3 |
nov 18 2012 katy grimes160the nov 6 election clearly emboldened blockheaded union leaders thinking drive business smarter leaders know merely putting inevitable election wins across board tax increases inevitable insolvency facing california even federal government doesnt make union attacks less painful two weeks ago160 hostess brands maker twinkies wonder bread ding dongs announced entire company would liquidate striking employees dont return work would result loss nearly 18500 jobs 33 facilities thousands hostess employees went strike voting reject contract offer cut wages benefits hostess currently already chapter 11 second bankruptcy reorganization 10 years according news reports hostess reports increasing pension costs health care cost increases necessitate employee contributions toward benefits union employees refused return work160hostess permanently closed three plants result work stoppage company filed motion us bankruptcy court seeking permission close business sell assets including iconic brands facilities bakery operations suspended plants raleys supermarkets sacramento ca privately held familyowned supermarket chain operates raleys bel air markets nob hill foods food source stores northern california nevada raleys classic american dream story founded 1935 tom raley placerville ca raley called raleys drivein market tom raley grew company years 85 stores 13000 employees raleys locked nasty battle united food commercial workers union health care costs wages negotiations company union went 15 months employees went strike first strike ever raleys 77 years business raleys asked twoyear wage freeze elimination premiums paid employees working sundays nights holidays kgo news reported raleys spokesman john segale said time raleys urgently needed cut costs fiercely competitive market said sacramentobased chain includes raleys nob hill foods bel air stores closed five stores past year seen opening expansion 240 nonunion stores markets since 2008 perhaps really crux issue recently announced strike union intimidation real union thugs accosted store employees shoppers striking employees screamed coworkers even threatened fellow raleys employees dared work throughout strike shoppers accosted crossing picket line know witnessed first hand shop raleys sacramento160 ive gone shopping several times since employees went strike appalled seeing raleys clerks picketing raleys employees striking last week got hassle picketer tried enter store support store employees support strike yelled face walked told happy job benefits economy go well unions defense rich one woman yelled holding picket sign hard work makes company profitable another striking employee said friend crossed picket line grocery shop sacramento raleys got tangle mouthy picketer returned car one headlight smashed hanging electrical wires november 7 strike united food commercial workers local 1605 communications director mike hennebery arrested for160battery160on nob hill foods store director raleys reported hennebery connected one punch store director john morins face grabbed phone threw ground director tried asking hennebery leave henneberry illegally trying collect employee checks several employees reportedly told morin henneberrys presence within store made uncomfortable henneberry arrested using citizens arrest booked alameda city jail160a police report filed alameda police department case number 126218 many picketers actually nonunion temps well safeway savemart employees according one source close fracas northern california grocery workers best paid nation never enough demanding union striking workers encountered understand talking used sound bites repertoire seemed concept big picture running business told raleys wanted cut wages benefits fixated seemed like zombies going along agenda unable unwilling understand serious difficulties company faced union leadership ignored financial competitive challenges raleys made many ridiculous demands company simply could afford raleys must reduce operating costs risk going business160 40 companys stores losing money much 2 million year according raleys president michael teel grandson tom raley striking union160put strikers picket line rather encouraging earn paychecks union feeding raleys closes stores jobs disappear 160the union leadership put raleys position close stores union employees danger losing jobs raleys offer far generous than160what the160union160got recent negotiations local grocery stores160perhaps also part problem give inch opposition want mile negotiations union leadership made demands simply outrageous wanted raleys grant amnesty union members assaulted customers crossed picket line hire back strikers vandalized store property another union demand included signing bonuses employees end strike whether emboldened stupid demands ridiculous agreement made public ratified union members ends 15 months negotiations union store
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<p>Marianne Kirby (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>In “Dust Bath Revival,” a 2016 book in the speculative fiction genre, Hank, a 16-year-old girl, has to survive the Dust Bowl after her family gets involved in a government conspiracy. It’s the debut novel from writer/editor Marianne Kirby who helped organize this year’s OutWrite LGBT Book Festival at the DC Center.</p>
<p>“I feel like being queer can’t help but influence my writing,” says Kirby, a 39-year-old Orlando native. “It shapes my whole perspective. That means my characters are usually queer identified and the worlds that I build are not necessarily ones where heterosexuality is the presumed default.”</p>
<p>OutWrite 2017: a Celebration of LGBT Literature runs Aug. 4-6 at the DC Center (2000 14th St., N,W., no. 105) and includes dozens of events such as a “smut slam cabaret,” yoga, discussion panels, writers’ studios and more. Full details at <a href="http://thedccenter.org" type="external">thedccenter.org</a> or search OutWrite on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/173662813162995/" type="external">Facebook</a>.</p>
<p>Although married to a cis man, Kirby says her queer identity is strong and says she’s attracted to people regardless of their gender identification. Kirby is an editor by day. She has also written a 2009 non-fiction book called “Lessons from the Fat-o-sphere.”</p>
<p>Kirby came to Washington a year and a half ago for a job opportunity after many years in Orlando. She immediately looked for ways to be involved in the local literary scene and discovered OutWrite, which she helped organize this year. Find her online at <a href="http://mariannekirby.com" type="external">mariannekirby.com</a>.</p>
<p>Kirby and husband Ed live in Alexandria, Va. Kirby enjoys literary gatherings, volunteering at sci fi cons, sewing, quilting, silversmithing and more in her free time.</p>
<p />
<p>How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?&#160;</p>
<p>I’ve been selectively out since the late ‘90s. There are still people I haven’t told, but I think the hardest person to admit my queerness to was actually myself. Not because I was unhappy to be queer but because I didn’t feel queer enough. Owning my own identity was a lot more difficult than sharing it with anyone else.</p>
<p />
<p>Who’s your LGBT hero?</p>
<p>Most of my heroes are really just my friends, living their lives and doing their work in their communities. I recognize how important a lot of big name people are but my inspiration comes from the people around me.</p>
<p />
<p>What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?&#160;</p>
<p>I’m a sucker for the old 9:30 club. I saw my first concert there.</p>
<p />
<p>Describe your dream wedding.</p>
<p>I had my dream wedding — I eloped and we got to text people and ask what they’d been up to that day as our way of announcing things. That was a fun day. I’ve always been skeptical of weddings in general and marriage as an institution.</p>
<p />
<p>What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?</p>
<p>Intersectionality as a whole. People’s identities are complex and when we acknowledge that, our anti-oppression movements across all issues can only be stronger.</p>
<p />
<p>What historical outcome would you change?</p>
<p>No singular event, but I think as queerness has been more accepted in the mainstream, we’ve lost some of our sense of community, especially with a historical perspective. I know we all want to look forward, but there are so many important events in the past that have defined the struggle of queer community and they are being forgotten.</p>
<p />
<p>What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?</p>
<p>The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, I think. I was obsessed with space as a kid and watching the shuttle launch on live TV. It was a serious lesson in risk and sacrifice and how sometimes the hope for something wonderful goes terribly wrong.</p>
<p />
<p>On what do you insist?</p>
<p>Respect</p>
<p />
<p>What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?</p>
<p>My last tweet was about OutWrite! My last Facebook post was probably about puppies. I mean, puppies are really great.</p>
<p />
<p>If your life were a book, what would the title be?</p>
<p>“But Does That Come In Size Fat?:&#160;Adventures In Self-Presentation With A Loud Fat Femme”</p>
<p />
<p>If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?</p>
<p>Oh, I’d side eye the hell out of that. Sexual orientation isn’t an illness to be cured. I’m a writer. I’d definitely write about it.</p>
<p />
<p>What do you believe in beyond the physical world?&#160;</p>
<p>I believe in wonder and awe. Not necessarily in any particularly religious way; I identify as agnostic. But I think there is so much in the world, there are so many marvels, that I can’t help but feel some of that on a spiritual level. I believe in people, in our capacity to love and help each other just as much as we can be terrible.</p>
<p />
<p>What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?</p>
<p>If LGBT movement leaders cannot respect and address the needs of the entire LGBT community then we are not the community we need to be. That means prioritizing the needs of queer people over the good feelings of corporations and organizations like the cops. Mainstream acceptance isn’t worth compromising the people with whom we are supposed to be in community.</p>
<p />
<p>What would you walk across hot coals for?</p>
<p>The last tube of MAC’s Ruby Woo lipstick for sure.</p>
<p />
<p>What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?</p>
<p>That queer women in a relationship with a man are suddenly somehow straight. (And, I mean, the same is true in reverse.) That disappears us from general culture and from queer community. Queerness doesn’t magically cease to exist like that, sorry, not sorry.</p>
<p />
<p>What’s your favorite LGBT movie?</p>
<p>“Paris Is Burning”</p>
<p />
<p>What’s the most overrated social custom?</p>
<p>Traditional dating.</p>
<p />
<p>What trophy or prize do you most covet?</p>
<p>I just really want a Nebula award. Is there a specific writer who doesn’t, though?</p>
<p />
<p>What do you wish you’d known at 18?</p>
<p>Just how rewarding it has been to care less and less about what the general “other people” of the world think of me. Whew, it’s so exhausting to be so wrapped up in how other people see you. Freeing that energy up to actually live is transformative.</p>
<p />
<p>Why Washington?</p>
<p>It’s vibrant and challenging and it’s hard to find a place here sometimes but there is so much happening under the surface. It’s worth the effort to make your own place here.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Alexandria</a> <a href="" type="internal">DC Center</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dust Bath Revival</a> <a href="" type="internal">Marianne Kirby</a> <a href="" type="internal">Orlando</a> <a href="" type="internal">OutWrite LGBT Book Festival</a> <a href="" type="internal">Virginia</a></p>
| false | 3 |
marianne kirby washington blade photo michael key dust bath revival 2016 book speculative fiction genre hank 16yearold girl survive dust bowl family gets involved government conspiracy debut novel writereditor marianne kirby helped organize years outwrite lgbt book festival dc center feel like queer cant help influence writing says kirby 39yearold orlando native shapes whole perspective means characters usually queer identified worlds build necessarily ones heterosexuality presumed default outwrite 2017 celebration lgbt literature runs aug 46 dc center 2000 14th st nw 105 includes dozens events smut slam cabaret yoga discussion panels writers studios full details thedccenterorg search outwrite facebook although married cis man kirby says queer identity strong says shes attracted people regardless gender identification kirby editor day also written 2009 nonfiction book called lessons fatosphere kirby came washington year half ago job opportunity many years orlando immediately looked ways involved local literary scene discovered outwrite helped organize year find online mariannekirbycom kirby husband ed live alexandria va kirby enjoys literary gatherings volunteering sci fi cons sewing quilting silversmithing free time long hardest person tell160 ive selectively since late 90s still people havent told think hardest person admit queerness actually unhappy queer didnt feel queer enough owning identity lot difficult sharing anyone else whos lgbt hero heroes really friends living lives work communities recognize important lot big name people inspiration comes people around whats washingtons best nightspot past present160 im sucker old 930 club saw first concert describe dream wedding dream wedding eloped got text people ask theyd day way announcing things fun day ive always skeptical weddings general marriage institution nonlgbt issue passionate intersectionality whole peoples identities complex acknowledge antioppression movements across issues stronger historical outcome would change singular event think queerness accepted mainstream weve lost sense community especially historical perspective know want look forward many important events past defined struggle queer community forgotten whats memorable pop culture moment lifetime space shuttle challenger disaster think obsessed space kid watching shuttle launch live tv serious lesson risk sacrifice sometimes hope something wonderful goes terribly wrong insist respect last facebook post tweet last tweet outwrite last facebook post probably puppies mean puppies really great life book would title come size fat160adventures selfpresentation loud fat femme science discovered way change sexual orientation would oh id side eye hell sexual orientation isnt illness cured im writer id definitely write believe beyond physical world160 believe wonder awe necessarily particularly religious way identify agnostic think much world many marvels cant help feel spiritual level believe people capacity love help much terrible whats advice lgbt movement leaders lgbt movement leaders respect address needs entire lgbt community community need means prioritizing needs queer people good feelings corporations organizations like cops mainstream acceptance isnt worth compromising people supposed community would walk across hot coals last tube macs ruby woo lipstick sure lgbt stereotype annoys queer women relationship man suddenly somehow straight mean true reverse disappears us general culture queer community queerness doesnt magically cease exist like sorry sorry whats favorite lgbt movie paris burning whats overrated social custom traditional dating trophy prize covet really want nebula award specific writer doesnt though wish youd known 18 rewarding care less less general people world think whew exhausting wrapped people see freeing energy actually live transformative washington vibrant challenging hard find place sometimes much happening surface worth effort make place alexandria dc center dust bath revival marianne kirby orlando outwrite lgbt book festival virginia
| 563 |
<p>A powerful Congressional committee asked the California National Guard on Tuesday to turn over all documents related to a growing reenlistment bonus scandal which has outraged veterans and their supporters.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2016-10-24-JC-RD-SR-MM-to-Lengyel-BNG-Baldwin-CNG-Bonus-Clawbacks-due-11-7.pdf" type="external">request</a> by the House Oversight Committee came amid growing bipartisan anger over revelations that the Pentagon was forcing thousands of soldiers to return bonuses of $15,000 or more that were doled out more than a decade ago to get them to reenlist for six years and fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.</p>
<p>“The repayment demands are based upon audits that found bonuses and student loan repayments were improperly awarded to soldiers who did not qualify or were approved despite paperwork errors,” the lawmakers’ letter states. “The Committee is seeking information about this serious matter, and to see that officials who mismanaged bonus programs are held accountable.”</p>
<p>Among other things, the committee is seeking all audits of overpayments made by the California Guard since 2002, an update on how much money has already been collected from the soldiers who got the bonuses, and all documents related to appeals filed by soldiers seeking relief from having to pay back the money.</p>
<p>White House spokesman Josh Earnest said it was about time Congress acted.</p>
<p>"First of all, this is something members of Congress (were) confronted with two years ago, and as with so many other things, failed to engage in a kind of constructive effort that could make things better for the country," Earnest told reporters on Tuesday. "We're not going to hold service members responsible, unfairly, for unethical conduct or fraud perpetuated by someone else."</p>
<p>Earlier, House Speaker Paul Ryan joined the chorus of lawmakers calling on the Pentagon to “immediately suspend efforts to recover these overpayments.” Ryan’s request came after House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California urged him and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to pass legislation to halt the debt recovery “as soon as we gavel back into session “ after the Nov. 8 presidential election.</p>
<p>“These brave Californians were willing to give everything to serve our country, and they earned every penny and benefit given to them,” Pelosi wrote.</p>
<p>Defense Secretary Ash Carter confirmed he has been made aware of the situation and vowed, "We are going to look into it and resolve it."</p>
<p>That can't happen soon enough for Christopher Van Meter, a 42-year-old former Army captain and Iraq War veteran who had to refinance his home to pay back the $25,000 in reenlistment bonuses and $21,000 in student loans he got from the Army back in 2007.</p>
<p>“I think we really got screwed and it feels like a slap in the face,” Van Meter told NBC News earlier.</p>
<p>Van Meter said it was galling that after he served an extra six years he’s now being told, “‘Hey, you know, by the way we found some is not dotted, some is not crossed in your contract, and we want that money back.”</p>
<p>“That was really tough to swallow,” he said. “It really was.”</p>
<p>About 9,700 other California National Guard soldiers <a href="" type="internal">have also been ordered</a> by the military to return the bonus they got in 2007 and 2008 when the Defense Department was struggling to find enough soldiers to fight in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.</p>
<p>“Our service members stepped up at a time when our country needed them,” Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-California) said in a statement. “These men and women are now being forced to pay, years later, out of their own pockets, for the Pentagon’s lack of oversight.”</p>
<p>“Taking money from the pockets of American soldiers is an outrageous solution,” he added.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-bonus-guard-20161024-snap-story.html" type="external">Los Angeles Times, however,</a>reported Tuesday that California lawmakers in Washington had been warned two years ago that the Pentagon was trying to recoup the bonuses and apparently raised no objections then.</p>
<p>Cardenas said that was news to him.</p>
<p>“I have no record of receiving any formal notice of this widespread issue from any department — federal or state," the congressman said. "The only record I have is of individual cases of service members who approached my office to get help, and we are working with these individuals who have served our country to make sure they are treated fairly.”</p>
<p>The official the Los Angeles paper cited, Andreas Mueller, chief of federal police for the California Guard, also warned that soldiers from other states who got the big bonuses to reenlist were also being pressured by the Pentagon to pay them back.</p>
<p>The Pentagon has already admitted the soldiers from other states may also be going through what their California brothers-in-arms are enduring.</p>
<p>Reenlistment bonuses jumped during President George W. Bush's administration when the government began offering big bonuses to get soldiers — many of whom had already served multiple combat tours — to reenlist.</p>
<p>In 2010, federal investigators discovered that thousands of bonuses and student loan payments were improperly approved for California Guard soldiers.</p>
<p>Army Master Sgt. <a href="https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/losangeles/press-releases/2012/former-california-national-guard-master-sergeant-sentenced-to-30-months-in-federal-prison-in-15-million-false-claims-case" type="external">Toni Jaffe</a>, the California National Guard's bonus and incentive manager, pleaded guilty in 2011 to filing $15.2 million in false claims and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.</p>
<p>But instead of moving to forgive the botched bonuses, the California National Guard sent its auditors to collect from the soldiers arguing that the law did not allow them to do otherwise.</p>
<p>The bonus program was also the subject of at least two federal General Accounting Officer reports in <a href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/290/289191.html" type="external">2009</a> and <a href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/673689.pdf" type="external">2015</a>which noted the need for better oversight by the Army National Guard.</p>
| false | 3 |
powerful congressional committee asked california national guard tuesday turn documents related growing reenlistment bonus scandal outraged veterans supporters request house oversight committee came amid growing bipartisan anger revelations pentagon forcing thousands soldiers return bonuses 15000 doled decade ago get reenlist six years fight iraq afghanistan repayment demands based upon audits found bonuses student loan repayments improperly awarded soldiers qualify approved despite paperwork errors lawmakers letter states committee seeking information serious matter see officials mismanaged bonus programs held accountable among things committee seeking audits overpayments made california guard since 2002 update much money already collected soldiers got bonuses documents related appeals filed soldiers seeking relief pay back money white house spokesman josh earnest said time congress acted first something members congress confronted two years ago many things failed engage kind constructive effort could make things better country earnest told reporters tuesday going hold service members responsible unfairly unethical conduct fraud perpetuated someone else earlier house speaker paul ryan joined chorus lawmakers calling pentagon immediately suspend efforts recover overpayments ryans request came house democratic leader nancy pelosi california urged senate majority leader mitch mcconnell pass legislation halt debt recovery soon gavel back session nov 8 presidential election brave californians willing give everything serve country earned every penny benefit given pelosi wrote defense secretary ash carter confirmed made aware situation vowed going look resolve cant happen soon enough christopher van meter 42yearold former army captain iraq war veteran refinance home pay back 25000 reenlistment bonuses 21000 student loans got army back 2007 think really got screwed feels like slap face van meter told nbc news earlier van meter said galling served extra six years hes told hey know way found dotted crossed contract want money back really tough swallow said really 9700 california national guard soldiers also ordered military return bonus got 2007 2008 defense department struggling find enough soldiers fight iraq afghanistan wars service members stepped time country needed rep tony cardenas dcalifornia said statement men women forced pay years later pockets pentagons lack oversight taking money pockets american soldiers outrageous solution added los angeles times howeverreported tuesday california lawmakers washington warned two years ago pentagon trying recoup bonuses apparently raised objections cardenas said news record receiving formal notice widespread issue department federal state congressman said record individual cases service members approached office get help working individuals served country make sure treated fairly official los angeles paper cited andreas mueller chief federal police california guard also warned soldiers states got big bonuses reenlist also pressured pentagon pay back pentagon already admitted soldiers states may also going california brothersinarms enduring reenlistment bonuses jumped president george w bushs administration government began offering big bonuses get soldiers many already served multiple combat tours reenlist 2010 federal investigators discovered thousands bonuses student loan payments improperly approved california guard soldiers army master sgt toni jaffe california national guards bonus incentive manager pleaded guilty 2011 filing 152 million false claims sentenced 30 months federal prison instead moving forgive botched bonuses california national guard sent auditors collect soldiers arguing law allow otherwise bonus program also subject least two federal general accounting officer reports 2009 2015which noted need better oversight army national guard
| 523 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" />MAY 30, 2011</p>
<p>In the Assembly last week, legislators praised ethnic studies departments and had long-winded debates before voting to ban the trading of shark fins in California. But while state government becomes ever-more meddlesome in ever-expanding areas of private life, it’s increasingly clear that the Legislature and the state bureaucracies are incapable of handling even the most basic and important responsibilities that come before them.</p>
<p>One of the basics is public safety. Government is not supposed to manage the economy and social engineer our lives, but it is supposed to arrest and lock up criminals. But the U.S. Supreme Court had to step in last week because the state government’s handling of the prison system has become abusive and unconstitutional. As the court explained, “California’s prisons are designed to house a population just under 80,000, but at the time of the [case being decided] the population was almost double that.”</p>
<p>Years go by, and nothing changes in the state prison system. The conditions are horrendous. No one is thrilled to have the Supreme Court step in and order the state to (potentially) release inmates — a frightening prospect that could, as dissenting Justice Samuel Alito put it, amount to “gambling with the safety of the people of California.” The court ordered the state to reduce its prison population by 30,000 inmates, to bring it down to 137.5 percent of the system’s capacity.</p>
<p>There are various ways of achieving this beyond just putting violent felons on the street. Prisoners could be housed in county jails, for instance, but, knowing how the state government operates, it’s likely that many prisoners will be released — and it’s not likely to be only those who are suffering medical problems, given the inability of bureaucrats to make meaningful distinctions.</p>
<p>“The Supreme Court today chose to ignore the devastating impact that a population cap would have on our communities and instead paved the way for the early release of tens of thousands of dangerous criminals,” said Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway of Tulare. “This is an example of legislating from the bench at its worst.”</p>
<p>But as the court’s timeline makes clear, California officials have for years known that the prison system at times resembles a torture chamber. Justice Anthony Kennedy, siding with the four more liberal justices, wrote an impassioned majority opinion that detailed the dismal state of affairs: “Because of a shortage of treatment beds, suicidal inmates may be held for prolonged periods in telephone-booth-size cages without toilets. A psychiatric expert reported observing an inmate who had been held in such a cage for nearly 24 hours, standing in a pool of his own urine, unresponsive and nearly catatonic. Prison officials explained they had ‘no place to put him.'”</p>
<p>This certainly fits the definition of cruel and unusual punishment. Does anyone believe that had the court not intervened that there would be any resolution to this problem?</p>
<p>Just because prisoners violated the social contract doesn’t mean that they should be treated like rats. Even though most prisoners are not worthy of much sympathy doesn’t mean they should be subjected to the kind of abuses that are common.</p>
<p>Conservatives — who claim to be about limiting government power – should likewise be concerned. They should do more than grandstand the law-and-order issue; not that Democrats have been any better. Most Democrats have not cared about civil liberties as they court favor with the unions, which want nothing more than to protect their members from accountability. A <a href="http://www.law.stanford.edu/program/centers/scjc/workingpapers/DHolwerda_06.pdf" type="external">Stanford study</a> from a few years back documented the way the prison guards union has driven state crime policy and has resisted meaningful reforms that would improve prison conditions and reduce the burden to taxpayers.</p>
<p>The problem lies with state government’s nearly criminal incompetence. As Sen. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, explained, “The Legislature acted in 2007 to pass a $3.5 billion bond package to finance the construction of new prisons, yet four years later not a single new facility has been built. Bureaucracy and failure to act has caused the construction projects to stall and lead the state to this court decision.</p>
<p>“While I disagree completely with the ruling, I’m not surprised with the court’s action, as California was warned in 2007. The past administration and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s purposeful inaction have brought us to this day,” LaMalfa said. “Now is the time for a sober assessment and action — not more stalling and calling for taxes. There is no reason why California needs to spend twice as much per prisoner to incarcerate felons than other states.”</p>
<p>This situation, indeed, is the result of the incompetence and inaction of the state bureaucracy. The money was there to build new prisons. It’s also time to talk of sentencing reform, given the numbers of Californians jailed as part of the drug war and other nonviolent activity.</p>
<p>California’s lack of prison space is in part driven by our excessively high costs of imprisoning inmates — $49,000 per inmate per year, far higher than the national average of $30,000. If our legislators and governors weren’t so subservient to the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, the prison guards union, we could more successfully send inmates out of state, or privatize the prison system here. Private prisons tend to be far more humane than government lockups given that the private employees are held to a higher standard. They cannot hide behind their unions.</p>
<p>Once again, the public will suffer for the failure of the bureaucrats, the selfishness of the unions and the incompetence of the legislators. Don’t blame the Supreme Court for the disaster that might befall the state.</p>
<p>— Steven Greenhut</p>
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may 30 2011 assembly last week legislators praised ethnic studies departments longwinded debates voting ban trading shark fins california state government becomes evermore meddlesome everexpanding areas private life increasingly clear legislature state bureaucracies incapable handling even basic important responsibilities come one basics public safety government supposed manage economy social engineer lives supposed arrest lock criminals us supreme court step last week state governments handling prison system become abusive unconstitutional court explained californias prisons designed house population 80000 time case decided population almost double years go nothing changes state prison system conditions horrendous one thrilled supreme court step order state potentially release inmates frightening prospect could dissenting justice samuel alito put amount gambling safety people california court ordered state reduce prison population 30000 inmates bring 1375 percent systems capacity various ways achieving beyond putting violent felons street prisoners could housed county jails instance knowing state government operates likely many prisoners released likely suffering medical problems given inability bureaucrats make meaningful distinctions supreme court today chose ignore devastating impact population cap would communities instead paved way early release tens thousands dangerous criminals said assembly republican leader connie conway tulare example legislating bench worst courts timeline makes clear california officials years known prison system times resembles torture chamber justice anthony kennedy siding four liberal justices wrote impassioned majority opinion detailed dismal state affairs shortage treatment beds suicidal inmates may held prolonged periods telephoneboothsize cages without toilets psychiatric expert reported observing inmate held cage nearly 24 hours standing pool urine unresponsive nearly catatonic prison officials explained place put certainly fits definition cruel unusual punishment anyone believe court intervened would resolution problem prisoners violated social contract doesnt mean treated like rats even though prisoners worthy much sympathy doesnt mean subjected kind abuses common conservatives claim limiting government power likewise concerned grandstand lawandorder issue democrats better democrats cared civil liberties court favor unions want nothing protect members accountability stanford study years back documented way prison guards union driven state crime policy resisted meaningful reforms would improve prison conditions reduce burden taxpayers problem lies state governments nearly criminal incompetence sen doug lamalfa rrichvale explained legislature acted 2007 pass 35 billion bond package finance construction new prisons yet four years later single new facility built bureaucracy failure act caused construction projects stall lead state court decision disagree completely ruling im surprised courts action california warned 2007 past administration department corrections rehabilitations purposeful inaction brought us day lamalfa said time sober assessment action stalling calling taxes reason california needs spend twice much per prisoner incarcerate felons states situation indeed result incompetence inaction state bureaucracy money build new prisons also time talk sentencing reform given numbers californians jailed part drug war nonviolent activity californias lack prison space part driven excessively high costs imprisoning inmates 49000 per inmate per year far higher national average 30000 legislators governors werent subservient california correctional peace officers association prison guards union could successfully send inmates state privatize prison system private prisons tend far humane government lockups given private employees held higher standard hide behind unions public suffer failure bureaucrats selfishness unions incompetence legislators dont blame supreme court disaster might befall state steven greenhut 160 160 160
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<p>BOSTON — It’s been several days since I returned from Zambia. The jetlag has eased its grip and I can sleep past six o’clock in the morning. As I prepare to write about what I saw and heard for our Special Report on child mortality, “The Seven Million,” I’ve been poring over the photographs I took throughout my trip to invigorate my reporting.</p>
<p>As I look through the nearly 1,000 photos I snapped, their thumbnails dotting one scrollable window on my computer, I’m struck by the still images of Zambia’s health system: dusty benches outside a health clinic in the rural northern district of Lufwanyama; tall brick and iron fences bordering a private health facility in a suburb of Lusaka; two pediatric pharmacies housed at the nation’s premier hospital, University Teaching Hospital – one for those who can afford the 750 Kwacha (around $140) “high cost” fee that makes them eligible for expedited services and more plush accommodations, and the other for those who cannot.</p>
<p>Then there are the snapshots of Zambia’s health system in motion – young mothers watching over their babies at the hospital, seated in the plastic chairs they had slept in that night; volunteer health workers carefully counting out pills for one-year-old patients; nurses speaking to crowds of women before a modest collection of medical supplies.</p>
<p>Collectively, the pictures tell a complex story of child health in a country that is full of contrast – there are modern, well-equipped facilities for the few Zambians who can afford it, but for the bulk of citizens, there are too many needs, too few resources, and a constant push to make do with the little that is available. More than <a href="http://data.worldbank.org/country/zambia" type="external">60 percent</a> of the population lives below the national poverty line.&#160;</p>
<p>It may seem odd, then, that the image I keep coming back to tells little of this story at all. The photograph hardly has much visual appeal; it’s of the interior of a light gray box containing several small clear bottles. Dozens of mothers had been waiting all morning outside of a health clinic in part for the tiny bottles in this box – vials filled with injectable vaccines, some, of particular interest to me, to protect against pneumococcal disease, a leading cause of pneumonia.</p>
<p>Just two days before my plane landed in Lusaka, the Zambian government held a national launch of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, PCV10, which protects 10 serotypes of pneumococcal disease, a leading cause of <a href="" type="external">pneumonia</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>In a <a href="" type="external">press release</a> dated July 10, the GAVI Alliance, a public-private organization that helped finance Zambia's rollout of PCV10, said that the country's government aimed to give the vaccine to more than 360,000 infants in the next year and that this number would grow to cover nearly every newborn child in Zambia by 2015. For this first year, GAVI will pay for every $3.50 dose provided to children in Zambia; starting next year, it will begin sharing the cost with the Zambian government. (And as GAVI <a href="http://www.gavialliance.org/library/news/statements/2013/price-reduced-for-vaccine-against-pneumococcal-disease/" type="external">announced yesterday</a>, this price will go down even more, to $3.40 starting in 2014.)&#160;</p>
<p>At the Shimukunami clinic in Lufwanyama, where I took the photograph of the gray box, I was seeing the “rollout” of the pneumococcal vaccine in real-time – an event I’d only reported on before from <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/global-pulse/haiti-readies-rotavirus-vaccine-rollout" type="external">afar</a>. I must admit, I was prepared for more ceremonial hype than tangible action, and that is why I keep coming back to this photograph. Here, vaccines aren’t just an abstract concept, they are already visibly on the ground.</p>
<p>At the clinic I met with Eveness Mumba, a 24-year-old mother who had brought her youngest child, Blessing, in for vaccinations, including the pneumococcal vaccine. Blessing was six weeks old, the age at which the World Health Organization recommends the first pneumococcal vaccine dose. Eveness had learned of the pneumococcal vaccine during her last trip to the clinic, the month before, and said she was grateful for its protection. She had already endured the loss of one child from diarrhea, at nine months.</p>
<p>I watched as the nurse, Miriam Ngulube, jabbed Blessing with a needle and quickly injected the vaccine; Blessing cried, but as Miriam gently shook her leg, the pain seemed to subside. Within seconds, Eveness stood up with Blessing, and Miriam moved on to the next mother in line. Behind Miriam was a bright green poster that had been hanging since March: “Protect your child from PNEUMONIA,” the sign read. “Our Children, Our investment.”</p>
<p>I’m drawn to the image of the vaccines because it’s a sign of what’s working – across incomes – in Zambia. It symbolizes the country’s broader commitment to health, too; just last week <a href="http://www.irinnews.org/report/98459/african-governments-still-underfunding-health" type="external">it was reported</a> that Zambia was one of only six African countries to have already reached a 2001 pledge made to spend 15 percent of their annual budgets on health.&#160;</p>
<p>“Immunization has been one of Zambia's greatest public health success stories," <a href="" type="external">said</a> Zambia’s WHO representative back in April.&#160;That success story has contributed to Zambia’s <a href="" type="external">significant reduction in child mortality</a> rates over two decades – from 193 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 83 per 1,000 live births in 2011.&#160;</p>
<p>The country’s health story is still complex, as I’ll be writing about in the coming weeks. But its ambitious immunization program in 2013 – the government aims to launch two other vaccines, nationally, by the time this year is over – is a sizeable step forward in promoting, and ensuring, the health and survival of its youngest children.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/global-pulse/doctor-shortage-child-malaria-pneumonia-diagnosis-zambia" type="external">More from GlobalPost: Filling the medical treatment gap In rural Zambia &#160;</a></p>
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boston several days since returned zambia jetlag eased grip sleep past six oclock morning prepare write saw heard special report child mortality seven million ive poring photographs took throughout trip invigorate reporting look nearly 1000 photos snapped thumbnails dotting one scrollable window computer im struck still images zambias health system dusty benches outside health clinic rural northern district lufwanyama tall brick iron fences bordering private health facility suburb lusaka two pediatric pharmacies housed nations premier hospital university teaching hospital one afford 750 kwacha around 140 high cost fee makes eligible expedited services plush accommodations snapshots zambias health system motion young mothers watching babies hospital seated plastic chairs slept night volunteer health workers carefully counting pills oneyearold patients nurses speaking crowds women modest collection medical supplies collectively pictures tell complex story child health country full contrast modern wellequipped facilities zambians afford bulk citizens many needs resources constant push make little available 60 percent population lives national poverty line160 may seem odd image keep coming back tells little story photograph hardly much visual appeal interior light gray box containing several small clear bottles dozens mothers waiting morning outside health clinic part tiny bottles box vials filled injectable vaccines particular interest protect pneumococcal disease leading cause pneumonia two days plane landed lusaka zambian government held national launch pneumococcal conjugate vaccine pcv10 protects 10 serotypes pneumococcal disease leading cause pneumonia160 press release dated july 10 gavi alliance publicprivate organization helped finance zambias rollout pcv10 said countrys government aimed give vaccine 360000 infants next year number would grow cover nearly every newborn child zambia 2015 first year gavi pay every 350 dose provided children zambia starting next year begin sharing cost zambian government gavi announced yesterday price go even 340 starting 2014160 shimukunami clinic lufwanyama took photograph gray box seeing rollout pneumococcal vaccine realtime event id reported afar must admit prepared ceremonial hype tangible action keep coming back photograph vaccines arent abstract concept already visibly ground clinic met eveness mumba 24yearold mother brought youngest child blessing vaccinations including pneumococcal vaccine blessing six weeks old age world health organization recommends first pneumococcal vaccine dose eveness learned pneumococcal vaccine last trip clinic month said grateful protection already endured loss one child diarrhea nine months watched nurse miriam ngulube jabbed blessing needle quickly injected vaccine blessing cried miriam gently shook leg pain seemed subside within seconds eveness stood blessing miriam moved next mother line behind miriam bright green poster hanging since march protect child pneumonia sign read children investment im drawn image vaccines sign whats working across incomes zambia symbolizes countrys broader commitment health last week reported zambia one six african countries already reached 2001 pledge made spend 15 percent annual budgets health160 immunization one zambias greatest public health success stories said zambias representative back april160that success story contributed zambias significant reduction child mortality rates two decades 193 per 1000 live births 1990 83 per 1000 live births 2011160 countrys health story still complex ill writing coming weeks ambitious immunization program 2013 government aims launch two vaccines nationally time year sizeable step forward promoting ensuring health survival youngest children globalpost filling medical treatment gap rural zambia 160
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<p>PUNE, India —&#160;They gather every Monday evening promptly at six, a group of atheists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians, to discuss the future of India.</p>
<p>They are true believers in the ideals of rationalism and tolerance that they feel lie at the heart of India’s national identity. And this weekly gathering is exactly where their deceased leader, the rationalist organizer Narendra Dabholkar, would be if if he hadn’t been gunned down amid a climate of rising extremism and intolerance.</p>
<p>Dabholkar, 67, was shot four times at close range and killed last August as he walked along a nearby bridge after enduring 20 years of death threats. His murder was a blow to what remains of the progressive political community here in Pune, an academic and industrial hub teeming with construction projects, and to the organization he founded, the Maharashtra Committee for the Eradication of Blind Faith, or MANS.</p>
<p>As local police work Dabholkar’s murder case, his friends and colleagues continue to challenge the central role that rising religious fundamentalism, particularly within the majority Hindu faith, plays in Indian government and society. These secular activists see its influence everywhere from the enduring presence of charismatic and influential “godmen” who often claim spiritual attainment to the vast sums donated to temples as offerings to Hindu deities. Most of all, they fear that the politics of the religious right might have something to do with the death of their leader.&#160;</p>
<p>The conversation at MANS traverses many national issues from the Indian constitution’s guarantee of religious freedom to the limitations of the caste system. And in an election year defined by the ascendance of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in the Hindutva movement, the dialogue regularly returns to the dangers of religious fundamentalism in societies around the world.</p>
<p>“We are a very poor country where half the people go to sleep hungry,” said Deepak Girme, a successful businessman and longtime volunteer at MANS, founded in 1989.&#160;</p>
<p>“If they claim that by following a system of religion they have been following for hundreds of years, that leads to a happy life, that is a myth,” Girme added.</p>
<p>India has actually brought its poverty rate down dramatically in the past two decades, from 45 percent of the country in 1994 to 22 percent in 2012, according to a <a href="http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/asia-pacific/indias_path_from_poverty_to_empowerment" type="external">McKinsey Global Institute report released in February</a>. However, the same report found that “56 percent of the population lacked the means to meet essential needs” including food, energy, housing, drinking water, sanitation, health care, education and social security.</p>
<p>En route to the Monday evening gathering from his peaceful, breezy personal office along narrow streets reminiscent of a motorcycle derby, men and women in helmets and scarves darting through the polluted air, the 62-year-old Girme talks about one of MANS’ neighbors. Just steps away is an outpost of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, (RSS) a paramilitary Hindu nationalist organization closely affiliated with the BJP.&#160;</p>
<p>“They have reached out to us a couple times wanting to know more about what we do,” Girme said. “We haven’t returned the favor. We know what they do.”</p>
<p>Since its founding in 1925, the RSS has worked to build a Hindu Rashtra, or unified Hindu nation, sometimes through violence. If the small minority of progressive rationalists at MANS represent the left of the political spectrum in India, then the RSS and its Hindu nationalism is all the way at the right.</p>
<p>“Several things try to break nationalism, including caste,” said Professor Aniruddha Deshpande, president of the Centre for Education Development Administration and an RSS spokesperson. “RSS does not believe in this kind of hierarchy but instead in social harmony.”</p>
<p>Inside the RSS outpost down the street from MANS, a small bunch of members of various ages walked through a military ceremony clad in the organization’s official uniform of wide-legged khaki shorts, short-sleeved white button-downs and black caps. They faced a dais prominently featuring Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu monk who helped introduce Hinduism to the West in the late 1800s.</p>
<p>GlobalPost spoke with several RSS members in Pune, all of whom denounced violence as a means to achieve their goals.&#160;</p>
<p>“RSS wants to unite Hindus —&#160;but not so that it’s against Muslims or Christians,” said Deshpande, 64. “Harassing people or forcibly doing something against them is not the work of RSS.”</p>
<p>Asked about Narendra Dabholkar and the efforts of MANS to eliminate superstitious religious practice —&#160;particularly worship of godmen, ritual sacrifice and other forms of black magic — in the state of Maharashtra, Deshpande had some laudatory things to say.</p>
<p>“Whatever activities Dabholkar had undertaken, RSS had been supporting it,” he said. “MANS has confused Hinduism with some rituals, but we have never believed in all these superstitions.”</p>
<p>Highly suspicious of the Hindu nationalist project, organizers at MANS bring a socialist bent to their community outreach, explained Suyog Nankar, 30, who said he left a lucrative corporate job to teach GMAT preparation to students and devote more time to activism.</p>
<p>“Pune had been representative of socialistic thinking, but now it’s becoming more like Mumbai,” Nankar said. “I’m not against professionalism. It has to be there. But it can go hand in hand with a socialist attitude.”</p>
<p>Back at MANS, Dabholkar’s lean, bespectacled portrait hangs on the wall as women in brightly colored saris and sandals, men in blue jeans and button downs, college students and seasoned professionals sit in a circle of folding chairs on the second floor, just above the progressive bookstore with a media collage in the stairwell including the works of Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud and Indian social reformer Gopal Ganesh Agarkar.&#160;</p>
<p>The more than 30 people who have joined on this Monday evening say they know their message of religious inclusion is in the minority in today’s India. Although no one here says they believe Hindu nationalists killed their leader, no one seems to believe the case ends with the <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/five-months-on-cops-make-first-arrests-in-dabholkar-murder-case/" type="external">two young men arrested in January on suspicion of committing the murder</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>“We are proud being a minority but we are not scared,” said Tulshri Raskar, 69, active in the movement, which says it is quietly endorsing candidates from the rabble rousing Aam Aadmi Party in this year’s election. “Dabholkar always said, ‘enjoy the work.’”</p>
<p>And Reverend Chitralekha James, who spoke about her work organizing and empowering Marathi Christian women, offered a Biblical viewpoint on what she called a sadhana, or spiritual exertion toward an intended goal.&#160;</p>
<p>“I am sure you are familiar with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount,” she said. “People who trust in absolute truth, they are like the salt of the earth. We are like salt. Just a little bit is enough. And without us there is no taste in society.”</p>
<p>Priyanka Borpujari contributed to this story, which was made possible by a travel grant from International Center for Journalists.&#160;</p>
<p>This story is presented by <a href="http://thegroundtruthproject.org/" type="external">The GroundTruth&#160;Project.</a></p>
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pune india 160they gather every monday evening promptly six group atheists hindus muslims christians discuss future india true believers ideals rationalism tolerance feel lie heart indias national identity weekly gathering exactly deceased leader rationalist organizer narendra dabholkar would hadnt gunned amid climate rising extremism intolerance dabholkar 67 shot four times close range killed last august walked along nearby bridge enduring 20 years death threats murder blow remains progressive political community pune academic industrial hub teeming construction projects organization founded maharashtra committee eradication blind faith mans local police work dabholkars murder case friends colleagues continue challenge central role rising religious fundamentalism particularly within majority hindu faith plays indian government society secular activists see influence everywhere enduring presence charismatic influential godmen often claim spiritual attainment vast sums donated temples offerings hindu deities fear politics religious right might something death leader160 conversation mans traverses many national issues indian constitutions guarantee religious freedom limitations caste system election year defined ascendance hindu nationalist bharatiya janata party bjp allies hindutva movement dialogue regularly returns dangers religious fundamentalism societies around world poor country half people go sleep hungry said deepak girme successful businessman longtime volunteer mans founded 1989160 claim following system religion following hundreds years leads happy life myth girme added india actually brought poverty rate dramatically past two decades 45 percent country 1994 22 percent 2012 according mckinsey global institute report released february however report found 56 percent population lacked means meet essential needs including food energy housing drinking water sanitation health care education social security en route monday evening gathering peaceful breezy personal office along narrow streets reminiscent motorcycle derby men women helmets scarves darting polluted air 62yearold girme talks one mans neighbors steps away outpost rashtriya swayamsevak sangh rss paramilitary hindu nationalist organization closely affiliated bjp160 reached us couple times wanting know girme said havent returned favor know since founding 1925 rss worked build hindu rashtra unified hindu nation sometimes violence small minority progressive rationalists mans represent left political spectrum india rss hindu nationalism way right several things try break nationalism including caste said professor aniruddha deshpande president centre education development administration rss spokesperson rss believe kind hierarchy instead social harmony inside rss outpost street mans small bunch members various ages walked military ceremony clad organizations official uniform widelegged khaki shorts shortsleeved white buttondowns black caps faced dais prominently featuring swami vivekananda hindu monk helped introduce hinduism west late 1800s globalpost spoke several rss members pune denounced violence means achieve goals160 rss wants unite hindus 160but muslims christians said deshpande 64 harassing people forcibly something work rss asked narendra dabholkar efforts mans eliminate superstitious religious practice 160particularly worship godmen ritual sacrifice forms black magic state maharashtra deshpande laudatory things say whatever activities dabholkar undertaken rss supporting said mans confused hinduism rituals never believed superstitions highly suspicious hindu nationalist project organizers mans bring socialist bent community outreach explained suyog nankar 30 said left lucrative corporate job teach gmat preparation students devote time activism pune representative socialistic thinking becoming like mumbai nankar said im professionalism go hand hand socialist attitude back mans dabholkars lean bespectacled portrait hangs wall women brightly colored saris sandals men blue jeans button downs college students seasoned professionals sit circle folding chairs second floor progressive bookstore media collage stairwell including works karl marx sigmund freud indian social reformer gopal ganesh agarkar160 30 people joined monday evening say know message religious inclusion minority todays india although one says believe hindu nationalists killed leader one seems believe case ends two young men arrested january suspicion committing murder160 proud minority scared said tulshri raskar 69 active movement says quietly endorsing candidates rabble rousing aam aadmi party years election dabholkar always said enjoy work reverend chitralekha james spoke work organizing empowering marathi christian women offered biblical viewpoint called sadhana spiritual exertion toward intended goal160 sure familiar jesus sermon mount said people trust absolute truth like salt earth like salt little bit enough without us taste society priyanka borpujari contributed story made possible travel grant international center journalists160 story presented groundtruth160project
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<p>Andre Davis’ commute to work begins with a Google search.</p>
<p>As a retail merchandiser, the Austin resident sets up display cases for Mariano’s grocery chains, work that often takes him to the suburbs. But before Davis can board a train or hop a bus, he checks Google maps to see if public transportation can get him to work.</p>
<p />
<p>“Sometimes it just is hectic trying to get out there,” said Davis, 32, who doesn’t have a car and relies on public transit to travel from Chicago’s West Side to the suburbs. &#160;“Sometimes I have to call off because the buses don’t even run to some of these locations or I have to ask ahead of time to send me somewhere that’s closer to public transportation. I am not trying to be stranded anywhere.”</p>
<p>In March, he was nearly stranded in Westmont in DuPage County. Davis caught a CTA bus to the Metra station in Cicero. From there, he made it to Westmont. But once in Westmont, there wasn’t a Pace bus that could get him to work by his start time of 7 a.m. &#160;One of his managers had to pick him up at the Metra station.</p>
<p>Davis’ commute isn’t unusual. &#160;More low-income workers are making the reverse trek outside the city for retail and manufacturing jobs in suburban Cook and surrounding collar counties. What experts call “job sprawl” and “ <a href="" type="internal">spatial mismatch</a>” — the disconnection between where people live and where they work – is changing the commute for some residents. Spatial mismatch disproportionately affects African-Americans in metropolitan areas with high poverty rates and high levels of segregation.</p>
<p>In Chicago, the impact of the mismatch may be felt the hardest in neighborhoods on the West and South sides, which have among the <a href="" type="internal">highest unemployment rates in the city</a>. &#160;Black workers have seen modest-paying, manual labor jobs quickly disappear from their communities, leaving them few options but to commute to far-flung suburban locales to earn a living.</p>
<p>“We know people need an income,” said Stephanie Schmitz Bechteler, director of research and evaluation for the <a href="http://www.thechicagourbanleague.org/" type="external">Chicago Urban League</a>, which released a <a href="http://www.thechicagourbanleague.org/cms/lib07/IL07000264/Centricity/Domain/1/CULtivate%20Part%201_Residential%20Segregation%20and%20Housing-Transportation_Final%20Draft_3-1-16_10P.pdf" type="external">report</a> earlier this year that examined segregation in housing and transportation. “We know we need to ensure that they have access to transit or have good transportation systems in place because they are going to leave their communities to get employment until we really reinvest in these communities.”</p>
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>The <a href="" type="internal">first story in this series</a>focused on post-recession unemployment on the South and West sides.&#160;</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Manufacturing</a> was historically concentrated in Chicago and&#160;near communities of color. But between 2001 and 2015, the South and West sides lost 45 percent of these jobs, significantly outpacing regional and national trends, according to data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.</p>
<p>DuPage County shed 25 percent of manufacturing jobs during the same time period, while Will County increased by 1 percent. Since the recession ended, Will has maintained&#160;more manufacturing jobs&#160;than Chicago’s South Side.</p>
<p>A similar pattern is playing out in the transportation and warehousing sector. Since 2001, Chicago has lost more than 13,000 such jobs while suburban Cook County has seen virtually no change, and collar counties have added nearly 10,000 jobs.</p>
<p>Many of these jobs are located in areas that are more than a half-mile or quarter-mile from high-quality rail or bus service, exacerbating the challenge of getting to work for people like Davis who depend on public transportation. These so-called “transit deserts” include the employment hubs along the Interstate 90 corridor near O’Hare, Interstate 88 near Aurora, Interstate 94 corridor and the Lake-Cook road on the border of Cook and Lake counties.</p>
<p>Despite the employment patterns, Chicago’s regional public transportation system is not set up to handle the reverse commute for people who depend on transit, experts say. Like many regional transit systems, Metra, which serves Cook and the surrounding five-county area, rests on a “spoke and hub” model that shuttles people to and from a central business district during peak morning and evening rush hours.</p>
<p>“I think a lot of people recognize the fact that our transit service is not really designed for people to get to the suburbs,” said Yonah Freemark, project manager at <a href="https://www.metroplanning.org/index.html" type="external">Metropolitan Planning Council</a>, a nonprofit planning and development agency. &#160;“The results are people are not able to access jobs, and that increases the level of poverty for people, reduces their access to opportunity and employment.”</p>
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<p>Photo by Stacey Rupolo</p>
<p>Eric Drane commutes from the Roseland neighborhood on the South Side to Romeoville in the southwest suburbs for his job as a forklift operator.</p>
<p>Pockets of Will County near Joliet and Romeoville have become the warehouse hubs of the Midwest and the country because major rail lines converge there, said Tim Bell of the <a href="http://www.chicagoworkerscollaborative.org/" type="external">Chicago Workers’ Collaborative</a>, an advocacy group for temp and low-wage workers.</p>
<p>“So a pretty significant number of workers go out of Chicago to work in those warehouses,” said Bell, organizing director for the collaborative. “It’s a long haul.”</p>
<p>Roseland resident Eric Drane is familiar with that long haul. Drane, 39, commutes 40 miles to a Romeoville electronics distribution warehouse where he drives a forklift. Unlike Davis, who depends on public transportation, Drane, a married father of four, can at least drive to work. But he says he’d rather take public transit – if it was available.</p>
<p>“It’s murder on your car going from here, putting 30 to 40 miles every day on an older vehicle,” said Drane, who drives a 1998 Buick that has 200,000 miles on it. &#160;“I’m like one car breakdown from not having a job myself.”</p>
<p>Taking public transit, he said, would reduce his stress about his ability to get to work. It also would allow him to convert his nearly four hours a day on the road into overtime.</p>
<p>To get to work by 7 a.m., Drane leaves home at 5 am. He picks up a co-worker “in order to make the gas work.” &#160;He winds down side streets to avoid traffic, before picking up&#160;I-55 to Romeoville. That’s 80 minutes in all.</p>
<p>Drane takes the toll road home, which he said is no better.</p>
<p>“[The commute] takes a toll,” said Drane, who earns $11.50 an hour. “But it’s something I know I got to do. I got to make a living.”</p>
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<p>An <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/taken-for-a-ride-temp-agencies-and-raiteros-in-immigrant-chicago" type="external">underground transportation system of van pools</a> has developed to ferry workers to places that aren’t accessible by Metra or Pace, the regional bus system. &#160;In some cases, the van services work in tandem with the temp agencies that recruit workers for suburban warehouses.</p>
<p>But there’s a caveat, Bell said. The rides can be one-way trips. To meet their contractual obligation to supply workers, some temp agencies only provide transportation to job sites, but not back to the city, he said. Workers are left to get back to the city on their own, he added, some walking miles to the nearest Metra station or bus stop.</p>
<p>“Pace is set up to go to commuter centers like Metra and commercial centers like the Woodfield Mall,” Bell said. &#160;“There is not a whole lot of lines servicing industrial or warehouse parks.”</p>
<p>At the end of his first day at a Bedford Park factory, Barry Rose, 51, expected the temp agency to arrange to pick him up. After all, it made sure he was dropped off at the factory.</p>
<p>“When I get off work, it wasn’t no van. I was asking people ‘Where’s the van?’ And people were like ‘You got to get home the best way you can,’” said Rose, of the incident two years ago. “They didn’t even tell us they weren’t coming back. Your feet already tired from standing up for 12 hours, and then you have to walk another hour to get a CTA bus to get home.”</p>
<p>The hour-long walk from the plant on 73rd Street and Mason Avenue, where he worked as a material handler and packer, was just the beginning of his commute home. He had to walk from there to Cicero Avenue, where he caught a CTA bus to the Orange Line. Then he would take the Red Line and a Pace bus home to suburban South Holland, where he lived at the time.</p>
<p>With few prospects because of a 12-year prison sentence for aggravated battery, Rose stayed on the job. He worked at the Bedford Park factory for nine months before he was transferred to a Bridgeview factory. His commute then mushroomed to four hours. After a month, he moved into his sister’s Auburn-Gresham apartment on 87th Street and Racine Avenue. His commute to Bridgeview became a manageable two hours, but working weekends from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. was tougher because there was no Pace bus service. And if the factory only needed workers for half a shift, Rose said many of fellow employees would walk to Cicero Avenue in the dark along a desolate industrial corridor to get to the bus stop.</p>
<p>Rose now works in the city, but still faces a long commute to get to his bakery job on 37th Street and Kedzie Avenue.</p>
<p>“It’s pretty hard to believe what some workers have to go through just to earn minimum wage,” Bell said, adding that rides from some underground van services don’t come cheap. Trips can cost $5 each way and add up to $200 a month. He said that eats away at workers’ paychecks since the minimum wage in the suburbs is only $8.25.</p>
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<p>Following the last two recessions, the Chicago area’s manufacturing sector has shrunk by one-third. Even worse for the city’s factory workers, the balance of remaining jobs is shifting further out into the suburbs. Since 2001, Chicago has shed 49 percent of manufacturing jobs and suburban Cook has lost 40 percent — far more than any of the collar counties. Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security</p>
<p>While transit officials blame money woes for hamstringing the expansion of public transportation services, the <a href="http://www.cnt.org/" type="external">Center for Neighborhood Technology</a>’s Jacky Grimshaw said funding is only part of the problem.</p>
<p>“You have to have money to build anything, but it is also political will,” said Grimshaw, the center’s vice president of policy and a CTA board member from 2009-2015.</p>
<p>Take the Red Line. Former Mayor Richard J. Daley promised in 1968 to extend it to the city limits. The extension still hasn’t happened, Grimshaw said, although other new lines and expansions have occurred.</p>
<p>“It is money obviously, but there is also the decision-making process that contributes to whether or not we have the transit system where we want it,” she said.</p>
<p>Pace officials recognize the growing population of reverse commuters, but the system isn’t set up or financed to serve these riders. Ninety cents of every federal and state dollar allotted to the Regional Transportation Authority supports CTA and Metra to take workers to Chicago’s central business district, said Rocky Donahue, Pace’s deputy executive director of external relations.</p>
<p>“That doesn’t leave a lot of money for what we see is a very big changing demographic,” Donahue said. “What we are seeing is more people live in the suburbs, more people work in the suburbs. Even those who live in the city are trying to get to the suburbs, yet we are not making an investment into a suburban transit system.”</p>
<p>Even the Regional Transportation Authority, which provides oversight, funding and regional planning for CTA, Metra and Pace, acknowledges the need to invest in reverse commuters. Of the more than 400,000 people who commute from Chicago to jobs in the suburbs, 12 percent ride public transportation, according to <a href="https://www.rtachicago.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/plansandprograms/Market%20Briefing%20-%20Reverse%20Commute.pdf" type="external">2014 figures from the authority</a>.</p>
<p>RTA has been involved in several initiatives to better connect people and jobs, including subsidizing a pilot for the only Metra train developed specifically for reverse commuters. Launched in 2007, the <a href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-03-06/news/0703060083_1_train-commuters-lake-county" type="external">Sunrise Express</a> carries city residents to the North Suburbs where most work at high-end service sector jobs.</p>
<p>“The reverse commute market is really tricky because you got this more spread out area, and when you are in a suburban environment you don’t have everything necessarily at the train station,” said RTA’s Executive Director Leanne P. Redden, who called the Sunrise service a success.</p>
<p>The line, which leaves Chicago’s Ogilvie station at 5:40 am, runs into Lake County and is met by Pace shuttles and buses, which take people to their places of employment.</p>
<p>North suburban employers worked with Metra, Pace and local politicians to offer this transit option to employees at corporate office parks. In 1996, the Transportation Management Association of Lake/Cook, worked with Metra and Pace to provide door- to- door shuttle bus service for these employees.</p>
<p>Transit officials say employers at suburban manufacturing companies and industrial parks can launch similar initiatives for their workers.</p>
<p>Pace has partnerships with employers, like its agreement with UPS to shuttle workers from Chicago to the company’s Southwest Suburban Hodgkins facility. The agency is working with Amazon to develop transportation options for workers at the company’s distribution center near Joliet.</p>
<p>Transit agencies have to do their part to provide efficient public transportation, said Freemark of the Metropolitan Planning Council, but some of the onus is on suburban planners and developers to build employment centers accessible by transit. Industrial parks should be in denser locations and have pedestrian infrastructure,&#160;he said. And employers must be more creative in addressing workers’ transit needs like utilizing cabs, Uber or providing free shuttles, he said.</p>
<p>State officials must also see the value in investing in public transportation, Freemark said. “If you don’t do that then you are isolating people from jobs.”</p>
<p>Davis said even when there’s public transportation, it’s difficult to get to work. To work a night shift at a Northbrook Mariano’s, Davis had to take two trains and a Pace bus to get to work by 9 p.m. Between Pace, Metra and CTA , the father of a 5-year-old son, spends $80 every two weeks in transportation cost.</p>
<p>He has looked for work in the city, but Davis said people need to know someone to get a foot in the door. &#160;Jobs in the city are tough to come by and even tougher to get to if they are in the suburbs, he said.</p>
<p>“There are people out here that need to work, but just don’t have no way to get there,” said Davis, who wants to start his own van service to transport people to jobs in the suburbs.</p>
<p>“Seems like that’s where all the jobs are at.”</p>
<p>Data Editor Matt Kiefer contributed to this report.</p>
<p>This is the second in a series on <a href="/tag/black-unemployment/" type="external">black unemployment in Chicago</a>.</p>
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160 andre davis commute work begins google search retail merchandiser austin resident sets display cases marianos grocery chains work often takes suburbs davis board train hop bus checks google maps see public transportation get work sometimes hectic trying get said davis 32 doesnt car relies public transit travel chicagos west side suburbs 160sometimes call buses dont even run locations ask ahead time send somewhere thats closer public transportation trying stranded anywhere march nearly stranded westmont dupage county davis caught cta bus metra station cicero made westmont westmont wasnt pace bus could get work start time 7 160one managers pick metra station davis commute isnt unusual 160more lowincome workers making reverse trek outside city retail manufacturing jobs suburban cook surrounding collar counties experts call job sprawl spatial mismatch disconnection people live work changing commute residents spatial mismatch disproportionately affects africanamericans metropolitan areas high poverty rates high levels segregation chicago impact mismatch may felt hardest neighborhoods west south sides among highest unemployment rates city 160black workers seen modestpaying manual labor jobs quickly disappear communities leaving options commute farflung suburban locales earn living know people need income said stephanie schmitz bechteler director research evaluation chicago urban league released report earlier year examined segregation housing transportation know need ensure access transit good transportation systems place going leave communities get employment really reinvest communities first story seriesfocused postrecession unemployment south west sides160 manufacturing historically concentrated chicago and160near communities color 2001 2015 south west sides lost 45 percent jobs significantly outpacing regional national trends according data illinois department employment security dupage county shed 25 percent manufacturing jobs time period county increased 1 percent since recession ended maintained160more manufacturing jobs160than chicagos south side similar pattern playing transportation warehousing sector since 2001 chicago lost 13000 jobs suburban cook county seen virtually change collar counties added nearly 10000 jobs many jobs located areas halfmile quartermile highquality rail bus service exacerbating challenge getting work people like davis depend public transportation socalled transit deserts include employment hubs along interstate 90 corridor near ohare interstate 88 near aurora interstate 94 corridor lakecook road border cook lake counties despite employment patterns chicagos regional public transportation system set handle reverse commute people depend transit experts say like many regional transit systems metra serves cook surrounding fivecounty area rests spoke hub model shuttles people central business district peak morning evening rush hours think lot people recognize fact transit service really designed people get suburbs said yonah freemark project manager metropolitan planning council nonprofit planning development agency 160the results people able access jobs increases level poverty people reduces access opportunity employment photo stacey rupolo eric drane commutes roseland neighborhood south side romeoville southwest suburbs job forklift operator pockets county near joliet romeoville become warehouse hubs midwest country major rail lines converge said tim bell chicago workers collaborative advocacy group temp lowwage workers pretty significant number workers go chicago work warehouses said bell organizing director collaborative long haul roseland resident eric drane familiar long haul drane 39 commutes 40 miles romeoville electronics distribution warehouse drives forklift unlike davis depends public transportation drane married father four least drive work says hed rather take public transit available murder car going putting 30 40 miles every day older vehicle said drane drives 1998 buick 200000 miles 160im like one car breakdown job taking public transit said would reduce stress ability get work also would allow convert nearly four hours day road overtime get work 7 drane leaves home 5 picks coworker order make gas work 160he winds side streets avoid traffic picking up160i55 romeoville thats 80 minutes drane takes toll road home said better commute takes toll said drane earns 1150 hour something know got got make living underground transportation system van pools developed ferry workers places arent accessible metra pace regional bus system 160in cases van services work tandem temp agencies recruit workers suburban warehouses theres caveat bell said rides oneway trips meet contractual obligation supply workers temp agencies provide transportation job sites back city said workers left get back city added walking miles nearest metra station bus stop pace set go commuter centers like metra commercial centers like woodfield mall bell said 160there whole lot lines servicing industrial warehouse parks end first day bedford park factory barry rose 51 expected temp agency arrange pick made sure dropped factory get work wasnt van asking people wheres van people like got get home best way said rose incident two years ago didnt even tell us werent coming back feet already tired standing 12 hours walk another hour get cta bus get home hourlong walk plant 73rd street mason avenue worked material handler packer beginning commute home walk cicero avenue caught cta bus orange line would take red line pace bus home suburban south holland lived time prospects 12year prison sentence aggravated battery rose stayed job worked bedford park factory nine months transferred bridgeview factory commute mushroomed four hours month moved sisters auburngresham apartment 87th street racine avenue commute bridgeview became manageable two hours working weekends 7 pm 7 tougher pace bus service factory needed workers half shift rose said many fellow employees would walk cicero avenue dark along desolate industrial corridor get bus stop rose works city still faces long commute get bakery job 37th street kedzie avenue pretty hard believe workers go earn minimum wage bell said adding rides underground van services dont come cheap trips cost 5 way add 200 month said eats away workers paychecks since minimum wage suburbs 825 following last two recessions chicago areas manufacturing sector shrunk onethird even worse citys factory workers balance remaining jobs shifting suburbs since 2001 chicago shed 49 percent manufacturing jobs suburban cook lost 40 percent far collar counties source illinois department employment security transit officials blame money woes hamstringing expansion public transportation services center neighborhood technologys jacky grimshaw said funding part problem money build anything also political said grimshaw centers vice president policy cta board member 20092015 take red line former mayor richard j daley promised 1968 extend city limits extension still hasnt happened grimshaw said although new lines expansions occurred money obviously also decisionmaking process contributes whether transit system want said pace officials recognize growing population reverse commuters system isnt set financed serve riders ninety cents every federal state dollar allotted regional transportation authority supports cta metra take workers chicagos central business district said rocky donahue paces deputy executive director external relations doesnt leave lot money see big changing demographic donahue said seeing people live suburbs people work suburbs even live city trying get suburbs yet making investment suburban transit system even regional transportation authority provides oversight funding regional planning cta metra pace acknowledges need invest reverse commuters 400000 people commute chicago jobs suburbs 12 percent ride public transportation according 2014 figures authority rta involved several initiatives better connect people jobs including subsidizing pilot metra train developed specifically reverse commuters launched 2007 sunrise express carries city residents north suburbs work highend service sector jobs reverse commute market really tricky got spread area suburban environment dont everything necessarily train station said rtas executive director leanne p redden called sunrise service success line leaves chicagos ogilvie station 540 runs lake county met pace shuttles buses take people places employment north suburban employers worked metra pace local politicians offer transit option employees corporate office parks 1996 transportation management association lakecook worked metra pace provide door door shuttle bus service employees transit officials say employers suburban manufacturing companies industrial parks launch similar initiatives workers pace partnerships employers like agreement ups shuttle workers chicago companys southwest suburban hodgkins facility agency working amazon develop transportation options workers companys distribution center near joliet transit agencies part provide efficient public transportation said freemark metropolitan planning council onus suburban planners developers build employment centers accessible transit industrial parks denser locations pedestrian infrastructure160he said employers must creative addressing workers transit needs like utilizing cabs uber providing free shuttles said state officials must also see value investing public transportation freemark said dont isolating people jobs davis said even theres public transportation difficult get work work night shift northbrook marianos davis take two trains pace bus get work 9 pm pace metra cta father 5yearold son spends 80 every two weeks transportation cost looked work city davis said people need know someone get foot door 160jobs city tough come even tougher get suburbs said people need work dont way get said davis wants start van service transport people jobs suburbs seems like thats jobs data editor matt kiefer contributed report second series black unemployment chicago
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<p>By Greg Warner</p>
<p>As “values voters” in 11 states sent a political message rejecting same-sex marriage, Baptist conventions in at least seven states offered a resounding “Amen” by adopting resolutions against the practice.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Most of the statements voiced support for constitutional amendments on the state and federal level to define marriage as only the union of a man and a woman.</p>
<p>Supporters say the constitutional amendments are necessary to stop the trend of legalizing gay marriage-which began last fall in Massachusetts and has surfaced in a handful of cities. Opponents say the amendments are unnecessary because of existing federal and state laws, such as the Defense of Marriage Act, that prohibit gay marriage. But supporters counter that “activist” judges could overturn those laws as unconstitutional, making constitutional amendments the only sure defense against gay marriage.</p>
<p>At annual conventions, most held in mid-November, Baptist messengers in Alabama, North Carolina, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and California all spoke out against gay marriage.</p>
<p>Typical of the state convention actions was the resolution passed in Alabama, which affirmed that “biblical and legal marriage is between one man and one woman” and is “the only marriage ordained of God.” The resolution calls for the U.S. Congress and the Alabama legislature to pass constitutional amendments limiting marriage to a man and a woman.</p>
<p>In North Carolina, messengers were presented a proposed statement from their resolutions committee that included the same definition of marriage but did not call for constitutional amendments. Before it was adopted, the resolution was easily amended from the floor to include the need for the constitutional amendments, noting that successful legal challenges could force North Carolina and other states to “accept same sex marriage as the law of the land without any vote of our elected legislators in the U.S. Congress.”</p>
<p>In Arkansas, where legislators have already adopted a constitutional amendment defining marriage, Baptist messengers expressed gratitude for the Arkansas Marriage Amendment and called for a similar amendment to the U.S. Constitution.</p>
<p>Messengers to the Florida Baptist Convention went a step further, pledging to work with other like-minded denominations to add gay-marriage bans to the state and federal constitutions. The statement calls for legislation defining marriage “as the union between a man and a woman” and “the God-ordained building block of the family and bedrock of civil society.” Like many other states, Florida already has enacted the Defense of Marriage Act that limits marriage to heterosexual couples.</p>
<p>In Louisiana and Mississippi, Baptist messengers adopted resolutions calling for passage of the Federal Marriage Amendment, but in Louisiana another resolution urged Baptists to continue to address the issue of homosexuality from a biblical standpoint. The statement laments that homosexuality is becoming more culturally acceptable, while remaining an “abomination unto God” and “unrighteous.” The resolution calls on pastors to continue “stating very plainly what the Bible teaches about homosexuality.”</p>
<p>In California, the resolutions committee presented only one resolution, a catchall statement dealing with the right to life, family values, purity in marriage between a man and a woman and the raising of children.</p>
<p>This year, as usual, Baptist conventions adopted resolutions addressing a broad range of moral issues, as well as support for hurricane victims and troops in Iraq. The statements carry no power of enforcement, even among the conventions' churches, and are supposed to reflect only the opinions of the messengers present. But resolutions often serve as an indicator of congregational sentiment and thus influence convention policy.</p>
<p>While same-sex marriage clearly was the hottest topic in 2004, an expected debate over the alleged moral failure of public education fizzled.</p>
<p>Several state conventions were expected to act on a resolution denouncing the secular condition of public or “government” schools and urging parents to “remove their children from “godless” and “anti-Christian government schools and see to it they receive a thoroughly Christian education.”</p>
<p>A similar resolution introduced at the Southern Baptist Convention last June was rejected by the SBC resolutions committee, which said the resolution would “usurp” the responsibility of parents to decide how to educate their children.</p>
<p>According to Exodus Mandate, a group advocating a Christian departure from public education, the resolution was to be introduced at 10 state Baptist conventions this fall.</p>
<p>However, none of those conventions approved the resolution as proposed. Some passed watered-down versions. But most declined to abandon public education. In fact, more resolutions affirmed public schools than denounced them.</p>
<p>In the Alabama Baptist State Convention, a resolution affirmed Baptists' support of education, including public schools, and affirmed actions by local churches, associations and individual Christians to partner with schools.”</p>
<p>In South Carolina, messengers voted to “celebrate the diversity” of choices Baptist families are making in regard to their children's education. The resolution called on parents to make “the responsible, intelligent and prayerful choice” of being actively involved “in the academic and spiritual development of children.”</p>
<p>At the Florida Baptist Convention, messengers passed a brief motion asking convention administrators “to find ways to strengthen and support Christian schools and home schooling” among the convention's churches. Because of that action, convention leaders decided it was not necessary to consider the longer resolution condemning public schools and calling all Christians to abandon public education.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, even the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia, an alternative pro-SBC convention in Virginia, took no action against public schools. An attempt to add an anti-schools amendment to a resolution on “the secularization of American society” failed to pass.</p>
<p>At the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, another conservative alternative group, messengers resolved to “instruct parents to ensure the godly education of children whether in public schools, private schools, home schools, or through the church's educational program.”</p>
<p>The Missouri Baptist Convention passed a resolution encouraging Baptists to consider the dangers of secularization of public schools.</p>
<p>In several other state conventions, such as Tennessee, the anti-schools resolution was submitted but rejected by the resolutions committees. In some states, such as Illinois, the resolution was not even introduced.</p>
<p>T. C. Pinckney of Virginia, a conservative Southern Baptist who led the unsuccessful effort to pass the anti-schools resolution at the SBC in June, said he was not disappointed in the lack of action in the state conventions. Pinckney said he did not expect many conventions to pass “strong, unambiguous” statements for Christian education this year.</p>
<p>“My judgment is that such a major change in the way we think about education and the assumptions under which we proceed regarding educating our children will take a long time-years-to complete,” he told Associated Baptist Press in an email interview.</p>
<p>“To the extent that the state resolutions cause people to think about the issue, we have made progress,” he said.</p>
<p>Associated Baptist Press</p>
<p />
<p>Greg Warner is executive editor of ABP.</p>
<p />
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greg warner values voters 11 states sent political message rejecting samesex marriage baptist conventions least seven states offered resounding amen adopting resolutions practice 160 statements voiced support constitutional amendments state federal level define marriage union man woman supporters say constitutional amendments necessary stop trend legalizing gay marriagewhich began last fall massachusetts surfaced handful cities opponents say amendments unnecessary existing federal state laws defense marriage act prohibit gay marriage supporters counter activist judges could overturn laws unconstitutional making constitutional amendments sure defense gay marriage annual conventions held midnovember baptist messengers alabama north carolina arkansas florida louisiana mississippi california spoke gay marriage typical state convention actions resolution passed alabama affirmed biblical legal marriage one man one woman marriage ordained god resolution calls us congress alabama legislature pass constitutional amendments limiting marriage man woman north carolina messengers presented proposed statement resolutions committee included definition marriage call constitutional amendments adopted resolution easily amended floor include need constitutional amendments noting successful legal challenges could force north carolina states accept sex marriage law land without vote elected legislators us congress arkansas legislators already adopted constitutional amendment defining marriage baptist messengers expressed gratitude arkansas marriage amendment called similar amendment us constitution messengers florida baptist convention went step pledging work likeminded denominations add gaymarriage bans state federal constitutions statement calls legislation defining marriage union man woman godordained building block family bedrock civil society like many states florida already enacted defense marriage act limits marriage heterosexual couples louisiana mississippi baptist messengers adopted resolutions calling passage federal marriage amendment louisiana another resolution urged baptists continue address issue homosexuality biblical standpoint statement laments homosexuality becoming culturally acceptable remaining abomination unto god unrighteous resolution calls pastors continue stating plainly bible teaches homosexuality california resolutions committee presented one resolution catchall statement dealing right life family values purity marriage man woman raising children year usual baptist conventions adopted resolutions addressing broad range moral issues well support hurricane victims troops iraq statements carry power enforcement even among conventions churches supposed reflect opinions messengers present resolutions often serve indicator congregational sentiment thus influence convention policy samesex marriage clearly hottest topic 2004 expected debate alleged moral failure public education fizzled several state conventions expected act resolution denouncing secular condition public government schools urging parents remove children godless antichristian government schools see receive thoroughly christian education similar resolution introduced southern baptist convention last june rejected sbc resolutions committee said resolution would usurp responsibility parents decide educate children according exodus mandate group advocating christian departure public education resolution introduced 10 state baptist conventions fall however none conventions approved resolution proposed passed watereddown versions declined abandon public education fact resolutions affirmed public schools denounced alabama baptist state convention resolution affirmed baptists support education including public schools affirmed actions local churches associations individual christians partner schools south carolina messengers voted celebrate diversity choices baptist families making regard childrens education resolution called parents make responsible intelligent prayerful choice actively involved academic spiritual development children florida baptist convention messengers passed brief motion asking convention administrators find ways strengthen support christian schools home schooling among conventions churches action convention leaders decided necessary consider longer resolution condemning public schools calling christians abandon public education meanwhile even southern baptist conservatives virginia alternative prosbc convention virginia took action public schools attempt add antischools amendment resolution secularization american society failed pass southern baptists texas convention another conservative alternative group messengers resolved instruct parents ensure godly education children whether public schools private schools home schools churchs educational program missouri baptist convention passed resolution encouraging baptists consider dangers secularization public schools several state conventions tennessee antischools resolution submitted rejected resolutions committees states illinois resolution even introduced c pinckney virginia conservative southern baptist led unsuccessful effort pass antischools resolution sbc june said disappointed lack action state conventions pinckney said expect many conventions pass strong unambiguous statements christian education year judgment major change way think education assumptions proceed regarding educating children take long timeyearsto complete told associated baptist press email interview extent state resolutions cause people think issue made progress said associated baptist press greg warner executive editor abp
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<p>Trans elected officials was the subject of an LGBT International Leadership Conference panel. (Blade photo by Chris Johnson)</p>
<p>LAS VEGAS — Recent years have seen a record number of openly gay people seated in the U.S. House, the election of the first out lesbian to the U.S. Senate and the appointment of a bisexual woman as governor of Oregon. But there remains a dearth of openly transgender officials at any level of government.</p>
<p>The stories of the handful of elected trans officials — and the absence of any in state legislatures or Congress — was the subject of a panel titled, “Out to Win: Transgender Elected Officials,” which took place Saturday at the LGBT Leaders 2015 International Leadership Conference in Las Vegas.</p>
<p>Moderating the panel was Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, who said finding trans elected officials to participate was difficult “not because they wouldn’t cooperate, but because they don’t exist.”</p>
<p>No openly transgender person has ever served as a member of Congress, nor has any openly transgender person been elected and seated in a state legislature.</p>
<p>As Keisling noted, former Massachusetts State Rep. Althea Garrison was outed by former Gov. Mitt Romney’s communication shop during her one term in the legislature, but she denied she was transgender.</p>
<p>In New Hampshire, Stacie Laughton was elected in 2012 to represent Nashua-area Ward 4 in the House of Representatives, but couldn’t be seated under state law because of her history as a convicted felon.</p>
<p>In 2014, Lauren Scott, a Persian Gulf war veteran, won the Republican nomination in a bid to represent Nevada Assembly District 30 in the statehouse, but ultimately lost in the Democratic district. (She’s pursuing another bid for the same seat in Election 2016.)</p>
<p>That same year, Paula Sophia Schonauer ran for the Democratic nomination for a seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Although she advanced in the House District 88 Democratic primary, she came up short by 22 votes against now State Rep. Jason Dunnington in the run-off election.</p>
<p>On the panel, Schonauer said the Democratic leader of the Oklahoma House, Rep. Scott Inman, worked against her nomination because she’s transgender.</p>
<p>“He lobbied against me, twisted unions — because I was the only union member in the race, too — and leveraged pressure on them not to endorse me,” Schonauer said. “The Oklahoma Education Association wanted to endorse me, he went out of his way, ‘Nuh-uh. You can’t endorse Paula.’ And then, the AFL-CIO wanted to endorse me, and he was pulling favors to keep me away, and then he was saying if I got elected that I would break the Democratic caucus.”</p>
<p>Inman told the Blade he along with Rep. Emily Virgin indeed supported Dunnington over Schonauer, but they endorsed him early on based on his merits before she ever declared her candidacy and didn’t oppose her based on her gender identity.</p>
<p>“We endorsed Jason…in his announcement,” Inman said. “We had no idea who else was going to run. And the idea there was that we supported Jason so much that we were hoping that when we announced with our endorsement included in his announcement that it would encourage Democrats to not run, saying OK, House Democratic leadership is behind him, and that’s what we were trying to do.”</p>
<p>Nonetheless, Schonauer said her campaign had momentum because people were interested in her background as a transgender person, former law enforcement official, veteran and poet.</p>
<p>“The momentum was rolling, and I think if the campaign was one more week, I would have won,” Schonauer said.</p>
<p>Two transgender people were on the panel who won election to local offices, although they said they faced challenges because of their gender identity.</p>
<p>Vared Meltzer, who was elected to the Appleton City Council in Wisconsin last year, said the issue of presentation during her campaign was a “harrowing” experience.</p>
<p>“There were straight women who got very upset at me because I wear skirts from time to time and am ‘claiming’ to be trans,” Meltzer said. “Regardless of what I do with my body and my appearance, people are going to be upset.”</p>
<p>But Meltzer said her constituents started “policing themselves a bit” and when some&#160;became intolerant about her being transgender, said “Why do you care? Why does this matter?”</p>
<p>Victoria Kolakowski, who in 2010 was elected to the Alameda County Superior Court in California, said she had support from gay and lesbian people for her candidacy, but not so much from the transgender community.</p>
<p>“The trans folks were happy when I won, but you’re talking about people who don’t have money and don’t necessarily even have a lot of time because they’re just trying to get by,” Kolakowski said. “It’s not exactly a resource rich community that’s going to be stepping forward and giving things.”</p>
<p>Kolakowski added trans people are out there with resources, but are often a “stealth community” who aren’t visibly transgender and “don’t want to have anything to do with us.”</p>
<p>When an audience member asked about the best way to aid the election of transgender people, Keisling noted the existence of LPAC, a political action committee for lesbians, and raised the possibility of creating a “TransPAC.”</p>
<p>In a possible reference to the Gay &amp; Lesbian Victory Fund and its criteria that endorsed candidates stand a strong chance of winning, Keisling said, “There are other PACs in the LGBT space that rely a lot on picking winning candidates, and we’re still in a time where a trans candidate is going to be less likely to prove in advance that they’re going to win.”</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the transgender community continues to face other major problems, such as persistent anti-trans violence and murders in addition to political attacks aimed at prohibiting trans people from using the public restroom consistent with their gender identity, which were blamed for the recent loss on LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination protections at the ballot in Houston.</p>
<p>Schonauer said she’s expecting in Oklahoma the revival of a state bill raising bathroom issues for transgender people, adding “we’re going to fight to make sure it doesn’t get out of committee,” but the legislation may pass. It’s the kind of legislation Keisling said the transgender community will be fighting across the nation.</p>
<p>“Stay tuned for the bathroom conversation,” Keisling said. “It’s going to be huge for the next couple years. It’s going to be messy and bad and ugly. And we as a community are going to stand up and fight. We’re going to have some losses, but we’re going to win.”</p>
<p>At one point, West Hollywood City Council member John Duran, who was participating as an audience member, stood up and raised the possibility of localities creating transgender advisory boards similar to one in his city that would enable the election of transgender people in the city.</p>
<p>“I think in order for us to conventionally elect a trans man or woman in the city of West Hollywood, they’re going to have to serve on public safety, on human services, on rent stabilization, because people are going to have to know about the ideas behind the person,” Duran said.</p>
<p>Phillipe Cunningham, senior policy adviser on youth development and racial equity for Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges, was on the panel and responded by saying localities should just appoint transgender people to positions in the administrative branch of governments.</p>
<p>“My recommendation would be to skip the advisory council and just start plugging trans people on to boards and commissions,” Cunningham said. “While it may humanize us, it also delays us from being involved directly in the decision-making process. So, I do appreciate that, but I also want to pull back on that a little bit because it’s on the periphery, it’s not quite plugged in all the way in the decision making.”</p>
<p>Logan Casey, who’s transgender and a Ph.D. candidate in political science at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, said even with additional transgender people elected to public office, challenges will continue to remain for the community.</p>
<p>“Even when we achieve sort of benchmarks of formal representation, rates of violence and discrimination remain incredibly high in our communities,” Casey said. “Structural inequalities and prejudice are really, really slow to change. This is all just first steps. There’s still so much to be done.”</p>
<p>The number of openly transgender people who’ll seek elected office in the 2016 election cycle remains to be seen. One candidate who filed early this year is Kristen Beck, a transgender Navy SEAL who’s challenging House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) for the Democratic nomination to represent Maryland’s 5th congressional district in the U.S. House.</p>
<p>Schonauer told the Blade after the panel when asked if she’d run again for the state legislature, “I’m biding my time.” Because the seat she once pursued now has an incumbent lawmaker, Schonauer said she won’t run in the 2016 election cycle.</p>
<p>“It depends when the House district I live in opens up again because I’m competitive in a very narrow area,” Schonauer said. “And so, I’m going to bide my time and see what happens.”</p>
<p>But Schonauer said she wants to pursue another run because she feels a call to public service and, as a former law enforcement official, she thinks she can offer perspective on community policing in Oklahoma, which she said isn’t getting enough discussion in Oklahoma. But Schonauer said she also needs to fulfill a personal obligation.</p>
<p>“My daughter had been diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and during her treatment, she asked me to promise to run again,” Schonauer said. “She’s cancer-free now, and she keeps reminding me of my promise. So, there’s a personal promise there.”</p>
<p>CORRECTION: An initial version of this article omitted the candidacy of Kristen Beck when discussing transgender candidates running in Election 2016. The Blade regrets the error.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">John Duran</a> <a href="" type="internal">LGBT Leaders 2015 International Leadership Conference</a> <a href="" type="internal">Logan Casey</a> <a href="" type="internal">Paula Sophia Schonauer</a> <a href="" type="internal">transgender candidates</a> <a href="" type="internal">Vared Meltzer</a> <a href="" type="internal">Victoria Kolakowski</a> <a href="" type="internal">West Hollywood</a></p>
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trans elected officials subject lgbt international leadership conference panel blade photo chris johnson las vegas recent years seen record number openly gay people seated us house election first lesbian us senate appointment bisexual woman governor oregon remains dearth openly transgender officials level government stories handful elected trans officials absence state legislatures congress subject panel titled win transgender elected officials took place saturday lgbt leaders 2015 international leadership conference las vegas moderating panel mara keisling executive director national center transgender equality said finding trans elected officials participate difficult wouldnt cooperate dont exist openly transgender person ever served member congress openly transgender person elected seated state legislature keisling noted former massachusetts state rep althea garrison outed former gov mitt romneys communication shop one term legislature denied transgender new hampshire stacie laughton elected 2012 represent nashuaarea ward 4 house representatives couldnt seated state law history convicted felon 2014 lauren scott persian gulf war veteran republican nomination bid represent nevada assembly district 30 statehouse ultimately lost democratic district shes pursuing another bid seat election 2016 year paula sophia schonauer ran democratic nomination seat oklahoma house representatives although advanced house district 88 democratic primary came short 22 votes state rep jason dunnington runoff election panel schonauer said democratic leader oklahoma house rep scott inman worked nomination shes transgender lobbied twisted unions union member race leveraged pressure endorse schonauer said oklahoma education association wanted endorse went way nuhuh cant endorse paula aflcio wanted endorse pulling favors keep away saying got elected would break democratic caucus inman told blade along rep emily virgin indeed supported dunnington schonauer endorsed early based merits ever declared candidacy didnt oppose based gender identity endorsed jasonin announcement inman said idea else going run idea supported jason much hoping announced endorsement included announcement would encourage democrats run saying ok house democratic leadership behind thats trying nonetheless schonauer said campaign momentum people interested background transgender person former law enforcement official veteran poet momentum rolling think campaign one week would schonauer said two transgender people panel election local offices although said faced challenges gender identity vared meltzer elected appleton city council wisconsin last year said issue presentation campaign harrowing experience straight women got upset wear skirts time time claiming trans meltzer said regardless body appearance people going upset meltzer said constituents started policing bit some160became intolerant transgender said care matter victoria kolakowski 2010 elected alameda county superior court california said support gay lesbian people candidacy much transgender community trans folks happy youre talking people dont money dont necessarily even lot time theyre trying get kolakowski said exactly resource rich community thats going stepping forward giving things kolakowski added trans people resources often stealth community arent visibly transgender dont want anything us audience member asked best way aid election transgender people keisling noted existence lpac political action committee lesbians raised possibility creating transpac possible reference gay amp lesbian victory fund criteria endorsed candidates stand strong chance winning keisling said pacs lgbt space rely lot picking winning candidates still time trans candidate going less likely prove advance theyre going win meanwhile transgender community continues face major problems persistent antitrans violence murders addition political attacks aimed prohibiting trans people using public restroom consistent gender identity blamed recent loss lgbtinclusive nondiscrimination protections ballot houston schonauer said shes expecting oklahoma revival state bill raising bathroom issues transgender people adding going fight make sure doesnt get committee legislation may pass kind legislation keisling said transgender community fighting across nation stay tuned bathroom conversation keisling said going huge next couple years going messy bad ugly community going stand fight going losses going win one point west hollywood city council member john duran participating audience member stood raised possibility localities creating transgender advisory boards similar one city would enable election transgender people city think order us conventionally elect trans man woman city west hollywood theyre going serve public safety human services rent stabilization people going know ideas behind person duran said phillipe cunningham senior policy adviser youth development racial equity minneapolis mayor betsy hodges panel responded saying localities appoint transgender people positions administrative branch governments recommendation would skip advisory council start plugging trans people boards commissions cunningham said may humanize us also delays us involved directly decisionmaking process appreciate also want pull back little bit periphery quite plugged way decision making logan casey whos transgender phd candidate political science university michigan ann arbor said even additional transgender people elected public office challenges continue remain community even achieve sort benchmarks formal representation rates violence discrimination remain incredibly high communities casey said structural inequalities prejudice really really slow change first steps theres still much done number openly transgender people wholl seek elected office 2016 election cycle remains seen one candidate filed early year kristen beck transgender navy seal whos challenging house democratic whip steny hoyer dmd democratic nomination represent marylands 5th congressional district us house schonauer told blade panel asked shed run state legislature im biding time seat pursued incumbent lawmaker schonauer said wont run 2016 election cycle depends house district live opens im competitive narrow area schonauer said im going bide time see happens schonauer said wants pursue another run feels call public service former law enforcement official thinks offer perspective community policing oklahoma said isnt getting enough discussion oklahoma schonauer said also needs fulfill personal obligation daughter diagnosed cancer earlier year treatment asked promise run schonauer said shes cancerfree keeps reminding promise theres personal promise correction initial version article omitted candidacy kristen beck discussing transgender candidates running election 2016 blade regrets error john duran lgbt leaders 2015 international leadership conference logan casey paula sophia schonauer transgender candidates vared meltzer victoria kolakowski west hollywood
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<p>Elena Gomez, 9, is the meteorologist on a live televised newscast at her magnet elementary school in Vista.</p>
<p>“I’ve learned that I have to speak up because otherwise people who are watching the video will not hear me at all,” says the student of the&#160; <a href="https://cas-vistausd-ca.schoolloop.com/" type="external">Casita Center for Technology, Science and Math</a>.</p>
<p>Gomez speaks English as a second language. Her Mexican parents raised her with Spanish. As part of the fourth-grade news crew at Casita, Gomez has quickly improved her English fluency.</p>
<p>Their program includes a team of anchors, a sports reporter and behind-the-scenes graphic designers. All of them are fourth graders.</p>
<p>“Everything that we learn they taught us in a fun way,” Gomez says.</p>
<p>Most of the students at Casita are from low-income families. Forty percent speak English as a second language. Yet they’re outperforming children from more privileged backgrounds.</p>
<p>The magnet elementary school is beating all others in the Vista Unified School District, north of San Diego,&#160;on the&#160; <a href="http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/sbacinterimassess.asp" type="external">Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium</a>&#160;tests, which evaluate Common Core standards for English language arts and literacy, as well as for math. Casita’s scores are also above state and county averages.</p>
<p>Principal Laura Smith says Casita is effective with children from foreign backgrounds because every classroom is bustling with hands-on, high-energy activity.</p>
<p>“A lot of times while they’re experiencing their learning, while they’re in an innovative environment, it really helps them build their language skills,” she says.</p>
<p>Whether it’s writing on desks to learn math, or caring for fish to learn about the circle of life, Smith says students are fully engaged in what they’re doing.</p>
<p>“It’s all inquiry-based,” she says. “So the cognitive load is on the students, where the students are doing a lot of the thinking and the inquiring and the teachers are facilitating that learning.”</p>
<p>Some of the classrooms at Casita are outside. The school has a front garden and a large natural habitat behind the playground, overflowing with California coastal sage scrub, native plants and animals.</p>
<p>“Our motto has been, 'No child left inside,'” Smith says.</p>
<p>On a recent Wednesday, fifth&#160;graders searched the habitat for evidence of mammals and other creatures. They found piles of feathers and scat. They collected water samples from a pond to scrutinize for mosquito eggs and invertebrates.</p>
<p>“It’s fun. We find a lot of animals down here,” says 10-year-old Adrian Contreras, who took pictures for the record.</p>
<p>His parents are from Mexico, and Spanish was his first language. At Casita, his English-language skills have surpassed those of his native language.</p>
<p>“So I’m starting to use it more than Spanish,” he says.</p>
<p>He says he thinks the immersive environment helps him get better at every subject. Science and reading are his favorites.</p>
<p>“You just learn at the pace that you need to,” he says.</p>
<p>Their teacher, Gail Cerelli, pulled a slimy, multi-tiered cube out of the pond and held it up as students crowded around.</p>
<p>“What it is, is an invertebrate trap,” she explained. “It just creates surface area for invertebrates to come in and make little homes and lay their eggs and grow. So what we can do is scrape off some of the gook, take it back to class, put it under a microscope and see what we have. OK?”</p>
<p>“OK!” shouted the students.</p>
<p />
<p>Fifth graders at the Casita Center For Technology, Science and Math crowd around their teacher in the school habitat.</p>
<p>Katie Schoolov/KPBS</p>
<p>Cerelli, a magnet specialist, says students who may be shy about raising their hands or asking questions in a regular classroom get really excited and outspoken in the habitat.</p>
<p>“The kids love to be down here,” she says. “It’s not performance-based. I’m just down there talking about stuff I find interesting.”</p>
<p>Back in one of the classrooms, 9-year-old Isabella Gonzalez measured the roots of a plant in a hydroponics class.</p>
<p>“The roots are ...&#160;eight,” she says.</p>
<p>The third grade students were learning to grow plants without soil, using nutrients from a fish tank.&#160;Gonzalez says the class has helped with her pronunciation of tough words like “system.”</p>
<p>“System, yeah, syth-tem,” she says. “I did a project, and express myself, and I accidentally didn’t know a word and my teacher helped me.”</p>
<p>Casita is an International Baccalaureate candidate school, with teachers developing concept-based curriculum instead of topic-based curriculum. They meet weekly to share ideas about multidisciplinary concepts. An example is “structure creates order,” which they are using in everything from history to science lessons.</p>
<p>The school also gets parents involved. El Cafecito, or “the Little Café,” is a weekly meeting of mothers who make copies, organize binders and laminate posters for teachers.</p>
<p>More:&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Immigrant student life in the US</a></p>
<p>Catalina Valladares, the 42-year-old mother of a first grade Casita student, cut apple shapes out of green paper. She says she enjoys coming to the school.</p>
<p>“They’re giving English classes to us mothers who don’t speak it,” she says in Spanish.</p>
<p>In a nearby classroom, fifth graders learned how to code.</p>
<p>Luis Sanchez, 10, typed commands into his keyboard, causing thought bubbles to appear beside little monsters on the screen.</p>
<p>“It’s basically just having fun with the characters, making them say something, whatever you want,” he says.</p>
<p>Sanchez "re-classified" in first grade, meaning he passed internal school tests to evaluate his English-language competency. Students take English anguage classes at Casita until they re-classify.</p>
<p>“My parents were born in Mexico, so they really don’t understand English,” he says.</p>
<p>He still speaks Spanish at home, but his English — and coding skills — are outstanding.</p>
<p>Share your thoughts and ideas on Facebook at our&#160; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/globalnation/" type="external">Global Nation Exchange</a>, on Twitter&#160; <a href="https://twitter.com/globalnation" type="external">@globalnation</a>, or contact us&#160; <a href="" type="internal">here</a>.</p>
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elena gomez 9 meteorologist live televised newscast magnet elementary school vista ive learned speak otherwise people watching video hear says student the160 casita center technology science math gomez speaks english second language mexican parents raised spanish part fourthgrade news crew casita gomez quickly improved english fluency program includes team anchors sports reporter behindthescenes graphic designers fourth graders everything learn taught us fun way gomez says students casita lowincome families forty percent speak english second language yet theyre outperforming children privileged backgrounds magnet elementary school beating others vista unified school district north san diego160on the160 smarter balanced assessment consortium160tests evaluate common core standards english language arts literacy well math casitas scores also state county averages principal laura smith says casita effective children foreign backgrounds every classroom bustling handson highenergy activity lot times theyre experiencing learning theyre innovative environment really helps build language skills says whether writing desks learn math caring fish learn circle life smith says students fully engaged theyre inquirybased says cognitive load students students lot thinking inquiring teachers facilitating learning classrooms casita outside school front garden large natural habitat behind playground overflowing california coastal sage scrub native plants animals motto child left inside smith says recent wednesday fifth160graders searched habitat evidence mammals creatures found piles feathers scat collected water samples pond scrutinize mosquito eggs invertebrates fun find lot animals says 10yearold adrian contreras took pictures record parents mexico spanish first language casita englishlanguage skills surpassed native language im starting use spanish says says thinks immersive environment helps get better every subject science reading favorites learn pace need says teacher gail cerelli pulled slimy multitiered cube pond held students crowded around invertebrate trap explained creates surface area invertebrates come make little homes lay eggs grow scrape gook take back class put microscope see ok ok shouted students fifth graders casita center technology science math crowd around teacher school habitat katie schoolovkpbs cerelli magnet specialist says students may shy raising hands asking questions regular classroom get really excited outspoken habitat kids love says performancebased im talking stuff find interesting back one classrooms 9yearold isabella gonzalez measured roots plant hydroponics class roots 160eight says third grade students learning grow plants without soil using nutrients fish tank160gonzalez says class helped pronunciation tough words like system system yeah sythtem says project express accidentally didnt know word teacher helped casita international baccalaureate candidate school teachers developing conceptbased curriculum instead topicbased curriculum meet weekly share ideas multidisciplinary concepts example structure creates order using everything history science lessons school also gets parents involved el cafecito little café weekly meeting mothers make copies organize binders laminate posters teachers more160 immigrant student life us catalina valladares 42yearold mother first grade casita student cut apple shapes green paper says enjoys coming school theyre giving english classes us mothers dont speak says spanish nearby classroom fifth graders learned code luis sanchez 10 typed commands keyboard causing thought bubbles appear beside little monsters screen basically fun characters making say something whatever want says sanchez reclassified first grade meaning passed internal school tests evaluate englishlanguage competency students take english anguage classes casita reclassify parents born mexico really dont understand english says still speaks spanish home english coding skills outstanding share thoughts ideas facebook our160 global nation exchange twitter160 globalnation contact us160
| 538 |
<p>Before US troops arrived in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban forbade girls' education. Today nearly 8 million Afghan girls attend school, but this success hangs in the balance as the US prepares to leave Afghanistan. Over the last three years, documentary filmmaker Beth Murphy has immersed herself in one school in the village of Deh'Subz, offering a rare glimpse inside. Her work is presented as part of The GroundTruth Project's new series, " <a href="http://www.foreverstan.com/" type="external">Foreverstan: Afghanistan and the Road to Ending America's Longest War.</a>"</p>
<p>DEH’SUBZ, Afghanistan — Razia Jan grew up in an Afghanistan that is very different than the one that exists today. The country of her childhood gave universal, compulsory, free education to both boys and girls.</p>
<p>Razia remembers a time when a forward-thinking government ruled, when Kabul was a cosmopolitan city (“Southeast Asia’s Paris,” she calls it), and when women could enjoy simple pleasures like bike riding or picnics in mixed company. It was a time before the modern-day Taliban and its draconian views about women and education.</p>
<p>“We were respected, and we were listened to,” remembers Razia, 70. “Our word meant something in the family. It didn’t matter how little you were; if you had to say something, they would listen. That is what I want for girls today — to have that freedom to express their view.”</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Razia stands 5 feet, 3 inches tall and walks with a labored gait. But she leaves an impression of strength, energy and good humor. She personifies the qualities of revered women: protective mother, wise grandmother, outspoken aunt, devoted teacher.</p>
<p>In 1979, while Razia was in the US visiting an older brother studying at MIT, Russia invaded Afghanistan. As that conflict dragged on for a decade, turning into a civil war and then the Taliban takeover, what Razia intended to be a month-long visit to America became the beginning of a new life. Relatives and close friends advised her to stay away.</p>
<p>“Many times I wrote to mullahs who were in Iran or Pakistan and asked if it was okay to go back,” Razia says. “And they said, ‘Don’t even think about it. They’ll kill you.’”</p>
<p>She began her own studies in childhood education at Harvard University, married, settled down in Massachusetts, started a tailoring business and raised a son.</p>
<p>Three decades later, the events of September 11, 2001 changed Razia’s perspective on the two countries she had called home and her role in each. Razia could not find enough ways to express her grief over the tragedy, her compassion for victims, and her distress at seeing Islam — the religion she had peacefully practiced all her life — being manipulated for evil purposes.</p>
<p>When explaining why she eventually decided to return to Afghanistan to help children there, Razia credits the heroes in New York, who ran towards unknown danger to protect the innocent.</p>
<p>When she heard a Red Cross representative say that blankets were needed for rescue workers, Razia bought $500 worth of fleece and made 25, sending them to a ladder company with a note that said, “we are praying for you.”</p>
<p>Then came a call to action from her home country.</p>
<p>“A friend of mine told me, ‘wherever I go in Afghanistan, I see girls and boys who don't even have shoes on their feet,’” Razia remembers.</p>
<p>With the help of her community of Duxbury, Massachusetts, she spent the next four months gathering 30,000 pairs of shoes to send to Afghanistan. She coordinated with the US Air Force to have them delivered.</p>
<p>As more news trickled in about the poverty and hardship of Afghan widows, children and refugees, Razia decided to return to her home country for the first time in 38 years. She brought with her 12 suitcases full of blankets, clothes and toys for local orphanages.</p>
<p>When she saw the particularly harsh treatment of girls in these orphanages — many were even denied toys so that the boys could have them — Razia felt a calling to do the one thing she believes will one day save Afghanistan: <a href="http://www.foreverstan.com/girls.html" type="external">educate the country’s daughters</a>.</p>
<p>The Taliban had effectively stripped away girls’ and women’s right to education, employment, health care and freedom of movement—effectively segregating them and subjugating them in every aspect of Afghan life. Razia knew the first step to restoring any hope for a better quality of life for women had to begin with schooling.</p>
<p>“By providing girls with an education, we could give them a ray of hope to protect them from the vicious cycle of poverty, malnutrition&#160;and hunger,” she says.</p>
<p>Razia chose a site in the conservative village of Deh’Subz, on the outskirts of Kabul Province, which had held strong against radicals and kept the Taliban out.</p>
<p>“I chose this site because these were not terrorists. They were mujahideen who had fought the Russians and the Taliban,” Razia says. While the Taliban had terrorized the community with kidnappings and extortion, they had never been able to gain a stronghold here.</p>
<p>She put family ties to good use to have a plot of land donated — land that had once been the site of a boys’ school but in more recent times had become the village dump; and a grant from her local Rotary Club, where she had been a member for three decades, made the bricks and mortar possible. With that, she built a new school, the very first for the village girls there, and the only free private primary education facility in the country.</p>
<p>“It was very tough,” she says. “When men spoke to me in this village, when we had a meeting, they wouldn’t look at me. I wasn’t covered and was talking, and they couldn’t take it. So, they wouldn’t look at me, and their heads were down. So, my head was way up high because I wanted to look in their eyes and say, ‘You have to make a change.’”</p>
<p>Even as the Zabuli Education Center opened in 2008, local and regional authorities clamored for the beautiful new building to be a boys’ school instead. Razia refused. When a protester argued that the boys needed the school more because men are the backbone of Afghan society, Razia responded, “And do you know what the women are? Women are the eyesight of Afghanistan, and, unfortunately, you are all blind.”</p>
<p>In the beginning, some girls came with their entire families, some with a skeptical father or a fearful mother, and some showed up alone. Razia, the principal, welcomed them all and sorted them into classes by their previous education — meaning that older girls who could not even write their names sometimes sat side by side with children several years their junior.</p>
<p>The teachers’ role goes beyond academic instruction. Many of the girls have never been asked their opinion about anything, never been allowed to speak unless spoken to, and have never been treated with respect. Instruction focuses on traditional academic subjects like reading, math, Dari, and study of the Quran. It&#160;also includes English, computer&#160;and life skills classes.</p>
<p>In a country where education in general — and girls’ education in particular — is fraught with the challenges of limited resources, hostility&#160;and a scarcity of qualified teachers, the Zabuli School’s curriculum is exemplary.</p>
<p>One official from the Afghan Ministry of Education said of the school, “It is perfect.”</p>
<p>Much of the time, cultural traditions pressure girls to stop going to school. Razia has seen a 10-year-old girl forbidden to continue her studies by the boy to whom she has been betrothed. She has seen a father so conflicted about schooling his daughters he allows just one to come as a test case before considering sending the others. She has seen an aunt who insists she must keep a 12-year-old niece home to do chores.</p>
<p>She handles it with grace and ingenuity. She negotiates for the betrothed girl to continue school (that she will feed the girl for free is no small factor), she teaches the first daughter allowed to attend to write her father’s name so as to inspire his pride and respect, she knocks on the aunt’s door to plead the case of the child.</p>
<p>Razia encourages the girls to stay in school as long as they possibly can, but she also reminds them that everything they learn, no matter how many days or years they study, becomes a part of them that will better their lives.</p>
<p>“No matter how little you know,” she says, “no one can take it from you.”</p>
<p>In order to ensure the school’s continued success, security must be considered in every aspect of its operation, especially in light of Taliban attacks on other girls’ schools around the country.</p>
<p>Each morning, the school’s principal tests the water to make sure it’s safe — water at other schools has been poisoned. High walls surround the building and the playground. Guards protect the school 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And even with these precautions, there is always an element of fear.</p>
<p>“As the security situation is so fragile in Afghanistan, you never know what tomorrow brings,” Razia says.</p>
<p>Through kindness, diplomacy and generosity with the community, Razia has built a strong alliance with the village elders whose support of the school is critical to its security. Razia tells them she would lay down her life to protect the girls — and she would expect every one of them to do the same.</p>
<p>Despite the challenges Razia has faced, the Zabuli School is thriving. There are 450 students, and local leaders send their own daughters — a powerful endorsement in a conservative village.</p>
<p>Without question, girls' education is the biggest success story of America's involvement in Afghanistan. During the Taliban reign, virtually no girls were in the classroom; five years ago there were an estimated 2 million girls in school, and today there are close to 8 million, according to the Ministry of Education.</p>
<p>Razia is grateful to the American soldiers who risked their lives to oust the Taliban, and she trusts that the US will stand by the progress it played a key role in. With most troops gone now and many private organizations following in their wake because they no longer feel secure, Razia is determined to continue what she started.</p>
<p>“I’m not going anywhere,” she says.</p>
<p>In November, at the end of this school year, Razia will hand out diplomas to the first seven students to graduate from the Zabuli School.</p>
<p>“It is so powerful for me to look at that and feel, ‘Yes, there is a success in these girls’ lives,’” she says. “That will be the happiest day of my life.”</p>
<p>This story is presented by <a href="http://thegroundtruthproject.org/" type="external">The GroundTruth Project.</a> <a href="http://thegroundtruthproject.org/" type="external">&#160;</a></p>
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us troops arrived afghanistan 2001 taliban forbade girls education today nearly 8 million afghan girls attend school success hangs balance us prepares leave afghanistan last three years documentary filmmaker beth murphy immersed one school village dehsubz offering rare glimpse inside work presented part groundtruth projects new series foreverstan afghanistan road ending americas longest war dehsubz afghanistan razia jan grew afghanistan different one exists today country childhood gave universal compulsory free education boys girls razia remembers time forwardthinking government ruled kabul cosmopolitan city southeast asias paris calls women could enjoy simple pleasures like bike riding picnics mixed company time modernday taliban draconian views women education respected listened remembers razia 70 word meant something family didnt matter little say something would listen want girls today freedom express view razia stands 5 feet 3 inches tall walks labored gait leaves impression strength energy good humor personifies qualities revered women protective mother wise grandmother outspoken aunt devoted teacher 1979 razia us visiting older brother studying mit russia invaded afghanistan conflict dragged decade turning civil war taliban takeover razia intended monthlong visit america became beginning new life relatives close friends advised stay away many times wrote mullahs iran pakistan asked okay go back razia says said dont even think theyll kill began studies childhood education harvard university married settled massachusetts started tailoring business raised son three decades later events september 11 2001 changed razias perspective two countries called home role razia could find enough ways express grief tragedy compassion victims distress seeing islam religion peacefully practiced life manipulated evil purposes explaining eventually decided return afghanistan help children razia credits heroes new york ran towards unknown danger protect innocent heard red cross representative say blankets needed rescue workers razia bought 500 worth fleece made 25 sending ladder company note said praying came call action home country friend mine told wherever go afghanistan see girls boys dont even shoes feet razia remembers help community duxbury massachusetts spent next four months gathering 30000 pairs shoes send afghanistan coordinated us air force delivered news trickled poverty hardship afghan widows children refugees razia decided return home country first time 38 years brought 12 suitcases full blankets clothes toys local orphanages saw particularly harsh treatment girls orphanages many even denied toys boys could razia felt calling one thing believes one day save afghanistan educate countrys daughters taliban effectively stripped away girls womens right education employment health care freedom movementeffectively segregating subjugating every aspect afghan life razia knew first step restoring hope better quality life women begin schooling providing girls education could give ray hope protect vicious cycle poverty malnutrition160and hunger says razia chose site conservative village dehsubz outskirts kabul province held strong radicals kept taliban chose site terrorists mujahideen fought russians taliban razia says taliban terrorized community kidnappings extortion never able gain stronghold put family ties good use plot land donated land site boys school recent times become village dump grant local rotary club member three decades made bricks mortar possible built new school first village girls free private primary education facility country tough says men spoke village meeting wouldnt look wasnt covered talking couldnt take wouldnt look heads head way high wanted look eyes say make change even zabuli education center opened 2008 local regional authorities clamored beautiful new building boys school instead razia refused protester argued boys needed school men backbone afghan society razia responded know women women eyesight afghanistan unfortunately blind beginning girls came entire families skeptical father fearful mother showed alone razia principal welcomed sorted classes previous education meaning older girls could even write names sometimes sat side side children several years junior teachers role goes beyond academic instruction many girls never asked opinion anything never allowed speak unless spoken never treated respect instruction focuses traditional academic subjects like reading math dari study quran it160also includes english computer160and life skills classes country education general girls education particular fraught challenges limited resources hostility160and scarcity qualified teachers zabuli schools curriculum exemplary one official afghan ministry education said school perfect much time cultural traditions pressure girls stop going school razia seen 10yearold girl forbidden continue studies boy betrothed seen father conflicted schooling daughters allows one come test case considering sending others seen aunt insists must keep 12yearold niece home chores handles grace ingenuity negotiates betrothed girl continue school feed girl free small factor teaches first daughter allowed attend write fathers name inspire pride respect knocks aunts door plead case child razia encourages girls stay school long possibly also reminds everything learn matter many days years study becomes part better lives matter little know says one take order ensure schools continued success security must considered every aspect operation especially light taliban attacks girls schools around country morning schools principal tests water make sure safe water schools poisoned high walls surround building playground guards protect school 24 hours day 7 days week even precautions always element fear security situation fragile afghanistan never know tomorrow brings razia says kindness diplomacy generosity community razia built strong alliance village elders whose support school critical security razia tells would lay life protect girls would expect every one despite challenges razia faced zabuli school thriving 450 students local leaders send daughters powerful endorsement conservative village without question girls education biggest success story americas involvement afghanistan taliban reign virtually girls classroom five years ago estimated 2 million girls school today close 8 million according ministry education razia grateful american soldiers risked lives oust taliban trusts us stand progress played key role troops gone many private organizations following wake longer feel secure razia determined continue started im going anywhere says november end school year razia hand diplomas first seven students graduate zabuli school powerful look feel yes success girls lives says happiest day life story presented groundtruth project 160
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<p>Dancer Katie C. Sopoci Drake of Dance Metro D.C. (Photo courtesy Dance Metro D.C.)</p>
<p><a href="https://dancemetrodc.org" type="external">Dance Metro D.C.</a>(3225 8th St., N.E.) presents its fall presentation of its choreographic grant recipient Stuart Loungway on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. Advanced tickets are $25 and tickets at the door are $30.</p>
<p>On Thursday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m., Dance Metro D.C. presents “Spacetime Suite” by Katie C. Sopoci Drake at Dance Loft on 14 (4618 14th St., N.W.). The performance is a series of vignettes that connect astrophysical phenomena and human relationships.Tickets range from $18-25.</p>
<p>Step Afrika joins members of the Men and Women of Washington Performing Arts’ Gospel Choir for “The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence,” a performance at University of District of Columbia Theater of Arts (4200 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) on Friday, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 2 at 4 p.m. The performance is based on American painter Jacob Lawrence’s paintings that blend art, music and dance to chronicle the story of African-American migrants moving from the south to the north in the early 1900s. Tickets are $45. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.washingtonperformingarts.org" type="external">washingtonperformingarts.org</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.dorrancedance.com" type="external">Dorrance Dance</a>, MacArthur “Genius Grant” and musician Toshi Reagon, joined by her band BIGLovely, present “The Blues Project” at the Eisenhower Theater at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25-75. For more details, visit <a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org" type="external">kennedy-center.org</a>.</p>
<p>VelocityDC Dance Festival is at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St., N.W.) on Friday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. The festival will feature a diverse range of dances including ballet, flamenco, tap, hip-hop and more. All shows are $18.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.washingtonperformingarts.org" type="external">Washington Performing Arts</a> presents Dance Theatre of Harlem at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St., N.W.) on Friday, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. The troupe will perform a premiere work by choreographer Francesca Harper with music, by John Adams, performed by the Attacca Quartet.Tickets range from $30-55.</p>
<p>Keith Holt and the House of Ebony present a voguing showcase in conjunction with the screening of “Un Ballo In Maschera,” as part of the exhibition “Senses of Time: Video and Film-based Works of Africa” at the <a href="http://www.trumba.com/events-calendar/eastern-time/smithsonian-nmafa" type="external">National Museum of African Art</a> (950 Independence Ave., S.W.) on Oct. 15 from 6-9 p.m. There will be food, cocktails and music by DJ Vjuan Allure. Jack Mizrahi, Mook Mizrahi and body-painting artist Laolou will also make appearances.</p>
<p>Danish Dance Theatre presents Black Diamond, a dance work that combines scenography and lighting, in Eisenhower Theater at Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25-75. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org" type="external">kennedy-center.org</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.joyofmotion.org" type="external">Joy of Motion Dance Center</a> holds multiple performances this fall. Youth Dance Ensemble Company, poet Rita Dove and the Interactive Media Research Group presents excerpts from “The Ceiling Floats Away,” “Auksalaq” and “Golden Sparrow” at Lab II in the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.) on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. The performance will be a combination of music, dance, light, poetry and audience interaction.</p>
<p>On Saturday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. five choreographers explore the theme of Justice in America through contemporary dance styles at the Jack Guidone Theater at Joy of Motion Dance Center Friendship Heights (5207 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.).</p>
<p>Joy of Motion Dance Center’s youth companies, H.Y.PE. Program and Youth Dance Ensemble Program, perform their fall dance institute concert on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.dakshina.org" type="external">Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh</a>presents its 13th annual Fall Festival of Indian Arts at Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., N.E.) Oct. 21-23.</p>
<p>On Friday, Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Rehan Bashir presents its new dance work “Shahgird,” an homage to Guru Nahid Siddiqui, the Sufi spirit and the heritage of the Punjab region of Pakistan. Mohiniattam dancer Aswathy Nair performs “Tri Shakti Vandanam,” a tribute to Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi, the three principal Goddesses of the Hindu Pantheon. Nair also performs&#160; “Amba to Sikhandi: A Journey of Self Discovery” based on the Sanskrit story “Mahabharata.” The finale will be “Mangalam,” an expression of gratitude.</p>
<p>Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company performs “Chakra,” an exploration of Indian mythologies, on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. Indira Kadambi also performs Varsha Rithu, a poetic journey between monsoon season and human experiences.</p>
<p>On Sunday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. Alif Laila will present a sitar concert. Kuchipudi dancer Lakshmi Babu performs “Gajananeeyam,” a dance exploration about the incarnation of Ganesha.</p>
<p>Prices range from $35-50. Senior and student tickets are $25.</p>
<p>Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh dancer Rehan Bashir will present his new work ‘Shahgird’ at the Festival of Indian Arts at the Fall Festival of Indian Arts on Oct. 21. (Photo by Rehan Khan)</p>
<p><a href="http://dtsbdc.org" type="external">Dana Tai Soon Burgess</a>premieres his first work as choreography-in-residence at the Smithsonian Kogod Courtyard at the National Portrait Gallery (8th St., N.W. and F St., N.W.) on Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dana Tai Soon Burgess</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dance Metro DC</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dance Theatre of Harlem</a> <a href="" type="internal">Danish Dance Theatre</a> <a href="" type="internal">Joy of Motion Dance Center</a> <a href="" type="internal">Keith Holt and the House of Ebony</a> <a href="" type="internal">Step Africa</a> <a href="" type="internal">Torrance Dance</a> <a href="" type="internal">VelocityDC Dance Festival</a> <a href="" type="internal">Washington Performing Arts</a></p>
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dancer katie c sopoci drake dance metro dc photo courtesy dance metro dc dance metro dc3225 8th st ne presents fall presentation choreographic grant recipient stuart loungway saturday sept 17 8 pm sunday sept 18 7 pm advanced tickets 25 tickets door 30 thursday sept 29 730 pm friday sept 30 730 pm dance metro dc presents spacetime suite katie c sopoci drake dance loft 14 4618 14th st nw performance series vignettes connect astrophysical phenomena human relationshipstickets range 1825 step afrika joins members men women washington performing arts gospel choir migration reflections jacob lawrence performance university district columbia theater arts 4200 connecticut ave nw friday sept 30 8 pm saturday oct 1 8 pm sunday oct 2 4 pm performance based american painter jacob lawrences paintings blend art music dance chronicle story africanamerican migrants moving south north early 1900s tickets 45 information visit washingtonperformingartsorg dorrance dance macarthur genius grant musician toshi reagon joined band biglovely present blues project eisenhower theater kennedy center 2700 f st nw wednesday oct 5 8 pm thursday oct 6 8 pm tickets range 2575 details visit kennedycenterorg velocitydc dance festival sidney harman hall 610 f st nw friday oct 7 8 pm saturday oct 8 8 pm festival feature diverse range dances including ballet flamenco tap hiphop shows 18 washington performing arts presents dance theatre harlem sidney harman hall 610 f st nw friday oct 14 8 pm saturday oct 14 2 pm 8 pm troupe perform premiere work choreographer francesca harper music john adams performed attacca quartettickets range 3055 keith holt house ebony present voguing showcase conjunction screening un ballo maschera part exhibition senses time video filmbased works africa national museum african art 950 independence ave sw oct 15 69 pm food cocktails music dj vjuan allure jack mizrahi mook mizrahi bodypainting artist laolou also make appearances danish dance theatre presents black diamond dance work combines scenography lighting eisenhower theater kennedy center 2700 f st nw tuesday oct 18 8 pm wednesday oct 19 8 pm tickets range 2575 information visit kennedycenterorg joy motion dance center holds multiple performances fall youth dance ensemble company poet rita dove interactive media research group presents excerpts ceiling floats away auksalaq golden sparrow lab ii atlas performing arts center 1333 h st ne sunday oct 16 7 pm performance combination music dance light poetry audience interaction saturday nov 19 8 pm sunday nov 20 7 pm five choreographers explore theme justice america contemporary dance styles jack guidone theater joy motion dance center friendship heights 5207 wisconsin ave nw joy motion dance centers youth companies hype program youth dance ensemble program perform fall dance institute concert saturday dec 3 7 pm dakshinadaniel phoenix singhpresents 13th annual fall festival indian arts atlas performing arts center 1333 h st ne oct 2123 friday oct 21 730 pm rehan bashir presents new dance work shahgird homage guru nahid siddiqui sufi spirit heritage punjab region pakistan mohiniattam dancer aswathy nair performs tri shakti vandanam tribute durga lakshmi saraswathi three principal goddesses hindu pantheon nair also performs160 amba sikhandi journey self discovery based sanskrit story mahabharata finale mangalam expression gratitude dakshinadaniel phoenix singh dance company performs chakra exploration indian mythologies saturday oct 22 8 pm indira kadambi also performs varsha rithu poetic journey monsoon season human experiences sunday oct 23 4 pm alif laila present sitar concert kuchipudi dancer lakshmi babu performs gajananeeyam dance exploration incarnation ganesha prices range 3550 senior student tickets 25 dakshinadaniel phoenix singh dancer rehan bashir present new work shahgird festival indian arts fall festival indian arts oct 21 photo rehan khan dana tai soon burgesspremieres first work choreographyinresidence smithsonian kogod courtyard national portrait gallery 8th st nw f st nw oct 28 630 pm admission free dakshinadaniel phoenix singh dance company dana tai soon burgess dance metro dc dance theatre harlem danish dance theatre joy motion dance center keith holt house ebony step africa torrance dance velocitydc dance festival washington performing arts
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<p>CURWOOD: Well, as Peter Dykstra just mentioned, Republican administrations helped hammer out the Antarctic treaty, and the Montreal Protocol. Republicans have also implemented some of the most notable US environmental laws. One of the most successful is the Clean Water Act of 1972. At the time, two thirds of America's rivers were considered polluted, with raw sewage pouring into many of them and Ohio's Cuyahoga River famously catching fire. A bipartisan majority in Congress voted to clean up the waterways. Ashley Ahearn of the northwest media collaborative EarthFix spoke with the man who helped engineer and then administer that Act - William Ruckelshaus. Here's Ashley AHEARN: He was the first Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency back when it was created under the Nixon administration. Hes had a long career in law, business and politics. And now he lives in Seattle, where I sat down with him in his office. RUCKELSHAUS: Thanks for being here. AHEARN: Take me back to the time of the creation of the Clean Water Act - what was the feeling at the time that made the EPA and made the Clean Water Act necessary? RUCKELSHAUS: Well the sentiment was an explosion of public concern about the environment. It was caused by a number of factors, Rachel Carsons book which was written in 1962, had a cumulative effect that was quite pronounced in the country at the time. We had flammable rivers, you already mentioned the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland. We had people in Denver wanting to see the mountains and people in Los Angeles wanting to see one another and it was a terrible time. I remember the first time I moved to Washington and the air was brown as Id go to work in the morning. There was no industry in Washington at the time, that was all automobile pollution. So, people not only heard and saw problems of pollution on television every night, they witnessed it on the way to work, so it really created a demand that something be done. What people have forgotten is that the Clean Water Act was vetoed by President Nixon; that veto was overridden overwhelmingly in both houses of Congress by both parties, even though the election was just two weeks away, and President Nixon was just 20 points ahead of Senator McGovern, his opponent. At the time still, his own party overturned that veto overwhelmingly. AHEARN: What was that like? What were your conversations like with Nixon? RUCKELSHAUS: Oh, they were so wonderful. AHEARN: (Laughs.) RUCKELSHAUS: I had sent him a letter prior to his decision as to whether to sign or veto the bill spelling out why I thought he should sign it, why I was in support of it. His principal concern was that he had asked for five billion dollars to devote to the sewage treatment plant grant program at the federal level. And theyd put seven billion in the bill and that got him quite agitated he thought that was too much money. So he vetoed it. And what the override of that veto really showed was the overwhelming public support that existed at that time for cleaning up the water and the air and handling all kinds of environmental problems. AHEARN: I want to play some tape for you that might sound familiar - its from the NBC evening news archives from 1971: [ARCHIVE TAPE: William Ruckelshaus, President Nixons head man on environment was on the stand today before Senator Muskie of Maine who has dwelled on this issue himself. They were taking about clean water. How long is it going to take? Im going to have to acquire some kind of national deadlines in order to ensure theres no inequality of treatment of this between regions the states just don't respond with equal speed. I think thats right. Each industry and the states must be placed on a deadline. And its through this method that we can get uniform treatment across the country of putting everybody on the same deadline.] AHEARN: That guy sounds familiar. RUCKELSHAUS: He doesnt sound familiar to me! AHEARN: (Laughs). RUCKELSHAUS: Muskie did. AHEARN: That deadline you were talking about ended up being 1985. There was supposed to be zero discharge of pollutants into navigable waters by 1985 is the quote. And, quote, swimmable, fishable waterways by 1983. Looking back on it, was that a reasonable deadline? RUCKELSHAUS: No. It was not. Not anymore than the 1975 deadline for clean air throughout the country was reasonable. The Congress believed that setting deadlines, even if they were somewhat arbitrary and not likely to be achieved was necessary both to demonstrate the urgency of the need for the problem to be addressed, and at the same time maximize the pressure on the administrative branch to get moving to show improvement. I can remember testifying in front of Senator Muskie that if we stopped doing everything that we were doing in the government we couldnt achieve these deadlines. And the problem with them was not the sincerity with which they were being suggested by the Congress, the problem with it was you doomed an agency like EPA to failure before it starts because we cant get there in that period of time. Its taken us hundreds of years to get where we are today in terms of pollution. You just simply cant clean it up overnight. That was always capable of being portrayed as dragging your feet and not doing the right thing. In my view, it was just a statement of reality that we couldnt do it in that period of time. AHEARN: So, the Act passes, youve got this new power and the money to make the changes and build the infrastructure. What happens next, whats going through your head? RUCKELSHAUS: Well, it was a marvelous opportunity, in my view, to try to show the American people that their demand their legitimate demand that something be done about a societal problem would trigger the right kind of response from government and it was up to us at EPA to do the best job we could to respond to that legitimate concern, that was affecting public health and the environment. We had less than a third of the cities in the countries providing adequate sewage treatment in some cases, no sewage treatment. The sewage was just going directly into waterways and that was causing water borne diseases, it was causing all kinds of problems. We just had ignored it, essentially from the beginning, and this was a massive effort on the part of the federal government to deal with this problem. AHEARN: What would have happened if we hadnt had the Clean Water Act? What did it allow you to do? RUCKELSHAUS: Thats a very good question. The way to measure progress is not just against where we were when we started versus where we are today, but where we were when we started and where we would be today had we done nothing. There are thousands of miles of waterways that are much cleaner today than they were 40 years ago as a result of the treatment being put in or discharges that were going in that have been corrected. And as I say, that doesnt mean were home free, weve still go work to do and always will have. But were a lot better off today than we were 40 years ago. AHEARN: What are you seeing now when you say theres more work to do? What would be at the top of your list if you were in charge today? RUCKELSHAUS: The biggest problem by far is whats called non-point source pollution. The point sources are water discharged from sewage treatment plants or from major industrial facilities, and those were the things that got the most attention when we started because that was 85 percent of the problem. Thats what EPA estimated was true. The other kinds of problems are runoff from city streets, runoff from suburban lands, from farmlands, from rural lands, and those are so-called non-point source pollutions, it doesnt all come from one single source. And the situation is just reversed today. The EPAs current estimates is that 85 percent of the problem is non-point source pollution. Thats a much harder problem to get at because it isnt a single plant or a single city thats discharging. You can put those cities, which weve done, and industrial facilities on permits. Permits spell out what they have to do to keep the water from being polluted from their discharge. They have self-reporting requirements if they violate any of the terms of the permit they can either be fined substantially or be put in jail if they violate on purpose the requirements of the permit itself. So that problem is largely under social control. Im not saying that its gone, we still have to stay with it, but its largely under social control. The non-point source problem is all of the rest of us. Thats the ones that were all convinced were not doing any of this this is all some terrible person or all some terrible industry or city that I have no control over. But getting people to manage their land in such a way, getting people to control their lives in such a way that they dont contribute to this non-point source pollution problem is proving to be very difficult. AHEARN: I want to talk politics here for a minute. It seems like in recent years, Congress has had a really hard time reaching any sort of bipartisan agreement on anything, really. Let alone environmental issues. But 40 years ago, when the Clean Water Act came into being, things looked different. Why is the environment a partisan issue now, and how do Republicans get back into the game of protecting the environment? William Ruckelshaus was the first administrator of the EPA. (Wiki Creative Commons) RUCKELSHAUS: Well, theyre not. Those Republicans in the House, in particular, though its probably true in the Senate as well, but the ones in the House have passed a lot of laws recently through the House, but not through the Senate, that would take authority away from EPA to regulate this kind of stuff, that would even abolish EPA in the case of some of those laws are a result of people coming to believe that the regulatory system itself is imposing unfair burdens on industry, on the American people. So that when a Republican politician rails against the EPA for excessive regulation, they dont get the same kind of feedback they would have gotten 40 years ago when these laws passed unanimously by their predecessors in Congress. And when they asked EPA why are you doing what youre doing, because the very body Im testifying in front of told me to do this 40 years ago, its still in the law, you havent amended the law. If you dont want me to enforce the law, then dont put it in the law that Im charged with implementing. And Ive seen the current Congress say that any regulation that costs over 100 million dollars a year, we should review as to whether or not it should go out in the form in which its been promulgated. Well, Im going to be tempted to give them that authority and you go ahead and answer the questions from your constituents about the impact of doing this on their health, on their environment, and see how much you like making these kinds of decisions. They wouldnt last six months under those conditions. Now, it will never happen, theyll never get that kind of authority to go back, but the difference today from where we were 40 years ago is where public opinion is. If public opinion were as intolerant of whats happening to our environment and our public health today as they were 40 years ago, you wouldnt have a partisan split on this issue. There was almost unanimity that something be done about it. AHEARN: So, what changed? RUCKELSHAUS: I think a number of things changed. Maybe the most important thing is success. The EPA may well be a victim of its own success. We don't see the same kinds of visible pollution problems today that we did. We don't have flammable rivers anymore and we don't have smog thats so awful that you cant even see one another. That was the situation back in the 60s when the publics concern began to express itself. We still have problems today; they tend to be more invisible. They tend to be things that you cant smell, touch and feel the way you could 40 years ago. And that just doesnt get public attention. Youre also going through a terrible economic time right now. And the economy, whenever the economy deteriorates, support for the environment deteriorates as well. AHEARN: Youre a grandfather, right? RUCKELSHAUS: Right. 12 times! AHEARN: Wow! So, if you RUCKELSHAUS: Thats part of the problem. AHEARN: (Laughs.) So if you listen to this interview with your grandkids, or if your grandkids heard this interview, what would you want to tell them about the Clean Water Act and what it meant for you and your career? RUCKELSHAUS: Well, what Id want them to know is that their society, their government, can be responsive in a democracy to their legitimate demands. And that where problems are identified and the government is supported by the public and serious about dealing with them, significant progress can be made. So the government isnt always the enemy, the government is sometimes a necessary institution for dealing with problems as widespread and gross as water pollution was, and its an example of our country having successfully grappled with a problem. So, dont, as you grow older and as you mature in your understanding of the choices that we have in society, necessarily rule out a governmental solution for a problem that you have. Its not the best way to solve all of the problems by any means, but there are some problems that were in it together, just like our President has said. Some problems you can solve yourself, others you have to solve together water pollution is right up there at the top. AHEARN: Mr. Ruckelshaus, thanks for joining me. RUCKELSHAUS: Sure Enough. Thank you. AHEARN: Bill Ruckelshaus was the first Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency back when it was created under the Nixon Administration. Tag - That's Ashley Ahearn. She reports for the public broadcasting collaborative EarthFix.</p>
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curwood well peter dykstra mentioned republican administrations helped hammer antarctic treaty montreal protocol republicans also implemented notable us environmental laws one successful clean water act 1972 time two thirds americas rivers considered polluted raw sewage pouring many ohios cuyahoga river famously catching fire bipartisan majority congress voted clean waterways ashley ahearn northwest media collaborative earthfix spoke man helped engineer administer act william ruckelshaus heres ashley ahearn first administrator environmental protection agency back created nixon administration hes long career law business politics lives seattle sat office ruckelshaus thanks ahearn take back time creation clean water act feeling time made epa made clean water act necessary ruckelshaus well sentiment explosion public concern environment caused number factors rachel carsons book written 1962 cumulative effect quite pronounced country time flammable rivers already mentioned cuyahoga river cleveland people denver wanting see mountains people los angeles wanting see one another terrible time remember first time moved washington air brown id go work morning industry washington time automobile pollution people heard saw problems pollution television every night witnessed way work really created demand something done people forgotten clean water act vetoed president nixon veto overridden overwhelmingly houses congress parties even though election two weeks away president nixon 20 points ahead senator mcgovern opponent time still party overturned veto overwhelmingly ahearn like conversations like nixon ruckelshaus oh wonderful ahearn laughs ruckelshaus sent letter prior decision whether sign veto bill spelling thought sign support principal concern asked five billion dollars devote sewage treatment plant grant program federal level theyd put seven billion bill got quite agitated thought much money vetoed override veto really showed overwhelming public support existed time cleaning water air handling kinds environmental problems ahearn want play tape might sound familiar nbc evening news archives 1971 archive tape william ruckelshaus president nixons head man environment stand today senator muskie maine dwelled issue taking clean water long going take im going acquire kind national deadlines order ensure theres inequality treatment regions states dont respond equal speed think thats right industry states must placed deadline method get uniform treatment across country putting everybody deadline ahearn guy sounds familiar ruckelshaus doesnt sound familiar ahearn laughs ruckelshaus muskie ahearn deadline talking ended 1985 supposed zero discharge pollutants navigable waters 1985 quote quote swimmable fishable waterways 1983 looking back reasonable deadline ruckelshaus anymore 1975 deadline clean air throughout country reasonable congress believed setting deadlines even somewhat arbitrary likely achieved necessary demonstrate urgency need problem addressed time maximize pressure administrative branch get moving show improvement remember testifying front senator muskie stopped everything government couldnt achieve deadlines problem sincerity suggested congress problem doomed agency like epa failure starts cant get period time taken us hundreds years get today terms pollution simply cant clean overnight always capable portrayed dragging feet right thing view statement reality couldnt period time ahearn act passes youve got new power money make changes build infrastructure happens next whats going head ruckelshaus well marvelous opportunity view try show american people demand legitimate demand something done societal problem would trigger right kind response government us epa best job could respond legitimate concern affecting public health environment less third cities countries providing adequate sewage treatment cases sewage treatment sewage going directly waterways causing water borne diseases causing kinds problems ignored essentially beginning massive effort part federal government deal problem ahearn would happened hadnt clean water act allow ruckelshaus thats good question way measure progress started versus today started would today done nothing thousands miles waterways much cleaner today 40 years ago result treatment put discharges going corrected say doesnt mean home free weve still go work always lot better today 40 years ago ahearn seeing say theres work would top list charge today ruckelshaus biggest problem far whats called nonpoint source pollution point sources water discharged sewage treatment plants major industrial facilities things got attention started 85 percent problem thats epa estimated true kinds problems runoff city streets runoff suburban lands farmlands rural lands socalled nonpoint source pollutions doesnt come one single source situation reversed today epas current estimates 85 percent problem nonpoint source pollution thats much harder problem get isnt single plant single city thats discharging put cities weve done industrial facilities permits permits spell keep water polluted discharge selfreporting requirements violate terms permit either fined substantially put jail violate purpose requirements permit problem largely social control im saying gone still stay largely social control nonpoint source problem rest us thats ones convinced terrible person terrible industry city control getting people manage land way getting people control lives way dont contribute nonpoint source pollution problem proving difficult ahearn want talk politics minute seems like recent years congress really hard time reaching sort bipartisan agreement anything really let alone environmental issues 40 years ago clean water act came things looked different environment partisan issue republicans get back game protecting environment william ruckelshaus first administrator epa wiki creative commons ruckelshaus well theyre republicans house particular though probably true senate well ones house passed lot laws recently house senate would take authority away epa regulate kind stuff would even abolish epa case laws result people coming believe regulatory system imposing unfair burdens industry american people republican politician rails epa excessive regulation dont get kind feedback would gotten 40 years ago laws passed unanimously predecessors congress asked epa youre body im testifying front told 40 years ago still law havent amended law dont want enforce law dont put law im charged implementing ive seen current congress say regulation costs 100 million dollars year review whether go form promulgated well im going tempted give authority go ahead answer questions constituents impact health environment see much like making kinds decisions wouldnt last six months conditions never happen theyll never get kind authority go back difference today 40 years ago public opinion public opinion intolerant whats happening environment public health today 40 years ago wouldnt partisan split issue almost unanimity something done ahearn changed ruckelshaus think number things changed maybe important thing success epa may well victim success dont see kinds visible pollution problems today dont flammable rivers anymore dont smog thats awful cant even see one another situation back 60s publics concern began express still problems today tend invisible tend things cant smell touch feel way could 40 years ago doesnt get public attention youre also going terrible economic time right economy whenever economy deteriorates support environment deteriorates well ahearn youre grandfather right ruckelshaus right 12 times ahearn wow ruckelshaus thats part problem ahearn laughs listen interview grandkids grandkids heard interview would want tell clean water act meant career ruckelshaus well id want know society government responsive democracy legitimate demands problems identified government supported public serious dealing significant progress made government isnt always enemy government sometimes necessary institution dealing problems widespread gross water pollution example country successfully grappled problem dont grow older mature understanding choices society necessarily rule governmental solution problem best way solve problems means problems together like president said problems solve others solve together water pollution right top ahearn mr ruckelshaus thanks joining ruckelshaus sure enough thank ahearn bill ruckelshaus first administrator environmental protection agency back created nixon administration tag thats ashley ahearn reports public broadcasting collaborative earthfix
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<p>At least 37 people were killed and dozens wounded when gunmen opened fire on a beach popular with tourists in Tunisia on Friday, officials said.</p>
<p>Tunisia's Interior Ministry told NBC News that most of the victims were foreigners from "many" nationalities and that, in addition to the dead, at least 36 people were injured in the attack near the 5-star Imperial Marhaba hotel in Sousse.</p>
<p>One gunman had been killed and a second captured following a security-forces operation in the popular seaside resort, the ministry added.</p>
<p>But The Associated Press and Reuters both reported there had been only one attacker.</p>
<p>Witnesses described seeing a gunman, dressed as a tourist, pull a gun from under a sun umbrella and opening fire on sunbathers.</p>
<p>The gunman "started shooting toward everybody," Ellie Makin told ITN, a British broadcaster and NBC News partner. "I got up, shouted, 'Gun, run,' and he then started shooting everybody around him. And then we ran as quick as possible into the resort."</p>
<p>Dhishallah Fredg, who manages the El Mouradi Palmarina Hotel, which is next door to the Imperial Marhaba, told NBC News the he saw "people running from the beach running, screaming...trying to reach the reception of the hotel, trying to find a place to escape."</p>
<p>He added, "You can't imagine the fear people had in their eyes."</p>
<p>The deadly assault came <a href="" type="internal">around the same time as an apparent terror attack</a> on a factory in France and the <a href="" type="internal">bombing of a mosque in Kuwait</a>. Authorities were trying to determine whether the attacks were coordinated.</p>
<p>French President Francois Hollande telephoned Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi to express solidarity in light of the Sousse attack, according to Hollande's office.</p>
<p>At least five British nationals were among the dead, the U.K Foreign Office told NBC News. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that because of the popularity of the area as a tourist destination, that number is likely to rise.</p>
<p>“We have to assume that a high proportion of those killed and injured will have been British,” Hammond said after chairing a meeting of the U.K. government’s crisis committee, COBRA.</p>
<p>Hammond added that his office is reviewing changes to its advice for British nationals traveling in the area.</p>
<p>An Irish woman believed to be in her 50s was among the dead, Ireland's Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan told a press conference. A spokesman for Belgium's foreign ministry told NBC News by text message that at least four Belgians had been wounded. The spokesman did not provide further details.</p>
<p>The nationalities of the other victims were not immediately clear, but Sousse — located around 90 miles from the capital of Tunis — is popular with European tourists.</p>
<p>The U.S. Embassy in the capital, Tunis, said that "as far as we know" there were no U.S. nationals among the victims.</p>
<p>German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemned the “cowardly assassination attack against tourists” but said he did not know if any of his countrymen were among the victims.</p>
<p>RIU Hotels &amp; Resorts, which runs the Imperial Marhaba, confirmed in a statement that its hotel was involved in the attack and extended its "sincere condolences to the victims and their relatives."</p>
<p>Gary Pine, a product manager from the U.K., told NBC News he was one of dozens of vacationers on the beach when the attack took place not far from his hotel, the El Mouradi Palm Marina.</p>
<p>He said he initially thought he was hearing firecrackers but that "it was only when you could hear the bullets whizzing through the air that we realized it was gunfire.” His 22-year-old son saw one person get shot, Pine added.</p>
<p>He said guests started running off the beach and were told to go to their rooms by hotel staff, he said. Some guests ran back out onto the beach to get their room keys, he added.</p>
<p>"The easiest way to describe it is utter panic," Pine said. "People were fleeing in all different directions. They were trying to make their way as fast as they could back up to the hotel."</p>
<p>British holidaymaker Karen Hillman said she was near her hotel's pool when other guests started rushing toward the building "like a stampede."</p>
<p>"Everyone was told to get inside the hotel and into the rooms," she added.</p>
<p>The entertainment manager at the hotel, who only gave his first name, Hamouda, said guests had told him two gunmen “came from the sea” and attacked the beach. He confirmed that staff had told guests to hide in their rooms.</p>
<p>There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which occurred during the holy month of Ramadan.</p>
<p>The violence had an almost immediate impact on the country's tourism industry, which has been struggling in wake of a deadly terror attack in March which left several tourists dead.</p>
<p>"Once again, cowardly and traitorous hands have struck Tunisia, targeting its security and that of its children and visitors," President Beji Caid Essebsi told reporters at the RIU Imperial Marhaba hotel, according to The Associated Press.</p>
<p>Essebsi promised "painful but necessary" security measures. "No country is safe from terrorism, and we need a global strategy of all democratic countries," he said, the AP reported.</p>
<p>Belgian airline Jetairfly said on <a href="https://twitter.com/jetairfly/" type="external">Twitter</a> that one of its Boeing 737s en route from Brussels had turned back "due to current terrorist attack." The aircraft had been due to land in the Tunisian town of Enfidha, about 25 miles north of Sousse, before it turned around more than halfway into its journey.</p>
<p>In March, <a href="" type="internal">an attack on Tunisia's National Bardo Museum</a> left 22 people — mainly foreigners — dead. ISIS <a href="" type="internal">purportedly claimed responsibility for the assault</a>, in which Japanese, Polish, Italian and Spanish nationals were killed, before two of the assailants were died in a firefight with police.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Three Terror Attacks Follow ISIS Call for 'Month of Disaster'</a></p>
<p>Tunisia has been held up as a rare example of democracy being successfully delivered after the Arab Spring of 2011.</p>
<p>The country's warm weather, beaches, historic culture and nightlife have made it a popular holiday destination for Europeans, with 7 million tourists arriving each year, according to Lonely Planet.</p>
<p />
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least 37 people killed dozens wounded gunmen opened fire beach popular tourists tunisia friday officials said tunisias interior ministry told nbc news victims foreigners many nationalities addition dead least 36 people injured attack near 5star imperial marhaba hotel sousse one gunman killed second captured following securityforces operation popular seaside resort ministry added associated press reuters reported one attacker witnesses described seeing gunman dressed tourist pull gun sun umbrella opening fire sunbathers gunman started shooting toward everybody ellie makin told itn british broadcaster nbc news partner got shouted gun run started shooting everybody around ran quick possible resort dhishallah fredg manages el mouradi palmarina hotel next door imperial marhaba told nbc news saw people running beach running screamingtrying reach reception hotel trying find place escape added cant imagine fear people eyes deadly assault came around time apparent terror attack factory france bombing mosque kuwait authorities trying determine whether attacks coordinated french president francois hollande telephoned tunisian president beji caid essebsi express solidarity light sousse attack according hollandes office least five british nationals among dead uk foreign office told nbc news british foreign secretary philip hammond said popularity area tourist destination number likely rise assume high proportion killed injured british hammond said chairing meeting uk governments crisis committee cobra hammond added office reviewing changes advice british nationals traveling area irish woman believed 50s among dead irelands foreign minister charlie flanagan told press conference spokesman belgiums foreign ministry told nbc news text message least four belgians wounded spokesman provide details nationalities victims immediately clear sousse located around 90 miles capital tunis popular european tourists us embassy capital tunis said far know us nationals among victims german foreign minister frankwalter steinmeier condemned cowardly assassination attack tourists said know countrymen among victims riu hotels amp resorts runs imperial marhaba confirmed statement hotel involved attack extended sincere condolences victims relatives gary pine product manager uk told nbc news one dozens vacationers beach attack took place far hotel el mouradi palm marina said initially thought hearing firecrackers could hear bullets whizzing air realized gunfire 22yearold son saw one person get shot pine added said guests started running beach told go rooms hotel staff said guests ran back onto beach get room keys added easiest way describe utter panic pine said people fleeing different directions trying make way fast could back hotel british holidaymaker karen hillman said near hotels pool guests started rushing toward building like stampede everyone told get inside hotel rooms added entertainment manager hotel gave first name hamouda said guests told two gunmen came sea attacked beach confirmed staff told guests hide rooms immediate claim responsibility attack occurred holy month ramadan violence almost immediate impact countrys tourism industry struggling wake deadly terror attack march left several tourists dead cowardly traitorous hands struck tunisia targeting security children visitors president beji caid essebsi told reporters riu imperial marhaba hotel according associated press essebsi promised painful necessary security measures country safe terrorism need global strategy democratic countries said ap reported belgian airline jetairfly said twitter one boeing 737s en route brussels turned back due current terrorist attack aircraft due land tunisian town enfidha 25 miles north sousse turned around halfway journey march attack tunisias national bardo museum left 22 people mainly foreigners dead isis purportedly claimed responsibility assault japanese polish italian spanish nationals killed two assailants died firefight police related three terror attacks follow isis call month disaster tunisia held rare example democracy successfully delivered arab spring 2011 countrys warm weather beaches historic culture nightlife made popular holiday destination europeans 7 million tourists arriving year according lonely planet
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<p />
<p>Twelve-year-old Hiram Moss is in the back of the Mobile C.A.R.E. Foundation’s Asthma Van one morning, insisting to several skeptics that he has been taking his medication.</p>
<p>Glancing at the screen of a laptop computer, nurse Becky Blasé looks over the readings from his last breathing test. She doesn’t find his claims persuasive, so she tries a different tack.</p>
<p>“Alright, well, how is basketball?”</p>
<p>“Good.”</p>
<p>Sitting nearby, Hiram’s aunt, Loretta Mitchell, shakes her head as her 1-year-old daughter, London, tries to squirm out of her grasp.</p>
<p>“He’s saying ‘Good’ because he likes to play,” Mitchell says. “But how are you breathing?”</p>
<p>Hiram nods. His basketball jersey hangs from his wiry frame like a flag. He knows he has to take care of himself; he wants to get even better at basketball, win a scholarship to Duke or Notre Dame, and make the NBA, and maybe someday he will become a lawyer.</p>
<p>Right now, though, he is jumpy, anxious, ready to be outside doing something, playing ball, whatever.</p>
<p>“Good,” he says.</p>
<p>Blasé is patient but unyielding. “Are you taking all your medications?”</p>
<p>“Yup.”</p>
<p>“Everyday?”</p>
<p>“Yup.”</p>
<p>“In the morning?”</p>
<p>Hiram pauses. His voice softens as he makes his confession: “Sometimes I don’t in the morning,” he says. “You know, in the morning sometimes I’m in a rush.” But it happens no more than once or twice a week, he insists.</p>
<p>Dr. Karen Malamut, the van’s director, appears behind him. She is a little shorter than him—maybe 5-2—with full cheeks, intense brown eyes and an eagerness to kiss, cajole or chastise her patients, depending on what is needed.</p>
<p>This time, embracing Hiram in a playful headlock, Malamut cries out: “It takes 40 seconds! You puff and breathe in for 10 seconds, then you puff and breathe in for 10 seconds—four times! That’s it!” She pulls out her stethoscope and asks him to breathe deeply. She is disappointed. “Oh Hiram, Hiram.”</p>
<p>Mobile C.A.R.E., which runs the 34-foot Asthma Van and another asthma clinic on wheels known as the Breathmobile, is one of several privately run, privately funded medical programs that do what experts say the area’s public health programs should be doing a whole lot more of: Trying to find and treat some of the area’s thousands of asthmatic children who aren’t getting the medical attention they need—before they end up in the hospital emergency room, or worse.</p>
<p>The programs aren’t lacking patients. Every month, the Mobile C.A.R.E. Foundation’s two vans make stops outside 43 different schools on Chicago’s South and West sides, seeing students and other neighborhood children.</p>
<p>Operating with an annual budget of about $850,000, the program has screened more than 20,000 children in its first five years, and currently more than 2,600 are active patients.</p>
<p>Most come from families with little or no medical insurance, Malamut says. But even those who have adequate coverage complain doctors don’t give them enough education and treatment for asthma.</p>
<p>Malamut, Blasé and other van staff may spend 30 or more minutes with each patient, giving exams, prescribing medications, demonstrating how to use inhalers, going over what the medications do and explaining the biology behind asthma and asthma attacks.</p>
<p>“We explain with lots of illustrations: The lungs are like trees. They have lots of branches. Having a normal lung is like breathing through a Burger King straw. Breathing bleach—that’s what it’s like when you have an attack,” Malamut says.</p>
<p>Listening is also a key part of the job, since asthma can be triggered by everything from cat dander to old carpeting, dust mites, outdoor air pollution, poor use of medication and neighborhood crime that keeps children cooped up.</p>
<p>“I can’t change where they live and all they’re up against, but I can try to help them control their asthma,” says Malamut, who formerly worked as a pediatrician in a more conventional North Shore office.</p>
<p>Not everyone responds, though. Malamut is still haunted by the boy who wouldn’t take his medicine. His mother let him miss appointments and didn’t take his asthma seriously.</p>
<p>“We did everything we could but live with her,” Malamut says. “And the child was out playing and had an asthma attack and died. And there was no reason for it.”</p>
<p>The message has reached Mitchell and her sister, Yvette. Hiram was 4 when he suffered his first asthma attack: While playing with a friend, his laughter turned to a relentless cough and then breathing trouble.</p>
<p>Yvette Mitchell, a clinical social worker, whisked him to a west suburban hospital, where, she says, “They never did explain to me what was going on. Their treatment of asthma really wasn’t treatment of asthma. They never gave me any education on it.”</p>
<p>She learned more a couple of years later, when Hiram’s oxygen levels dropped, and he was admitted to Cook County Hospital for three days. But she says the Asthma Van, which she heard about through Hiram’s West Side school, has been the most helpful. In addition to explaining Hiram’s condition and treatment, the van staff provided Hiram with free medications when the family was without insurance for a time.</p>
<p>Last summer, Loretta Mitchell’s daughter, London, had an asthma attack. “Her breathing slowed down. It was really scary—she wasn’t even 6 months old,” she says. “I was going crazy. I was like, ‘Oh, my god, my baby, what’s wrong with her?'”</p>
<p>The doctors who treated London weren’t any more helpful than those Hiram had first seen.</p>
<p>After getting the little girl through her immediate crisis, the doctors released her without offering any advice on preventing another attack. Mitchell took London to the Asthma Van along with Hiram, where she was given an inhaler.</p>
<p>So Hiram—and, to a lesser extent, London—knew what to expect during this recent checkup in the mobile clinic. As one of the van’s regular patients, Hiram knows he will be examined, badgered and mothered during his checkup until he again acknowledges that he absolutely must take care of his asthma.</p>
<p>At this point, he plops down in an easy chair and scoops London onto his lap. Only for a second, though—Malamut summons him to the front and shows him a new adult-sized inhaler. He doesn’t need the extension for kids anymore.</p>
<p>“You’ve graduated, big man,” Malamut tells him.</p>
<p>London is up next. Hiram watches carefully as Malamut examines the little girl’s tongue, mouth and ears, and listens to her breathing. Blasé updates London’s patient history with Mitchell. “Is she active?”</p>
<p>As if on cue, London darts across the van, little lights in her tennis shoes flashing red. Mitchell laughs, and Blasé joins her. “Hey, I have to ask the question,” Blasé says.</p>
<p>Of more concern, Mitchell says her daughter has been up coughing twice that week. She hasn’t been exposed to smoke, carpeting, cats, mice or roaches, so it’s unclear what caused it. Malamut prescribes a new medication and hands Mitchell an inhaler.</p>
<p>“This will not hype her up any more.” London smiles, showing lots of teeth,</p>
<p>runs to the easy chair, dives in and sprawls out.</p>
<p>Pointing to a diagram on the wall, Blasé explains how the drugs should open London’s lungs. Malamut hands Mitchell a sheet summarizing the medications for both Hiram and London; the ones to be taken in the morning are shaded in pink, and the evening ones are in yellow.</p>
<p>As the Mitchells prepare to leave, with Hiram begging his aunt to hurry so he can make basketball practice, Malamut tells Hiram she likes his hair. “It looks great,” she says.</p>
<p>“Hiram has always been a good-looking man,” Blasé says.</p>
<p>Hiram looks down, embarrassed and trying to hide his smile.</p>
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twelveyearold hiram moss back mobile care foundations asthma van one morning insisting several skeptics taking medication glancing screen laptop computer nurse becky blasé looks readings last breathing test doesnt find claims persuasive tries different tack alright well basketball good sitting nearby hirams aunt loretta mitchell shakes head 1yearold daughter london tries squirm grasp hes saying good likes play mitchell says breathing hiram nods basketball jersey hangs wiry frame like flag knows take care wants get even better basketball win scholarship duke notre dame make nba maybe someday become lawyer right though jumpy anxious ready outside something playing ball whatever good says blasé patient unyielding taking medications yup everyday yup morning hiram pauses voice softens makes confession sometimes dont morning says know morning sometimes im rush happens twice week insists dr karen malamut vans director appears behind little shorter himmaybe 52with full cheeks intense brown eyes eagerness kiss cajole chastise patients depending needed time embracing hiram playful headlock malamut cries takes 40 seconds puff breathe 10 seconds puff breathe 10 secondsfour times thats pulls stethoscope asks breathe deeply disappointed oh hiram hiram mobile care runs 34foot asthma van another asthma clinic wheels known breathmobile one several privately run privately funded medical programs experts say areas public health programs whole lot trying find treat areas thousands asthmatic children arent getting medical attention needbefore end hospital emergency room worse programs arent lacking patients every month mobile care foundations two vans make stops outside 43 different schools chicagos south west sides seeing students neighborhood children operating annual budget 850000 program screened 20000 children first five years currently 2600 active patients come families little medical insurance malamut says even adequate coverage complain doctors dont give enough education treatment asthma malamut blasé van staff may spend 30 minutes patient giving exams prescribing medications demonstrating use inhalers going medications explaining biology behind asthma asthma attacks explain lots illustrations lungs like trees lots branches normal lung like breathing burger king straw breathing bleachthats like attack malamut says listening also key part job since asthma triggered everything cat dander old carpeting dust mites outdoor air pollution poor use medication neighborhood crime keeps children cooped cant change live theyre try help control asthma says malamut formerly worked pediatrician conventional north shore office everyone responds though malamut still haunted boy wouldnt take medicine mother let miss appointments didnt take asthma seriously everything could live malamut says child playing asthma attack died reason message reached mitchell sister yvette hiram 4 suffered first asthma attack playing friend laughter turned relentless cough breathing trouble yvette mitchell clinical social worker whisked west suburban hospital says never explain going treatment asthma really wasnt treatment asthma never gave education learned couple years later hirams oxygen levels dropped admitted cook county hospital three days says asthma van heard hirams west side school helpful addition explaining hirams condition treatment van staff provided hiram free medications family without insurance time last summer loretta mitchells daughter london asthma attack breathing slowed really scaryshe wasnt even 6 months old says going crazy like oh god baby whats wrong doctors treated london werent helpful hiram first seen getting little girl immediate crisis doctors released without offering advice preventing another attack mitchell took london asthma van along hiram given inhaler hiramand lesser extent londonknew expect recent checkup mobile clinic one vans regular patients hiram knows examined badgered mothered checkup acknowledges absolutely must take care asthma point plops easy chair scoops london onto lap second thoughmalamut summons front shows new adultsized inhaler doesnt need extension kids anymore youve graduated big man malamut tells london next hiram watches carefully malamut examines little girls tongue mouth ears listens breathing blasé updates londons patient history mitchell active cue london darts across van little lights tennis shoes flashing red mitchell laughs blasé joins hey ask question blasé says concern mitchell says daughter coughing twice week hasnt exposed smoke carpeting cats mice roaches unclear caused malamut prescribes new medication hands mitchell inhaler hype london smiles showing lots teeth runs easy chair dives sprawls pointing diagram wall blasé explains drugs open londons lungs malamut hands mitchell sheet summarizing medications hiram london ones taken morning shaded pink evening ones yellow mitchells prepare leave hiram begging aunt hurry make basketball practice malamut tells hiram likes hair looks great says hiram always goodlooking man blasé says hiram looks embarrassed trying hide smile
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<p>Pili Robinson was surprised by what young people told him in April 2005 when he went door to door in the disciplinary unit of the Oak Hill Youth Center in Laurel, Md. All were sent there for medical reasons, gender identification issues or aggressive behavior. Some said they had been locked in their dimly lit cells for 24 hours a day, seven days a week for up to 60 days.</p>
<p>When they were eventually let out of their cells, they fought over basic needs such as toothpaste, deodorant, food and clothing.</p>
<p>Scarce supplies and a deteriorating environment triggered bitter feelings, which exploded into fistfights. By November 2005, 18-year-old Karl Grimes was dead from head injuries he sustained during a fight with two other youth.</p>
<p>“It was a really inhumane, bad place,” said Robinson, of the Missouri Youth Services Institute. The consulting agency partnered that year with the District of Columbia’s Youth Rehabilitation Services Department, which operates Oak Hill, to try and remedy the center’s supervisory problems and subpar living conditions and ultimately create a juvenile justice system based on rehabilitation instead of punishment.</p>
<p>The trouble at the facility dated back to as early as 1985. That’s when the Public Defender Services and American Civil Liberties Union sued Oak Hill for its poor services to youth in a case known as Jerry M. v. District of Columbia. Leading up to the lawsuit, Oak Hill was plagued by frequent violence, inadequately trained staff, and a deficiency of job training and educational opportunities to help young people succeed in life after imprisonment.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, out west, Missouri had designed a sustainable model centered on youth rehabilitation. The Missouri model, which started 40 years ago, rehabilitates young people through group therapy in a humane environment.</p>
<p>“Most juvenile systems are based on the correctional policy, which has not worked,” said Mark Steward, director of the Missouri Youth Services Institute. “It’s almost a revolving door. They go out and come back in. The juvenile system has become like the minor leagues for the adult prison system.”</p>
<p>Missouri has proven the effectiveness of its model with the lowest-known juvenile recidivism rate in the country, Steward said. Only 8.4 percent of youth released in 2006 were recommitted to juvenile facilities by 2009. Compare that with Illinois, where half the juvenile offenders ended up back in the juvenile system over the same period.</p>
<p>Youth in punitive systems are more likely to reoffend because they adapt to their aggressive environment, taking up the violent behaviors of fellow inmates and regressing academically, said Marc Schindler, who was the head of the Washington, D.C., juvenile justice system until he was replaced in July after a middle-school principal was allegedly killed by several youth under the system’s supervision. “That’s not only wasting an opportunity, but we have damaged that young person,” Schindler said.</p>
<p>Other states have taken notice of Missouri’s success. Representatives from half of the states in the nation have visited Missouri’s facilities over the past decade, Steward said. Missouri has seen at least 50 visitors from Illinois. But despite the interest, Illinois hasn’t pulled together the resources necessary to pursue a transformation, Steward said. “It’s a hell of a lot of work, and it takes commitment,” Steward said. “You have to change the culture from punitive and correctional to therapeutic.”</p>
<p>States facing pressure from the U.S. Justice Department or possible lawsuits have taken swifter action to make a quality juvenile justice system a reality. To help interested states model their system after Missouri’s, Steward retired after 17 years as the juvenile justice director in Missouri and then founded the Missouri Youth Services Institute in 2005. Since then, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, two counties in California and Washington have hired the institute to assess their juvenile systems, recommend policies, train staff and lead reform at their facilities.</p>
<p>The quality of the Washington juvenile justice system continued to decline even after the lawsuit was filed in 1985. Fed up with the lack of progress, the plaintiffs in December 2003 requested that the court take charge of the agency and remedy the complaints. In lieu of that, then-Mayor Anthony Williams appointed a new director, Vincent Schiraldi, to oversee the juvenile justice system.</p>
<p>Schiraldi outlined a plan to close Oak Hill and open a new facility based on the Missouri model, with guidance from the Missouri Youth Services Institute. In the meantime, Oak Hill implemented a portion of the Missouri model, experimenting with group therapy, increasing the staff-to-youth ratio and improving conditions. By December 2007, plaintiffs were satisfied enough with the system’s progress to withdraw their motion for the court to take over the agency.</p>
<p>In May 2009, Oak Hill was replaced with the state-of-the-art New Beginnings facility, where the rooms were created like comfortable college dorms instead of prison cells. The rooms were private, carpeted and had natural light. There were night lights for reading, and youth had chalkboards to express themselves.</p>
<p>By providing a safe, clean environment where youth can let their guard down, New Beginnings helped the young people work through the problems that led them to criminal activity. “The whole point was to create this humane environment where kids are comfortable enough to share what’s going on in their world,” Robinson said.</p>
<p>The rehabilitation program on average lasts nine to 10 months. For two hours every night, students gather in their group of 10 to talk about their lives in an exercise designed to help them get to the root of their problems. Their daily schedules also include class, gym and journaling.</p>
<p>Washington applied Missouri’s group therapy process, also hiring a mental health worker and a caseworker to provide extra rehabilitative services for each therapy group. So far, the reforms have motivated youth to find alternatives to reoffending, Schindler said. Oak Hill has cut its recidivism rate in half, from 30 percent of juveniles reconvicted within a year in 2004 to 16 percent in 2007, according to a 2008 report about public safety in the Washington juvenile justice system.</p>
<p>The biggest challenge has been getting the old Oak Hill staff onboard with rehabilitation. Over the past five years, Robinson said some staff tried to sabotage the reform efforts, turning their backs on fighting or escaping youth. A couple of weeks after New Beginnings opened, some staff members abandoned six youth for five hours, giving them the opportunity to escape, Robinson said. They were later recovered outside the building.</p>
<p>Although some staff have grown fond of the new model, the majority still believe that the youth are criminals who need to “feel the wrath of the criminal justice system so they won’t get in trouble again,” Robinson said.</p>
<p>Robinson said changing the staff culture is one of two major obstacles to long-term success. The second is finding another way to accommodate youth with shorter sentences.</p>
<p>But whether Washington’s success will continue after losing its two key reformers is debatable. Schiraldi left Washington to move to New York City’s probation department in January, and his interim replacement, Schindler, was removed after the middle-school principal was killed. But Steward said such incidences will happen in any state, and the change in the district’s leadership might disrupt reform.</p>
<p>The key to continuing reform is earning young people’s trust in order to help them turn their lives around, Schindler said. When youth first came to New Beginnings, they were shocked and felt like they didn’t deserve such a nice place to live, Robinson said. But then they regained their sense of dignity and returned the respect, taking pride in the quality of their new home and the cutting-edge educational technology it offered.</p>
<p>“We have to treat them with dignity and respect, and earn their trust and not assume it,” Schindler said. If “I put you in a prison cell that stinks from the smell of urine and feces with the toilet next to your head, probably the message you’re going to take away from that is that you don’t really care about me. If you really cared about me, why would you stick me in this rat hole at the end of the day?”</p>
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pili robinson surprised young people told april 2005 went door door disciplinary unit oak hill youth center laurel md sent medical reasons gender identification issues aggressive behavior said locked dimly lit cells 24 hours day seven days week 60 days eventually let cells fought basic needs toothpaste deodorant food clothing scarce supplies deteriorating environment triggered bitter feelings exploded fistfights november 2005 18yearold karl grimes dead head injuries sustained fight two youth really inhumane bad place said robinson missouri youth services institute consulting agency partnered year district columbias youth rehabilitation services department operates oak hill try remedy centers supervisory problems subpar living conditions ultimately create juvenile justice system based rehabilitation instead punishment trouble facility dated back early 1985 thats public defender services american civil liberties union sued oak hill poor services youth case known jerry v district columbia leading lawsuit oak hill plagued frequent violence inadequately trained staff deficiency job training educational opportunities help young people succeed life imprisonment meanwhile west missouri designed sustainable model centered youth rehabilitation missouri model started 40 years ago rehabilitates young people group therapy humane environment juvenile systems based correctional policy worked said mark steward director missouri youth services institute almost revolving door go come back juvenile system become like minor leagues adult prison system missouri proven effectiveness model lowestknown juvenile recidivism rate country steward said 84 percent youth released 2006 recommitted juvenile facilities 2009 compare illinois half juvenile offenders ended back juvenile system period youth punitive systems likely reoffend adapt aggressive environment taking violent behaviors fellow inmates regressing academically said marc schindler head washington dc juvenile justice system replaced july middleschool principal allegedly killed several youth systems supervision thats wasting opportunity damaged young person schindler said states taken notice missouris success representatives half states nation visited missouris facilities past decade steward said missouri seen least 50 visitors illinois despite interest illinois hasnt pulled together resources necessary pursue transformation steward said hell lot work takes commitment steward said change culture punitive correctional therapeutic states facing pressure us justice department possible lawsuits taken swifter action make quality juvenile justice system reality help interested states model system missouris steward retired 17 years juvenile justice director missouri founded missouri youth services institute 2005 since louisiana new mexico new york two counties california washington hired institute assess juvenile systems recommend policies train staff lead reform facilities quality washington juvenile justice system continued decline even lawsuit filed 1985 fed lack progress plaintiffs december 2003 requested court take charge agency remedy complaints lieu thenmayor anthony williams appointed new director vincent schiraldi oversee juvenile justice system schiraldi outlined plan close oak hill open new facility based missouri model guidance missouri youth services institute meantime oak hill implemented portion missouri model experimenting group therapy increasing stafftoyouth ratio improving conditions december 2007 plaintiffs satisfied enough systems progress withdraw motion court take agency may 2009 oak hill replaced stateoftheart new beginnings facility rooms created like comfortable college dorms instead prison cells rooms private carpeted natural light night lights reading youth chalkboards express providing safe clean environment youth let guard new beginnings helped young people work problems led criminal activity whole point create humane environment kids comfortable enough share whats going world robinson said rehabilitation program average lasts nine 10 months two hours every night students gather group 10 talk lives exercise designed help get root problems daily schedules also include class gym journaling washington applied missouris group therapy process also hiring mental health worker caseworker provide extra rehabilitative services therapy group far reforms motivated youth find alternatives reoffending schindler said oak hill cut recidivism rate half 30 percent juveniles reconvicted within year 2004 16 percent 2007 according 2008 report public safety washington juvenile justice system biggest challenge getting old oak hill staff onboard rehabilitation past five years robinson said staff tried sabotage reform efforts turning backs fighting escaping youth couple weeks new beginnings opened staff members abandoned six youth five hours giving opportunity escape robinson said later recovered outside building although staff grown fond new model majority still believe youth criminals need feel wrath criminal justice system wont get trouble robinson said robinson said changing staff culture one two major obstacles longterm success second finding another way accommodate youth shorter sentences whether washingtons success continue losing two key reformers debatable schiraldi left washington move new york citys probation department january interim replacement schindler removed middleschool principal killed steward said incidences happen state change districts leadership might disrupt reform key continuing reform earning young peoples trust order help turn lives around schindler said youth first came new beginnings shocked felt like didnt deserve nice place live robinson said regained sense dignity returned respect taking pride quality new home cuttingedge educational technology offered treat dignity respect earn trust assume schindler said put prison cell stinks smell urine feces toilet next head probably message youre going take away dont really care really cared would stick rat hole end day
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<p>Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker could be named the first openly LGBT Cabinet secretary. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)</p>
<p>If Hillary Clinton prevails on Election Day, some supporters are already speculating that her victory could lead to a new milestone for the LGBT community: The appointment of an openly LGBT Cabinet member.</p>
<p>Aisha Moodie-Mills, CEO of the Gay &amp; Lesbian Victory Institute, said the appointment of an openly LGBT person to Cabinet-level position would be huge&#160;“just for the simple fact that it would be the highest-ranking LGBT person ever appointed.”</p>
<p>“On a practical standpoint, though, it’s a really big deal for us to have representation, period, in our government,” Moodie-Mills added. “And we know that it matters because when you have people who are governing and who are driving policy and who are managing and&#160;serving in the administration through the lens of the real-lived experience of other Americans, then you have a government that is more reflective, responsive and also accountable to the people.”</p>
<p>The potential appointment, Moodie-Mills said, would build the record number of at least 300 LGBT appointments seen under President&#160;Obama and coordinated by the Victory Institute-led Presidential Appointments Initiative.</p>
<p>Among these appointments are Eric Fanning, the first openly gay Army secretary; Fred Hochberg, who’s gay and chair of the U.S. Export-Import Bank; and Amanda Simpson, the first-ever openly transgender woman appointed in any presidential administration and now deputy assistant secretary of defense for operational energy.</p>
<p>“So he set a high bar, but to your point, there is not currently a Cabinet-level position,” Moodie-Mills said. “And we are confident that we are going to continue to see, if it’s a friendly administration, more high-ranking LGBT people serving, and that’s what we’re working on for&#160;the next administration as well.”</p>
<p>Although the person tapped to fill a Cabinet-level position&#160;in the Clinton administration could be virtually any high-profile LGBT individual who has supported the Democratic Party, one name observers keep mentioning is former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who’s now co-chair of the Democratic National Committee’s LGBT advisory body.</p>
<p>Malcolm Lazin, executive director of the Philadelphia-based Equality Forum, said Parker “certainly would be a contender” based on her record as mayor of the nation’s fourth largest city and her position within the DNC.</p>
<p>“Certainly one would not expect her to be the secretary of state or the secretary of treasury, but certainly there are a number of other positions that certainly she would be well qualified,” Lazin said. “Clearly, everything from health and human services, to HUD, Commerce. So there are a number of different agencies where she certainly has the type of background and political sophistication that would qualify her.”</p>
<p>Lazin said “nobody knows anything specific” about whether Parker or any other LGBT person has been suggested as a Cabinet-level position for Clinton, but&#160;LGBT advocates who spoke at&#160;the Equality Forum’s panels at the Democratic National Committee said&#160;the appointment would be&#160;“among the primary asks”&#160;of the next administration.</p>
<p>“Certainly people on those panels were people who were prominent within our movement, and certainly prominent within the Democratic Party, and people who have relationships with Secretary Clinton,” Lazin said. “I think across the board in terms of when that issue was discussed, I think there was a clear consensus that was one of the primary asks.”</p>
<p>Other names that emerged as potential Cabinet picks are Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), former New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Darren Walker, president of the New York-based Ford Foundation.</p>
<p>Another name that emerged is John Berry, who currently serves as U.S. ambassador to Australia and formerly was head of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. For a time, Berry was thought to have been a potential pick&#160;as head of the Department of the Interior before <a href="" type="internal">Interior Secretary Sally Jewell was chosen</a> and he was appointed as a U.S. ambassador.</p>
<p>But what happens if Trump wins the election? Lazin said the question of whether Trump would appoint an LGBT Cabinet member is “interesting” because in a 2000 interview with The Advocate, the candidate&#160;said he’d support adding sexual-orientation protections to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Trump&#160;hasn’t said during this election cycle whether that remains his position.</p>
<p>In June, the Equality Forum sent via certified mail a letter to then-top officials with the Trump campaign asking whether Trump&#160;supports the Equality Act, which would add LGBT protections to the federal non-discrimination law, but Lazin said the organization received “no response.”</p>
<p>“Certainly one would hope that Mr. Trump would have an openly gay person in his Cabinet, but given his non-response to this question, I would say that would be unlikely rather than likely,” Lazin said.</p>
<p>Last week, the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-peter-thiel-supreme-court_us_57d80d57e4b09d7a687f9b03" type="external">Huffington Post</a> reported PayPal founder Peter Thiel, a Trump supporter who declared he was “ <a href="" type="internal">proud to be gay</a>”&#160;at the Republican National Convention, was&#160;promised an appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court by the Republican presidential nominee, citing sources close to Thiel. But the Trump campaign said there was “no truth” to that claim, as did a Thiel spokesperson.</p>
<p>Neither the Clinton nor the Trump campaigns responded to the Washington Blade’s request over the past two weeks to comment on whether the candidates would be open to appointing an openly LGBT Cabinet member in their administrations.</p>
<p>UPDATE: Annise Parker responded to speculation she could be the first openly LGBT Cabinet member in an email to Washington Blade after publication of this article:</p>
<p>“I’m flattered to be in the conversation,” Parker said. “I would offer my skills and experience in any way I could to help make a successful Clinton administration. At the moment I’m focused on the campaign.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Aisha Moodie-Mills</a> <a href="" type="internal">Annise Parker</a> <a href="" type="internal">Cabinet</a> <a href="" type="internal">Equality Forum</a> <a href="" type="internal">Gay &amp; Lesbian Victory Institute</a> <a href="" type="internal">gay appointments</a> <a href="" type="internal">Malcom Lazin</a></p>
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former houston mayor annise parker could named first openly lgbt cabinet secretary washington blade photo michael k lavers hillary clinton prevails election day supporters already speculating victory could lead new milestone lgbt community appointment openly lgbt cabinet member aisha moodiemills ceo gay amp lesbian victory institute said appointment openly lgbt person cabinetlevel position would huge160just simple fact would highestranking lgbt person ever appointed practical standpoint though really big deal us representation period government moodiemills added know matters people governing driving policy managing and160serving administration lens reallived experience americans government reflective responsive also accountable people potential appointment moodiemills said would build record number least 300 lgbt appointments seen president160obama coordinated victory instituteled presidential appointments initiative among appointments eric fanning first openly gay army secretary fred hochberg whos gay chair us exportimport bank amanda simpson firstever openly transgender woman appointed presidential administration deputy assistant secretary defense operational energy set high bar point currently cabinetlevel position moodiemills said confident going continue see friendly administration highranking lgbt people serving thats working for160the next administration well although person tapped fill cabinetlevel position160in clinton administration could virtually highprofile lgbt individual supported democratic party one name observers keep mentioning former houston mayor annise parker whos cochair democratic national committees lgbt advisory body malcolm lazin executive director philadelphiabased equality forum said parker certainly would contender based record mayor nations fourth largest city position within dnc certainly one would expect secretary state secretary treasury certainly number positions certainly would well qualified lazin said clearly everything health human services hud commerce number different agencies certainly type background political sophistication would qualify lazin said nobody knows anything specific whether parker lgbt person suggested cabinetlevel position clinton but160lgbt advocates spoke at160the equality forums panels democratic national committee said160the appointment would be160among primary asks160of next administration certainly people panels people prominent within movement certainly prominent within democratic party people relationships secretary clinton lazin said think across board terms issue discussed think clear consensus one primary asks names emerged potential cabinet picks rep sean patrick maloney dny former new york city council speaker christine quinn sen tammy baldwin dwis darren walker president new yorkbased ford foundation another name emerged john berry currently serves us ambassador australia formerly head us office personnel management time berry thought potential pick160as head department interior interior secretary sally jewell chosen appointed us ambassador happens trump wins election lazin said question whether trump would appoint lgbt cabinet member interesting 2000 interview advocate candidate160said hed support adding sexualorientation protections civil rights act 1964 trump160hasnt said election cycle whether remains position june equality forum sent via certified mail letter thentop officials trump campaign asking whether trump160supports equality act would add lgbt protections federal nondiscrimination law lazin said organization received response certainly one would hope mr trump would openly gay person cabinet given nonresponse question would say would unlikely rather likely lazin said last week huffington post reported paypal founder peter thiel trump supporter declared proud gay160at republican national convention was160promised appointment us supreme court republican presidential nominee citing sources close thiel trump campaign said truth claim thiel spokesperson neither clinton trump campaigns responded washington blades request past two weeks comment whether candidates would open appointing openly lgbt cabinet member administrations update annise parker responded speculation could first openly lgbt cabinet member email washington blade publication article im flattered conversation parker said would offer skills experience way could help make successful clinton administration moment im focused campaign aisha moodiemills annise parker cabinet equality forum gay amp lesbian victory institute gay appointments malcom lazin
| 580 |
<p>CAIRO — Berhan left his home in Eritrea at night so he did not have to explain. His children were asleep — sick with the flu. He expected to find work in Sudan, something better than the conscription he faced at home.</p>
<p>Instead, the Sudanese border guards who apprehended him sold him to a gang, the first link in a brutal human trafficking network which kidnaps refugees in Sudan, smuggles them to the arid Sinai peninsula, and tortures them to extort ransoms of $30,000 or more from their families.</p>
<p>For two weeks, his children heard nothing of their father.</p>
<p>Then one day they got a call. Berhan had to tell his family that they would have to find $33,000, or, like many hundreds of others, he would die in the Sinai.</p>
<p>Since 2010 more than 25,000 people have become victims of the trafficking gangs, and more than $600 million has been paid in ransoms, according to estimates in a report <a href="http://www.eepa.be/wcm/dmdocuments/Small_HumanTrafficking-Sinai2-web-3.pdf" type="external">published</a> by Tilburg University in the Netherlands.</p>
<p>But Berhan, whose real name must be withheld for his safety, noticed something particularly sensitive during his ordeal. Along the way, he says he saw an Egyptian officer manning a checkpoint wave the traffickers and their human cargo past: Individuals in the Egyptian Armed Forces, the most respected body in the shifting Egyptian power structure, and a&#160; <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/01/egypts-army-ultimate-arbiter-power" type="external">final arbiter</a>&#160;in politics since the beginning of the republic in 1952, may be involved in this human trafficking.</p>
<p>Berhan’s account is typical of several testimonies of the trade's victims collected in a <a href="http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/02/11/egyptsudan-traffickers-who-torture" type="external">Human Rights Watch report</a> published Tuesday. In interviews I conducted on behalf of Human Rights Watch I heard multiple stories of Egyptian and Sudanese officials' facilitation or involvement in the trafficking. These testimonies echoed written testimonies from other victims, compiled independently by a local NGO.</p>
<p>11 witnesses reported the collusion of Egyptian police and army personnel with traffickers in 19 incidents. The testimonies also implicate officers of the Sudanese police and army.</p>
<p>One teenager described how he was forced to flee military service in Eritrea, after he was discovered keeping a diary where he wrote down his ideas about democracy and justice. In Sudan, police gave him to traffickers. Held in the Sinai, like other captives, he was beaten, electrocuted, and sexually assaulted with burning hot metal.</p>
<p>"They poured petrol over us so that our skin came off,” said another man imprisoned with him. “They made us drink water with petrol in it and when we vomited we had to drink the vomit... We wanted to commit suicide but they took our necklaces from us. Then we refused to eat and begged them to kill us but they refused."</p>
<p>With some others, the two found a discarded pair of scissors, and used it to gradually chip their chains away from the wall. They surprised the guard, and ran into the desert as the sound of shooting rang out behind them. Eventually, with the help of locals opposed to the trade, they made it to Cairo.</p>
<p>It has long been suspected that government officials in Sudan and Egypt were turning a blind eye to human trafficking, but no proof has emerged until now.</p>
<p>A trafficker interviewed in November 2012 by HRW, stated: "Until December 2011, all the police at the bridge and tunnel took bribes to let us bring Africans into Sinai. Sometimes the police even drove the trucks across. In December, the military took over control of the bridge. Sometimes they make it difficult to cross at the bridge and tunnel, but they still take bribes and let us cross."</p>
<p>In 2010, a 26-year-old man told HRW that he recalled Egyptian soldiers coming to the house where he and other Eritreans were being held, forced to work for their captor.</p>
<p>"I worked about two weeks in his house and while cleaning there I saw two Egyptian soldiers — wearing military uniform, green and brown and spotted — come to the house three times. Each time it was the same two men and each time they just looked at us, cleaning the house ... Some of the other Eritreans in our group managed to escape. Some never came back but soldiers caught one group of five people about an hour after they had escaped and brought them to the trafficker holding us," he said.</p>
<p>A spokesman for Egypt's Foreign Ministry denied the charges in a phone interview, and said that an ongoing military campaign in Sinai against jihadist insurgents and smugglers has all but stamped out the trade since July 2013. Activists monitoring the trade agree that its volume has greatly reduced in the past six months, but say that since November it has begun to grow again.</p>
<p>The United Nations Security Council Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea has alleged in several reports that senior Eritrean military figures are behind the kidnapping ring in Eastern Sudan, and that ransom payments are often channelled through Eritrean diplomats or security offices.</p>
<p>Berhan’s family eventually paid his ransom, and he made his way to Cairo, where his application for refugee status is still being processed. He is able to talk to his wife and children by phone now. As an illegal émigré from Eritrea, however, he would face harsh punishment if he were to return. He may never see his family again — unless they, too, one day, attempt the treacherous flight across the border.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Editor's note: The author of this story, a freelance journalist in Cairo, was hired by Human Rights Watch to conduct video interviews to accompany Human Rights Watch report mentioned above. The victims' stories appearing in this piece have come both from these interviews and from typewritten testimonies (of separate victims) provided by a local NGO.</p>
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cairo berhan left home eritrea night explain children asleep sick flu expected find work sudan something better conscription faced home instead sudanese border guards apprehended sold gang first link brutal human trafficking network kidnaps refugees sudan smuggles arid sinai peninsula tortures extort ransoms 30000 families two weeks children heard nothing father one day got call berhan tell family would find 33000 like many hundreds others would die sinai since 2010 25000 people become victims trafficking gangs 600 million paid ransoms according estimates report published tilburg university netherlands berhan whose real name must withheld safety noticed something particularly sensitive ordeal along way says saw egyptian officer manning checkpoint wave traffickers human cargo past individuals egyptian armed forces respected body shifting egyptian power structure a160 final arbiter160in politics since beginning republic 1952 may involved human trafficking berhans account typical several testimonies trades victims collected human rights watch report published tuesday interviews conducted behalf human rights watch heard multiple stories egyptian sudanese officials facilitation involvement trafficking testimonies echoed written testimonies victims compiled independently local ngo 11 witnesses reported collusion egyptian police army personnel traffickers 19 incidents testimonies also implicate officers sudanese police army one teenager described forced flee military service eritrea discovered keeping diary wrote ideas democracy justice sudan police gave traffickers held sinai like captives beaten electrocuted sexually assaulted burning hot metal poured petrol us skin came said another man imprisoned made us drink water petrol vomited drink vomit wanted commit suicide took necklaces us refused eat begged kill us refused others two found discarded pair scissors used gradually chip chains away wall surprised guard ran desert sound shooting rang behind eventually help locals opposed trade made cairo long suspected government officials sudan egypt turning blind eye human trafficking proof emerged trafficker interviewed november 2012 hrw stated december 2011 police bridge tunnel took bribes let us bring africans sinai sometimes police even drove trucks across december military took control bridge sometimes make difficult cross bridge tunnel still take bribes let us cross 2010 26yearold man told hrw recalled egyptian soldiers coming house eritreans held forced work captor worked two weeks house cleaning saw two egyptian soldiers wearing military uniform green brown spotted come house three times time two men time looked us cleaning house eritreans group managed escape never came back soldiers caught one group five people hour escaped brought trafficker holding us said spokesman egypts foreign ministry denied charges phone interview said ongoing military campaign sinai jihadist insurgents smugglers stamped trade since july 2013 activists monitoring trade agree volume greatly reduced past six months say since november begun grow united nations security council monitoring group somalia eritrea alleged several reports senior eritrean military figures behind kidnapping ring eastern sudan ransom payments often channelled eritrean diplomats security offices berhans family eventually paid ransom made way cairo application refugee status still processed able talk wife children phone illegal émigré eritrea however would face harsh punishment return may never see family unless one day attempt treacherous flight across border 160 editors note author story freelance journalist cairo hired human rights watch conduct video interviews accompany human rights watch report mentioned victims stories appearing piece come interviews typewritten testimonies separate victims provided local ngo
| 529 |
<p>An acclaimed Mexican-American leader who foresaw the potential power of the Latino vote decades ago is the focus of a documentary airing Monday night on PBS as part of its Election 2016 programming.</p>
<p><a href="http://lpbp.org/programs/willie-velasquez-your-vote-is-your-voice/" type="external">"Willie Velásquez: Your Vote Is Your Voice</a>" tells the story of a <a href="http://www.expressnews.com/news/news_columnists/elaine_ayala/article/Willie-Vel-squez-foresight-still-paying-off-6680028.php" type="external">grass-roots activist</a> who mobilized Latinos into a movement that permanently altered the American political landscape.</p>
<p>Born William C. Velásquez in San Antonio in 1944, “Willie” Velasquez had a lifetime of involvement with the Latino community. As a young man, he was a founding member of the Mexican American Youth Organization (MAYO). After graduating <a href="https://www.stmarytx.edu/2016/pbs-screening-velasquez/" type="external">from St. Mary’s University</a>, he helped organize strikes for Cesar Chavez’ United Farm Workers in South Texas.</p>
<p>His greatest legacy was founding a voter registration group that encouraged Latinos to run for office, litigated 85 successful civil rights lawsuits, and organized hundreds of nonpartisan get-out-the-vote efforts.</p>
<p>Velásquez was on a trajectory towards greater prominence when he died suddenly in 1988, of complications from kidney cancer. He was 44 years old. Then-Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1988-06-19/news/mn-7947_1_political-leaders" type="external">delivered his eulogy</a>, and President Ronald Reagan sent condolences. At a time when there were few nationally-known Latino leaders, Velásquez’ death merited mentions in <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/16/obituaries/willie-velasquez-44-hispanic-leader-dies.html" type="external">The New York Times</a> and the <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1988-06-16/news/mn-6570_1_latino-political-power" type="external">Los Angeles Times.</a></p>
<p>Velásquez laid the groundwork for generations of Latinos, especially Mexican-Americans, to become politically active. But today he likely remains unknown to most Americans – including most Hispanics.</p>
<p>That’s a situation that Hector Galán, <a href="http://www.galantvfilm.com/biography.html" type="external">producer and director</a> of Your Vote Is Your Voice, hopes to change. “I think one reason that Willie is not better known now, is that he was just taking his regional movement national when he died,” he said. “Willie really only had a few years in the national arena.”</p>
<p>Had Velásquez lived longer, Galán believes he would have achieved the prominence of figures such as <a href="" type="internal">Cesar Chavez</a> and <a href="" type="internal">Dolores Huerta</a>.</p>
<p>Galán pointed out that much of the history of the Latino civil rights struggle of the 1960s and 1970s is not well documented. The African-American civil rights movement in the south, he explained, drew many members of the press and volunteers from the northeast, who then returned home to report what they had witnessed.</p>
<p>This largely did not occur with Latinos in the southwest. “In a way, I am happy to re-introduce Willie to America before he is erased or forgotten,” he said.</p>
<p>RELATED: <a href="" type="internal">2016 May Not Be the Year of the Latino Vote, But Time is on Its Side</a></p>
<p>Willie Velásquez: Your Vote Is Your Voice features interviews with people who knew him or were impacted by his work, including former San Antonio mayor Henry Cisneros; <a href="http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2008201_2008200_2008222,00.html" type="external">Lionel Sosa</a>, founder of one of the largest U.S. Hispanic advertising agencies; HUD Secretary <a href="http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/about/principal_staff/secretary_castro" type="external">Julián Castro</a> and his mother Rosie Castro, and MSNBC analyst <a href="http://drvmds.com/about/" type="external">Victoria DeFrancesco Soto</a>.</p>
<p>Willie’s sister, Stella Velásquez Cortez, remembers him as a serious-minded child. “He was very observant. He was like an old soul, as a kid,” she told NBC News. “When we were walking home from school, he would ask me, ‘Who is more important, Truman or Eisenhower?’ And this was in first grade!”</p>
<p>Velásquez Cortez believes that her brother was a born leader. “He always had it in him,” she noted. When her brother started college, Velásquez Cortez recounted that he noticed that most of the other students from his former high school were being sent to Vietnam upon graduation. So Velásquez went back to his alma mater and organized a “sit-out” among the students, who demanded college prep courses and better educational resources.</p>
<p>Like many of the youth of his day, Velásquez took part in marches and protests against discrimination and for equal opportunities for Latinos.</p>
<p>But he had an epiphany when he decided that Latinos had to take their political power into their own hands. His rallying cry became Su voto es su voz (Your vote is your voice) and he launched the <a href="http://svrep.org/" type="external">Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project</a> in 1974.</p>
<p>Back then, the idea of Latinos organizing politically was a radical concept. The group’s beginnings were decidedly humble; its first office was a folding table, a chair, and a borrowed rotary phone.</p>
<p>Through the Southwest Voter project, Velásquez set out to register one million new voters. As he recruited volunteers to knock on doors and register people, the group fought the remnants of the Jim Crow laws in the Southwest and mounted legal challenges to gerrymandering, which often denied Latinos their potential political power.</p>
<p>RELATED: <a href="" type="internal">For Latinos, 1965 Voting Rights Act Impact Came A Decade Later</a></p>
<p>“If Cesar Chavez started the Latino civil rights movement, then Willie Velásquez was the father of the Latino voting rights movement,” <a href="http://svrep.org/about_svrep_antonio.php" type="external">Antonio Gonzalez</a>, president of the Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project, told NBC News.</p>
<p>During Velásquez’ early years of organizing, the political landscape was far different from that of today. In 1974, there were only 2.4 million Latino registered voters. Few Latinos in Texas held elected office, even at the lowest level, or in predominantly Mexican-American communities. However, Velásquez’ Southwest Voter project helped many Texas towns and counties elect their first Latino school board members, city council members, judges, and state representatives.</p>
<p>David Montejano, <a href="http://ethnicstudies.berkeley.edu/people/faculty-profile/david-montejano-1" type="external">professor at the graduate school</a> of the University of California Berkeley, recalled working with Velásquez on his organizing campaigns. “Once we mobilized in San Antonio, we were involved in exporting these methods elsewhere, sometimes to little towns where we had to work very quietly, almost undercover. We would convene the local community leaders and encourage them to get active in politics,” he said. “Then, little by little, we saw things start to change as Mexican-Americans got on the ballot and were elected to county and city offices in these small rural communities.”</p>
<p>Montejano laughed when he recalled some aspects of their organizing. “There was no social media. We used a mimeograph machine and ran off flyers,” he said. “Then we would hand them out to people, or sit at a table at the grocery store and talk to people. We did picket lines. We personally circulated posters and announcements through the community. That was our social media: us.”</p>
<p>RELATED: <a href="" type="internal">Politics Starts Locally - The Legacy of the Mothers of East L.A.</a></p>
<p>Velásquez wanted Latinos to vote, but he also wanted them to be part of the informed electorate. In 1984, he started the Southwest Voter Research Institute, to conduct polls among Latino voters on policy issues. In 1981, he formed the Southwest Council of La Raza, a forerunner of the National Council of La Raza. He taught politics at Harvard University. His nonpartisan Southwest Voter group was advising major candidates including George H.W. Bush and Ted Kennedy.</p>
<p>At the peak of his career, Velásquez discovered he had kidney cancer. Doctors gave him a year to live, but he lasted only a month after his diagnosis. He died on June 16, 1988.</p>
<p>In a cinematic twist, moments before he passed away Velásquez whispered, "Qué bonito es el mundo nuevo," (What a beautiful new world it is). His family and friends have since wondered if he was speaking about this world — or the next. Those words are now on his tombstone.</p>
<p>In 1995, Velásquez was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor a civilian can receive, from President Bill Clinton. Velásquez was only the second U.S. Latino to receive this award. “Willie was and is now a name synonymous with democracy in America,” <a href="http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=50577" type="external">Clinton said</a>. “And no person in modern America who has run for public office wherever Hispanic Americans live has failed to feel the hand of Willie Velásquez.”</p>
<p>Willie’s wife of 18 years, Jane Velásquez, remembers accepting the medal on Willie’s behalf. “It was such a great honor, for us to be at the White House. We all met President Clinton, we were so excited, it was like an out-of-body experience” she told NBC News. “It was so nice that Willie received this recognition. I only wished he had received it when he was alive.”</p>
<p>Jane Velásquez described Willie as “a man of great integrity” who enjoyed everything from biographies of Winston Churchill to Tejano music. “He was sort of like a renaissance person, he loved to read, he loved the arts, the opera,” she said. “And he was very family oriented. He loved his two families – us and his work family.”</p>
<p>Even she was not aware, she said, of the full impact of Velásquez’ work until after he was gone.</p>
<p>In 2012, Governor Rick Perry <a href="http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/Recognition-day-set-for-Willie-Vel-squez-5384004.php" type="external">designated May 9</a> (Velásquez’ birthday) as “Willie Velásquez Day” in Texas, a day of recognition of his life and legacy. It was <a href="http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/Recognition-day-set-for-Willie-Vel-squez-5384004.php" type="external">first observed</a> in 2014. An effort <a href="http://svrep.org/willie-statue-fund.php" type="external">to erect a statue</a> of Velásquez in San Antonio is ongoing. Juan A. Sepúlveda <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Life-Times-Willie-Velasquez-Hispanic/dp/1558854193" type="external">wrote his biography</a> in 2005.</p>
<p>RELATED: <a href="" type="internal">OpEd: Restoring Voting Rights to the Disenfranchised</a></p>
<p>Willie’s sister Stella Velásquez Cortez said that she is excited about the documentary because it will bring her brother’s legacy to the attention of a younger generation. “Back when he passed away and it made the news media, it was very gratifying to see how people appreciated what he did,” she said. “However, nowadays he (Willie) is forgotten. The younger generation doesn't know about him, and that is sad – especially right now with the way things are in the political arena. His causes, like voter registration, need to be revitalized. Our community needs another champion.”</p>
<p>Antonio Gonzalez of Southwest Voter said, “Willie was the fire that burns twice as bright – but only half as long.” He noted that his organization and the William C. Velásquez Institute continue to carry on Willie’s work, in areas ranging <a href="http://svrep.org/about_svrep.php" type="external">from get-out-the-vote efforts</a> to Cuba policy to climate change.</p>
<p>“Willie’s legacy lives on through the people he inspired and led back in the day,” Gonzalez said. “Hopefully, this documentary lets us pass on that inspiration and charisma and vision. He showed that if you have a vision and you can organize, then you can materialize it — and that is his story.”</p>
<p>The documentary <a href="http://lpbp.org/programs/willie-velasquez-your-vote-is-your-voice/" type="external">"Willie Velásquez: Your Vote Is Your Voice</a>" airs Monday, Oct. 3 on PBS at 10:30pET, check local PBS listings.</p>
<p>Follow NBC Latino on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NBCLatino" type="external">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCLatino" type="external">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/nbclatino/" type="external">Instagram</a>.</p>
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acclaimed mexicanamerican leader foresaw potential power latino vote decades ago focus documentary airing monday night pbs part election 2016 programming willie velásquez vote voice tells story grassroots activist mobilized latinos movement permanently altered american political landscape born william c velásquez san antonio 1944 willie velasquez lifetime involvement latino community young man founding member mexican american youth organization mayo graduating st marys university helped organize strikes cesar chavez united farm workers south texas greatest legacy founding voter registration group encouraged latinos run office litigated 85 successful civil rights lawsuits organized hundreds nonpartisan getoutthevote efforts velásquez trajectory towards greater prominence died suddenly 1988 complications kidney cancer 44 years old thenmassachusetts governor michael dukakis delivered eulogy president ronald reagan sent condolences time nationallyknown latino leaders velásquez death merited mentions new york times los angeles times velásquez laid groundwork generations latinos especially mexicanamericans become politically active today likely remains unknown americans including hispanics thats situation hector galán producer director vote voice hopes change think one reason willie better known taking regional movement national died said willie really years national arena velásquez lived longer galán believes would achieved prominence figures cesar chavez dolores huerta galán pointed much history latino civil rights struggle 1960s 1970s well documented africanamerican civil rights movement south explained drew many members press volunteers northeast returned home report witnessed largely occur latinos southwest way happy reintroduce willie america erased forgotten said related 2016 may year latino vote time side willie velásquez vote voice features interviews people knew impacted work including former san antonio mayor henry cisneros lionel sosa founder one largest us hispanic advertising agencies hud secretary julián castro mother rosie castro msnbc analyst victoria defrancesco soto willies sister stella velásquez cortez remembers seriousminded child observant like old soul kid told nbc news walking home school would ask important truman eisenhower first grade velásquez cortez believes brother born leader always noted brother started college velásquez cortez recounted noticed students former high school sent vietnam upon graduation velásquez went back alma mater organized sitout among students demanded college prep courses better educational resources like many youth day velásquez took part marches protests discrimination equal opportunities latinos epiphany decided latinos take political power hands rallying cry became su voto es su voz vote voice launched southwest voter registration education project 1974 back idea latinos organizing politically radical concept groups beginnings decidedly humble first office folding table chair borrowed rotary phone southwest voter project velásquez set register one million new voters recruited volunteers knock doors register people group fought remnants jim crow laws southwest mounted legal challenges gerrymandering often denied latinos potential political power related latinos 1965 voting rights act impact came decade later cesar chavez started latino civil rights movement willie velásquez father latino voting rights movement antonio gonzalez president southwest voter registration education project told nbc news velásquez early years organizing political landscape far different today 1974 24 million latino registered voters latinos texas held elected office even lowest level predominantly mexicanamerican communities however velásquez southwest voter project helped many texas towns counties elect first latino school board members city council members judges state representatives david montejano professor graduate school university california berkeley recalled working velásquez organizing campaigns mobilized san antonio involved exporting methods elsewhere sometimes little towns work quietly almost undercover would convene local community leaders encourage get active politics said little little saw things start change mexicanamericans got ballot elected county city offices small rural communities montejano laughed recalled aspects organizing social media used mimeograph machine ran flyers said would hand people sit table grocery store talk people picket lines personally circulated posters announcements community social media us related politics starts locally legacy mothers east la velásquez wanted latinos vote also wanted part informed electorate 1984 started southwest voter research institute conduct polls among latino voters policy issues 1981 formed southwest council la raza forerunner national council la raza taught politics harvard university nonpartisan southwest voter group advising major candidates including george hw bush ted kennedy peak career velásquez discovered kidney cancer doctors gave year live lasted month diagnosis died june 16 1988 cinematic twist moments passed away velásquez whispered qué bonito es el mundo nuevo beautiful new world family friends since wondered speaking world next words tombstone 1995 velásquez posthumously awarded presidential medal freedom highest honor civilian receive president bill clinton velásquez second us latino receive award willie name synonymous democracy america clinton said person modern america run public office wherever hispanic americans live failed feel hand willie velásquez willies wife 18 years jane velásquez remembers accepting medal willies behalf great honor us white house met president clinton excited like outofbody experience told nbc news nice willie received recognition wished received alive jane velásquez described willie man great integrity enjoyed everything biographies winston churchill tejano music sort like renaissance person loved read loved arts opera said family oriented loved two families us work family even aware said full impact velásquez work gone 2012 governor rick perry designated may 9 velásquez birthday willie velásquez day texas day recognition life legacy first observed 2014 effort erect statue velásquez san antonio ongoing juan sepúlveda wrote biography 2005 related oped restoring voting rights disenfranchised willies sister stella velásquez cortez said excited documentary bring brothers legacy attention younger generation back passed away made news media gratifying see people appreciated said however nowadays willie forgotten younger generation doesnt know sad especially right way things political arena causes like voter registration need revitalized community needs another champion antonio gonzalez southwest voter said willie fire burns twice bright half long noted organization william c velásquez institute continue carry willies work areas ranging getoutthevote efforts cuba policy climate change willies legacy lives people inspired led back day gonzalez said hopefully documentary lets us pass inspiration charisma vision showed vision organize materialize story documentary willie velásquez vote voice airs monday oct 3 pbs 1030pet check local pbs listings follow nbc latino facebook twitter instagram
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<p>JACKSONVILLE, Fla.(ABP)—What can churches do to prevent clergy sex abuse and break the pattern of recycling abusers? Even among activists and experts, there is no consensus—and sometimes loud disagreement—about the steps to be taken.</p>
<p>• A ministerial code of ethics. Doctors, lawyers and counselors have it. And so do most ministers, but not most Baptists, although the Baptist General Convention of Texas Christian Life Commission worked with a clergy ethics committee to develop a “covenant of trust” into which minsters and congregations could enter. Without the ability to withdraw ordination, participation is voluntary and enforcement impossible. But it's a start.</p>
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<p>• Seminary training. Condition Baptist ministers early to avoid moral compromise. But “ministerial ethics is rarely taught in our seminaries, although this area has become a major issue in church life,” said Joe Trull of Denton, Texas, who previously taught at an SBC seminary.</p>
<p>• Church-approved policies. What to do with an accusation? Who does an investigation? What about a leave of absence for the accused? How do you treat an accuser? Unless it's in writing, a congregation will resort to self-protection—and have little legal protection. There are lots of resources and training available to churches, but few take advantage. Some conventions offer intervention assistance. But it all starts with a plan. The Faith Trust Institute of Seattle, founded by abuse pioneer Marie Fortune, has resources.</p>
<p>• Outside help. Churches need an independent review panel to receive accusations and oversee investigations—or at least an outside consultant to lend objectivity. This is not the church's lawyer, however, since his or her duty is to protect the church.</p>
<p>“Local churches are not capable of handling abuse allegations on their own, and they shouldn't have to,” said Christa Brown, a lawyer and sex-abuse activist whose story of molestation has brought unwanted national attention to the Southern Baptist Convention. Brown leads a Baptist-directed campaign for the Catholic-focused SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.</p>
<p>“Churches are like families, and the dynamics of clergy sex abuse are very similar to the dynamics of incest,” she said. “Most congregations are not capable of objectively considering whether their much-loved and much-trusted minister might actually be someone who molested a kid.”</p>
<p>• Reporting abuse. It's the law. Church leaders have to tell law-enforcement officials when they learn of sex abuse. But they don't have to tell fellow church members—and often they don't. Usually the reason cited is a need for confidentiality. But that only benefits the accused and forces the victim to shoulder the burden alone, advocates and counselors say.</p>
<p>Anti-abuse advocate Dee Ann Miller stressed the difference between secrecy and confidentiality. “To not be up-front about the general nature of allegations is secrecy,” she said. “To protect the victim's identity in order to prevent embarrassment or retaliation is confidentiality.”</p>
<p>Congregations must encourage victims to talk, counselors say, whether to expose abusers or simply to heal. “Far too often, we see exactly the opposite—victims who attempt to speak up are treated with hostility by church and denominational leaders, and also by congregants,” Brown said. “Clergy-abuse victims can readily see that climate of hostility.”</p>
<p>When abuse is uncovered, churches and their lawyers often rely on confidentiality agreements—usually paired with financial settlements—to keep unsavory details out of public view.</p>
<p>But Miller states flatly, “There should never be a settlement that silences the victim.” Indeed, new Catholic canon law prohibits confidentiality clauses unless requested by the abuse victim. Confidentiality agreements are “a travesty,” Brown added. “Speaking personally, I would suggest that it is a tactic that resists the movement of God's Spirit, who might indeed work for healing and justice if Southern Baptists weren't setting up so many roadblocks.”</p>
<p>• Abuser database. The public is used to criminal predator lists in secular world. But critics say they are inappropriate and unsavory for churches and denominations, not to mention a legal liability issue. In a realm where guilt is difficult to prove, and innocence is sometimes harder, what level of certainty is sufficient? Do you list only the convicted? Or do you include the indicted, the accused and those who confess or settle out of court?</p>
<p>SNAP's stopbaptistpredators.com shows names and photos of Southern Baptist ministers “convicted, confessed or credibly accused.” That practice is “consistent with what Catholics are doing,” Brown pointed out. “Over 700 priests have now been removed from ministry, and most have never been convicted of anything.”</p>
<p>With convictions still rare, advocates say keeping the merely accused off the list is neither an adequate strategy nor necessary to preserve a presumption of innocence. Critics worry aggressive measures like the abuser database stack the deck against those falsely accused. But victims' groups insist fabricated cases are exceedingly rare—less than 1 percent among child accusers, reports Darkness to Light.</p>
<p>“Even if [Baptist leaders] can't actually remove men from ministry, they could at least take on the obligation to inform people in the pews when there is information about a minister reported for molesting a kid,” Brown said. “To keep that kind of information a secret from parents is unconscionable.</p>
<p>“For any innocent minister to be falsely accused of sexual abuse is a horrible thing. The only thing I can think of that would be worse would be to suffer actual abuse by a minister and then to be disbelieved or attacked by your faith community when you attempt to report it— and to see your rapist still standing in the pulpit.”</p>
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jacksonville flaabpwhat churches prevent clergy sex abuse break pattern recycling abusers even among activists experts consensusand sometimes loud disagreementabout steps taken ministerial code ethics doctors lawyers counselors ministers baptists although baptist general convention texas christian life commission worked clergy ethics committee develop covenant trust minsters congregations could enter without ability withdraw ordination participation voluntary enforcement impossible start seminary training condition baptist ministers early avoid moral compromise ministerial ethics rarely taught seminaries although area become major issue church life said joe trull denton texas previously taught sbc seminary churchapproved policies accusation investigation leave absence accused treat accuser unless writing congregation resort selfprotectionand little legal protection lots resources training available churches take advantage conventions offer intervention assistance starts plan faith trust institute seattle founded abuse pioneer marie fortune resources outside help churches need independent review panel receive accusations oversee investigationsor least outside consultant lend objectivity churchs lawyer however since duty protect church local churches capable handling abuse allegations shouldnt said christa brown lawyer sexabuse activist whose story molestation brought unwanted national attention southern baptist convention brown leads baptistdirected campaign catholicfocused snap survivors network abused priests churches like families dynamics clergy sex abuse similar dynamics incest said congregations capable objectively considering whether muchloved muchtrusted minister might actually someone molested kid reporting abuse law church leaders tell lawenforcement officials learn sex abuse dont tell fellow church membersand often dont usually reason cited need confidentiality benefits accused forces victim shoulder burden alone advocates counselors say antiabuse advocate dee ann miller stressed difference secrecy confidentiality upfront general nature allegations secrecy said protect victims identity order prevent embarrassment retaliation confidentiality congregations must encourage victims talk counselors say whether expose abusers simply heal far often see exactly oppositevictims attempt speak treated hostility church denominational leaders also congregants brown said clergyabuse victims readily see climate hostility abuse uncovered churches lawyers often rely confidentiality agreementsusually paired financial settlementsto keep unsavory details public view miller states flatly never settlement silences victim indeed new catholic canon law prohibits confidentiality clauses unless requested abuse victim confidentiality agreements travesty brown added speaking personally would suggest tactic resists movement gods spirit might indeed work healing justice southern baptists werent setting many roadblocks abuser database public used criminal predator lists secular world critics say inappropriate unsavory churches denominations mention legal liability issue realm guilt difficult prove innocence sometimes harder level certainty sufficient list convicted include indicted accused confess settle court snaps stopbaptistpredatorscom shows names photos southern baptist ministers convicted confessed credibly accused practice consistent catholics brown pointed 700 priests removed ministry never convicted anything convictions still rare advocates say keeping merely accused list neither adequate strategy necessary preserve presumption innocence critics worry aggressive measures like abuser database stack deck falsely accused victims groups insist fabricated cases exceedingly rareless 1 percent among child accusers reports darkness light even baptist leaders cant actually remove men ministry could least take obligation inform people pews information minister reported molesting kid brown said keep kind information secret parents unconscionable innocent minister falsely accused sexual abuse horrible thing thing think would worse would suffer actual abuse minister disbelieved attacked faith community attempt report see rapist still standing pulpit
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<p>Outrage over a controversial US cybercrime law has reached new heights. And, this time, internet activists have some powerful allies.</p>
<p>A number of lawmakers and legal scholars are joing the fight to reform existing legislation, defying the Obama administration's push for tighter cybersecuity measures.</p>
<p>The high-profile battle was highlighted this week when Andrew “weev” Auernheimer, a prominent netizen and one of the web’s most prolific trolls, arrived at a Newark jail to begin serving a 41 month-long prison term. Authorities charged Auernheimer with one count of identity fraud and one count of conspiracy to access a computer without authorization.</p>
<p>Auernheimer’s conviction and sentencing quickly became one of the most controversial legal battles in the history of cybercrime. Anger online intensified when activists noted that just one day prior to Auernheimer’s sentencing, two juveniles convicted of raping a 16-year-old girl were given one to two years in a detention facility — far less than the one given to Auernheimer.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/rights/opinion-hacking-vs-rape-which-crime-more-deserving-jail-time" type="external">Opinion: Hacking vs. rape: Which is a crime more deserving of jail time?</a></p>
<p>“I’m going to prison for arithmetic. I add one to a fucking number on a public webserver and I aggregated this data and I gave it to a fucking journalist at that man’s publication. And this is why I’m going to prison?” shouted Auernheimer at a guerilla-style press conference outside of the Newark courthouse where he was to be sentenced.&#160;</p>
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<p>Auernheimer gained access to an AT&amp;T server using a scripting tool, taking the names and email addresses of 114,000 iPad 3G owners in June 2010.</p>
<p>Along with others, including programmer and activist Aaron Swartz, journalist Matthew Keys and writer Barrett Brown, authorities prosecuted Auernheimer under the Cyber Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), a law enacted in 1986 to crack down on hackers. Brown was denied bail last September and is awaiting trial in prison, Keys was indicted just last week and Swartz took his own life in January during plea negotiations.&#160;</p>
<p>As the number of individuals prosecuted domestically under the CFAA continues to grow, the Obama administration is ramping up efforts to combat the threat of cyberattacks from abroad. Tensions with China flared after <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/the-grid/qa-chinas-hacker-army-revealed" type="external">allegations</a> that it used hackers to steal intellectual property from US-based corporations.</p>
<p>Last week, head of the newly established US Cyber Command Gen. Keith Alexander <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/13/us/intelligence-official-warns-congress-that-cyberattacks-pose-threat-to-us.html?_r=2&amp;" type="external">told</a> Congress the military was developing cyberweapons to be used offensively during wartime.</p>
<p>Along with several others, Auernheimer has become what could be termed collateral damage in the battle for international cyber hegemony.&#160;</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/the-grid/reuters-editor-charged-aiding-anonymous-hackers" type="external">Activists rally to support Matthew Keys, claiming he is a victim of CFAA</a></p>
<p>“…with growing fears of cyberattacks, it’s not surprising that the blunt instrument that is the CFAA gets used to target both malicious criminal behavior and behavior — like that engaged in by Swartz and Auernheimer — that aren't and shouldn't be criminal,” said Electronic Frontiers Foundation (EFF) Staff Attorney Hanni Fakhoury.&#160;</p>
<p>The EFF in taking on Auernheimer’s appellate case in an attempt to bring about CFAA reform through US courts.</p>
<p>“We're hopeful and optimistic Mr. Auernheimer's conviction will be reversed, and that going forward, Congress will amend the law and prosecutors will use their power and discretion more carefully in ensuring the CFAA is used to go after truly criminal and malicious behavior,” Fakhoury said.&#160;</p>
<p>Computer crime law scholar Orin Kerr, a professor at the George Washington University Law School, as well as other prominent attorneys working in matters of computer crime have joined Fakhoury and other EFF attorneys to challenge the CFAA.</p>
<p>Auernheimer’s now robust legal team will be arguing before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The team argues that the CFAA’s language of “exceeds unauthorized access” and “without authorization” are unconstitutionally vague. Using the same argument, the EFF won a previous court case last April. In that case, a federal appeals court ruled that such definitions could not be applied to breaches in computer "terms of use" agreements.</p>
<p>Some Washington lawmakers are also joining the fight in Congress. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) has drafted “Aaron’s Law,” a bill that would reform the CFAA and would “prevent what happened to Aaron from happening to other Internet users,” <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/277411-lofgren-to-introduce-bill-amending-computer-hacking-law-in-honor-of-swartz-" type="external">he said.</a></p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/the-grid/muslim-hackers-target-us-banks-third-round-cyberattacks" type="external">Muslim hackers target US banks in third round of cyberattacks</a></p>
<p>Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) went so far as to <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/277411-lofgren-to-introduce-bill-amending-computer-hacking-law-in-honor-of-swartz-" type="external">call</a> Swartz a “martyr.”</p>
<p>“The charges were ridiculous and trumped-up. It's absurd that he was made a scapegoat. I would hope that this doesn't happen to anyone else,” Polis said.</p>
<p>But lawmakers face an uphill battle against a Justice Department that has made cybersecurity a top priority. An administration official told Congress in November that the Justice Department is hoping to expand the law and that removing parts of the CFAA “could make it difficult or impossible to deter and punish serious threats from malicious insiders," Reuters <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/29/us-computerfraud-law-idUSBRE86S0DE20120729" type="external">reported</a>.</p>
<p>Despite such efforts, however, the Auernheimer appeals case and Aaron's Law represent growing criticism surrounding cybercrime legislation.</p>
<p>The CFAA initially drew criticism only from the fringes of the internet. But the calls for reform have now reached the federal halls of power.</p>
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outrage controversial us cybercrime law reached new heights time internet activists powerful allies number lawmakers legal scholars joing fight reform existing legislation defying obama administrations push tighter cybersecuity measures highprofile battle highlighted week andrew weev auernheimer prominent netizen one webs prolific trolls arrived newark jail begin serving 41 monthlong prison term authorities charged auernheimer one count identity fraud one count conspiracy access computer without authorization auernheimers conviction sentencing quickly became one controversial legal battles history cybercrime anger online intensified activists noted one day prior auernheimers sentencing two juveniles convicted raping 16yearold girl given one two years detention facility far less one given auernheimer globalpost160 opinion hacking vs rape crime deserving jail time im going prison arithmetic add one fucking number public webserver aggregated data gave fucking journalist mans publication im going prison shouted auernheimer guerillastyle press conference outside newark courthouse sentenced160 auernheimer gained access atampt server using scripting tool taking names email addresses 114000 ipad 3g owners june 2010 along others including programmer activist aaron swartz journalist matthew keys writer barrett brown authorities prosecuted auernheimer cyber fraud abuse act cfaa law enacted 1986 crack hackers brown denied bail last september awaiting trial prison keys indicted last week swartz took life january plea negotiations160 number individuals prosecuted domestically cfaa continues grow obama administration ramping efforts combat threat cyberattacks abroad tensions china flared allegations used hackers steal intellectual property usbased corporations last week head newly established us cyber command gen keith alexander told congress military developing cyberweapons used offensively wartime along several others auernheimer become could termed collateral damage battle international cyber hegemony160 globalpost160 activists rally support matthew keys claiming victim cfaa growing fears cyberattacks surprising blunt instrument cfaa gets used target malicious criminal behavior behavior like engaged swartz auernheimer arent shouldnt criminal said electronic frontiers foundation eff staff attorney hanni fakhoury160 eff taking auernheimers appellate case attempt bring cfaa reform us courts hopeful optimistic mr auernheimers conviction reversed going forward congress amend law prosecutors use power discretion carefully ensuring cfaa used go truly criminal malicious behavior fakhoury said160 computer crime law scholar orin kerr professor george washington university law school well prominent attorneys working matters computer crime joined fakhoury eff attorneys challenge cfaa auernheimers robust legal team arguing third circuit court appeals team argues cfaas language exceeds unauthorized access without authorization unconstitutionally vague using argument eff previous court case last april case federal appeals court ruled definitions could applied breaches computer terms use agreements washington lawmakers also joining fight congress rep zoe lofgren dcalif drafted aarons law bill would reform cfaa would prevent happened aaron happening internet users said globalpost160 muslim hackers target us banks third round cyberattacks rep jared polis dcolo went far call swartz martyr charges ridiculous trumpedup absurd made scapegoat would hope doesnt happen anyone else polis said lawmakers face uphill battle justice department made cybersecurity top priority administration official told congress november justice department hoping expand law removing parts cfaa could make difficult impossible deter punish serious threats malicious insiders reuters reported despite efforts however auernheimer appeals case aarons law represent growing criticism surrounding cybercrime legislation cfaa initially drew criticism fringes internet calls reform reached federal halls power
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<p>Danny Pintauro says he’s been unfairly criticized by AIDS activists for saying he became infected with HIV through oral sex. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>Former child star Danny Pintauro says he’s been unfairly criticized by some AIDS activists for saying he thinks he became infected with HIV through oral sex, and that his decision to raise the subject has drawn needed attention to HIV prevention efforts.</p>
<p>In an interview with the Washington Blade, Pintauro says he never made a definitive statement that he was certain that oral sex was the means through which he became infected more than 12 years ago.</p>
<p>“Everybody has their own version of the truth. And I’ve since said a couple of things about how I’m not 100 percent sure,” he said, recalling that he has long reflected on his intimate relations with a male partner through whom he believes he became infected.</p>
<p>“You never know,” he said, adding, “I spent the last 12 years sort of trying to figure out what happened that day, and that’s my best guess.”</p>
<p>Pintauro, 39, is well known for his portrayal of Jonathan Bower on ABC’s 1980s sitcom hit, “Who’s The Boss?” He made national headlines when he disclosed just over a month ago on Oprah Winfrey’s “Where Are They Now” show that he was HIV positive and had been addicted to crystal meth.</p>
<p>He has since announced he plans to tour the country to generate a renewed phase of AIDS activism and to deliver to young people his personal message on how he overcame his struggle with crystal meth abuse and how staying away from the drug scene can help people avoid HIV.</p>
<p>Last Saturday, Oct. 24, D.C.’s Whitman-Walker Health presented Pintauro with its annual Courage Award for a person with HIV “who has shown remarkable courage and leadership in the fight against the disease.”</p>
<p>Whitman-Walker Executive Director Don Blanchon presented the award to Pintauro and Atlanta AIDS and women’s rights activist Dazon Dixon Diallo at the conclusion of the organization’s Walk to End HIV, which drew close to 5,000 participants and was expected to raise more than $600,000 for Whitman-Walker’s local AIDS programs.</p>
<p>Pintauro and Diallo were among those who led the annual Walk to End HIV through the streets of downtown Washington.</p>
<p>“When you come out today and you see 5,000 people of all walks of life, the diversity of this great area, you see an expression of hope,” said Blanchon minutes before he presented Pintauro and Diallo with the Courage Awards.</p>
<p>The public response to Pintauro’s disclosure on the Oprah program that he was HIV positive appeared to be overwhelmingly supportive.</p>
<p>But his comment less than a week later on “The View” that he thought he became infected through oral sex drew immediate criticism from a number of AIDS activist bloggers. Among other things, they pointed out that no case of oral transmission of HIV has been scientifically confirmed.</p>
<p>Experts on HIV transmission, including researchers with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have said transmission through oral sex is theoretically possible but difficult if not impossible to confirm because virtually all of the data they have is based on personal reporting of sexual practices by people infected with HIV.</p>
<p>“Receiving fellatio, giving or receiving cunnilingus, and giving or receiving anilingus carry little to no risk,” the CDC says in a statement on its website. “The highest oral sex risk is to individuals performing fellatio on an HIV-infected man, with ejaculation in the mouth,” the CDC statement says.</p>
<p>The statement adds, “Even though oral sex carries a lower risk of HIV transmission than other sexual activities, the risk is not zero. It is difficult to measure the exact risk because people who practice oral sex may also practice other forms of sex during the same encounter.”</p>
<p>Dr. Raymond Martins, Whitman-Walker’s senior director of clinical training and the organization’s former chief medical officer, said his view based on the voluminous data and scientific studies on HIV transmission that he’s seen is that transmission through oral sex is “extremely unlikely.”</p>
<p>According to Martins, some studies based on patient interviews show that the chance of becoming infected with HIV by performing oral sex is less than one in every 10,000 acts.</p>
<p>He notes that the anatomy of the mouth, unlike the anal canal, has a thicker lining of protective cells, making it much harder for the virus to get close enough to either blood in the mouth or white blood cells in the mouth where the virus could enter.</p>
<p>“And then at the same time, the saliva is protective,” he said. “It doesn’t allow HIV to be as viable.”</p>
<p>Added Martins: “In the anal canal the lining is very thin and so it tears easily and so a lot of times HIV comes in direct contact with blood or with the white blood cells that are directly below the surface.”</p>
<p>Martins and CDC experts have said due to the easier transmission through the anal canal, people engaging in anal intercourse should always use a condom for protection.</p>
<p>Pintauro has said since coming out as HIV positive that he may have had sores in his mouth due to his abuse of crystal meth, which can cause mouth ulcers, and that could have facilitated his becoming infected through oral sex.</p>
<p>Martins said the studies showing that the risk of infection from oral sex with someone who is HIV positive is less than one in 10,000 must have included people who have had abrasions in their mouths.</p>
<p>“It seems not to increase the risk dramatically if at all,” he said, even when ejaculation occurs in the mouth.</p>
<p>Pintauro, while not disputing data showing oral transmission is unlikely, points to the CDC statement saying oral transmission is possible.</p>
<p>“Yeah – the chances are incredibly slim, I admit that,” he told the Blade. “But you’d be surprised about the number of people who contacted me in the last week and a half saying that that’s the same way that they believe they’ve contracted it,” he said.</p>
<p>“And you have to remember that I’m throwing meth into the picture. So any of these statistics are going to change or any of the chances are going to be different when you put in that factor that I’ve been doing that for God knows how many hours,” he said.</p>
<p>Asked if he was surprised by the criticism over his statement about oral transmission, Pintauro said he was not.</p>
<p>“You can’t go into doing something like this and expect to get 100 percent in support,” he said. “But I was a little surprised because the backlash was coming from the people that I wanted to become – these AIDS activists mostly.”</p>
<p>“And I was surprised because I didn’t expect that the negativity would come from within the community,” he said. “I thought if anything it would come from outside the community where stigma is based.”</p>
<p>He said he was also taken aback when some of the AIDS activist critics accused him of being uniformed on HIV transmission and the scientific data on HIV.</p>
<p>“And I’m saying, now wait a minute. Why don’t you go and look at the CDC’s website and look at the fact that they say that it is possible all be it very difficult,” said Pintauro. “I feel like you’re the one who’s uniformed, right?”</p>
<p>Added Pintauro: “But the idea is sort of to get past that and get to the bigger issues and get to the broader topics that we need to focus on. And let’s get there. It’s time to skip that and talk about taking better care of each other.”</p>
<p>Pintauro came out as gay in 1997, a development that also drew widespread coverage in the entertainment media. Last year he and his partner, Will Tabares, were married.</p>
<p>The full transcript of the Blade’s interview with Pintauro follows:</p>
<p>Washington Blade: It has been reported that you have begun a “Beacon of Light” tour to carry out your new role as an AIDS activist since coming out in September as HIV positive. Can you tell a little about that?</p>
<p>Danny Pintauro: I don’t quite know what that means yet. It was sort of a moniker given to me about this year. And I’m definitely excited to turn it into a tour. Right now I’m still just getting through the initial stuff, getting through the initial interviews and media and all that. And then once that settles down I can really focus on finding the things to go to speak at. I will try to go to every Pride that I can around the country and speak and teach and learn and make a difference in any way I can.</p>
<p>Blade: By Pride, do you mean LGBT Pride Day events in different parts of the country? Don’t they take place mostly in June?</p>
<p>Pintauro: Yes, a lot of them are in June but believe it or not there is actually a ton all throughout the year. Some of the smaller ones are in September even. Los Vegas is in early September. They’re all there for Pride and they all want to get involved so I’ll be able to talk to the most people that way I think. We’ll see.</p>
<p>Blade: Where are you based now, Las Vegas?</p>
<p>Pintauro: Yeah, Las Vegas. It’s fine. It’s just Las Vegas. One block off the strip on either side and it turns into suburbia. And it’s very boring – believe it or not.</p>
<p>Blade: It doesn’t have the reputation of being boring.</p>
<p>Pintauro: I know. But you know when you live there its quite boring. And you don’t want to go anywhere near the strip because it’s too expensive.</p>
<p>Blade: Can you tell a little about what prompted you to come out as being HIV positive on the Oprah show? Did you make your decision to do this when her producer called you in advance of the show or did you think about this in advance? How did it come about?</p>
<p>Pintauro: About five or so years ago I was living in L.A. and I thought it was a great time for me to talk about it then. And so my publicist friend and I at the time decided who would be the best person to talk to about this? Who would be the one to treat it right? And we could only decide on Oprah. I mean there was nobody who was going to do it better. So we actually made some steps. We called her show at the time to see if they would be interested. But there was only about five more months of her show left and every episode was full until then. Everyone wanted to be on those last five months.</p>
<p>So it didn’t work out. But I’m ok with that. It wasn’t the right time it turns out. But then cut to April and I get a call from the producers just wanting to do a regular ‘Where are they now?’ Just – he works at PF Chang’s in Los Vegas. My publicist friend said look, this is your chance. They’re coming to you now and you’re never going to have this opportunity again, at least not with Oprah.</p>
<p>So I made the decision to tell them what I would really want to talk about. And they were not expecting that at all, of course. But the producer was like – she said I’m so honored that you want to trust us with this information. Is it alright if I call Oprah and see if she would be excited about it? And I was like, no please, don’t call Oprah. I said of course you can call Oprah and see what she thinks. The next day she called me back and said Oprah is so, so honored and can’t wait to sit down and interview with you in person.</p>
<p>Blade: We now know what happened after you did it. But did it surprise you that although the public reaction appears to be overwhelmingly positive, you created a controversy among some AIDS and LGBT activists over your statement in another interview the following week about how you got infected. Could you call that reaction a backlash?</p>
<p>Pintauro: You can call it that, yeah. I wasn’t surprised. You can’t go into doing something like this and expect it to be a hundred percent in support. You just can’t, especially in the age of the Internet where anybody with a computer can write an article and have it posted somewhere. But I was a little surprised because the backlash was coming from the people that I want to become — these HIV activists mostly. And I was surprised because I didn’t expect that the negativity would come from within the community. I thought if anything it would come from outside of the community where stigma is based. But the fact that it came from within was really surprising.</p>
<p>And it is what it is. Everybody has their own version of the truth. And I’ve since said a couple of things about how I’m not one hundred percent sure – I have no idea. But that’s not the point. The point is when did your doing it wrong become more palatable than I’m sorry – I’m here for you. Let’s get through this. Let’s help you become the great activist that you want to become.</p>
<p>Blade: Do you still think there could be the possibility of becoming infected through oral sex?</p>
<p>Pintauro: Yeah – the chances are incredibly slim. I admit that. But you’d be surprised about the number of people who contacted me in the last week and a half saying that that’s the same way that they believe they’ve contracted it. And you have to remember that I’m throwing meth into the picture. So any of these statistics are going to change or any of the chances are going to be different when you put into that factor that I’ve been doing that for God knows how many hours. And you know, what’s happening in your body and the person you’re with – he’s not on any medication so his viral load is very, very high.</p>
<p>But yeah, it could happen anyway. It could be anything. It could just be that his viral load was so high that our fluids mixed in some other way and that was enough. You never know. But I spent the last 12 years sort of trying to figure out what happened that day, and that’s my best guess.</p>
<p>Blade: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says on its website now that although oral sex carries a much lower risk of HIV transmission than other sexual activities, the risk is not zero.</p>
<p>Pintauro: That’s the funny part to me. These people are trying to say I don’t know what I’m talking about and that I’m not informed. And I’m saying, now wait a minute. Why don’t you go and look at the CDC’s website and look at the fact that they say that it is possible all be it very difficult. I feel like you’re the one who’s uninformed, right? Does that make sense? But the idea is sort of to get past that and get to the bigger issues and get to the broader topics that we need to focus on. And let’s get there. It’s time to just skip that and talk about taking better care of each other.</p>
<p>Blade: Concerning your plans to make public appearances to talk about HIV and HIV prevention, what would you say to young people about your own situation, including your crystal meth problem? Looking back, can you perhaps say what you should have done that you didn’t do?</p>
<p>Pintauro: I think just the fact that meth was involved in the first place is going to make for all kinds of scenarios that don’t have to happen in the first place if you’re not getting into the drug scene. But I’ve been talking to people who had been drinking so much that they blacked out and don’t remember exactly what they did. And I have friends who are not doing drugs and are still that one time getting HIV. It’s a matter of complacency. It’s a matter of making sure people are still doing what they need to do to protect themselves. And I feel like people are doing that less. And it may be because they don’t have a frame of reference for the fear and sort of the scary side of HIV. But we’re also seeing a rise in men over 50 who are also getting HIV. So it’s not just the young kids. I think everybody is taking too many steps back. It’s still a problem. It’s not going to go away. And just because you can take one pill a day doesn’t mean you can throw caution to the wind.</p>
<p>Blade: You’ve talked about your coming out as gay and now coming out as someone who’s HIV positive. How has that impacted your relationship with your family and your parents?</p>
<p>Pintauro: Coming out as gay in 1997 was hard for my parents. You know they didn’t have a lot of frames of reference at the time. PFLAG was barely in existence. They didn’t really have anyone to go to or talk to about what it means. So they had to figure out how to handle it on their own. And I thank them for doing it as well as they did considering the time we were in.</p>
<p>The HIV was no problem at all. By now we’ve got my lovely husband who is in the picture, and they love him. They know that we’re in a sero-discordant relationship so they get that we’re doing what we need to do to take care of ourselves. And for my parents, it was Oprah. Oprah’s involved. How exciting, you know? So they’re just proud of me for making the message and taking it out there. They’re following along. I keep calling and my dad will say like, oh, they’re not getting your messages across in that article you did. So it’s nice to sort of hear them looking for what’s coming next and paying attention.</p>
<p>Blade: With the name Pintauro, are you from Italian American family?</p>
<p>Pintauro: A little bit, yeah. One side is Italian and the other half is Polish, English, Irish, and German. So I’ve got a whole crazy mix of blood going on. But yes, the Pintauro last name is Italian.</p>
<p>Blade: The fact that you and your husband are married makes you a living example of how far the gay rights movement has come with marriage equality nationwide. Have you thought about where the gay and LGBT movement should be going now?</p>
<p>Pintauro: That hits the nail right on the head. And I’ve been saying that a lot lately, which is that we’ve been so focused on becoming socially acceptable and so focused on getting more rights as with marriage and any other sort of health benefits. You name it. We’ve been so focused on it. And we’ve been achieving amazing things and it’s wonderful that we’re achieving these things. But I think in doing that we’ve forgotten about each other a little bit. And we’ve forgotten about taking care of each other. We’re so focused externally. But now I think that we should focus internally again. And we’re really good at rallying as a community, you know? And I think it’s time that we rally within to stop the spread of HIV and make how big of a problem meth is much more apparent in our community. So that is literally where I think we should focus next – is on each other.</p>
<p>Blade: One aspect of the gay movement that has been talked about recently is the Stonewall riots as depicted in the recently released move called Stonewall. As someone who has experience in the film industry, have you had a chance to see it and form an opinion on it?</p>
<p>Pintauro: I haven’t yet, no, I haven’t. I’ve been reading the articles and reading about the controversy. It’s a really fine line because the film maker is so proud of the work. And I have to allow him to be proud of his work and I have to allow him to feel like he’s done a really great thing. I feel everyone is going to have their thoughts on if it was done right or if it was done wrong. But I think I’m also having that happen now. People are saying he isn’t doing it right or you’re not doing it the way we want you to have done it. I’m just happy – the thing I’ve been saying is people are talking. I’m getting people to talk. And I’m getting people to have that conversation again. And so if anything, I think the movie really sort of allowed us to have that conversation again, to remember where we come from. And the number of people – young gay men especially – who had absolutely no idea about Stonewall and what that meant could come across this article –even if it was a bad article. They’re still going to read that article and they’re going to want to learn more. And then they’re either going to see the movie or do some research on Stonewall that brings them back to our history. So whatever the movie is, it’s brought everyone back to our roots and sort of learning about that again. And that’s ok.</p>
<p>Blade: Are you thinking about seeing the movie at some point?</p>
<p>Pintauro: Yeah, sure. There’s just been so much going on I have not had a chance. But yes. For sure — I have to see anything that has to do with our community, especially in a historical sense. So yeah, stay tuned. I’ll post something about my thoughts on it.</p>
<p>Blade: As we approach 2016 the presidential election with all the candidates running, both Republicans and Democrats, do you have any preference among the candidates?</p>
<p>Pintauro: You know if there’s one thing I’ve never ever been very good at its politics. My husband is the politician – or the one who follows all of it. Believe it or not, he and I are both still trying to figure out who we really trust and who we really believe in. I think it’s going to depend a lot on the coming months. I definitely feel like I would trust Hillary in the White House 100 percent. But there are other people who have just as great ideas and opinions and methods for getting things done in the White House. So I’m listening to those. Of course, anybody who’s going to get into the White House and potentially take away my rights or anybody that I care about and love is not somebody who I’d want in the White House. Stay tuned. We’ll have to wait and see.</p>
<p>Blade: It seems that among the Republican presidential candidates, most if not all don’t support LGBT rights.</p>
<p>Pintauro: I mean anyone who expects a Republican to appreciate the gay community or LGBT rights is fooling themselves – at least right now. Look, we may get to a place where a Republican gets into office and they understand the impact that they have on the world and they will take some steps to learn more and to at least come to terms with the fact that the LGBT community exists. I would hope that they would do that. We’ll see.</p>
<p>Blade: Despite all of the existing HIV prevention programs throughout the country, no matter what they do, the new infection rate has remained the same and has not gone down, particularly with young gay men and gay men of color. Do you have any thoughts on what you might say to young gay men who are just coming out?</p>
<p>Pintauro: Yeah, I feel like they just need to learn more about what HIV is and what it means. But it all comes back to getting tested for me. If you don’t feel comfortable enough to get tested because you are afraid to get tested, you don’t want to know the answer, or you don’t want to become that guy who’s got HIV you’re not going to get tested. And that for me is the biggest problem. If everyone got tested and everyone knew their status we would eliminate HIV or new infections altogether because everyone would know. So it’s a matter of getting people to get tested. What you do in your bedroom – obviously I’d like for you to be taking precautions. But if you’re getting regular tests and checkups then at least we’re taking care of that aspect and at least we can hopefully prevent you from passing the virus on to someone else.</p>
<p>I have a close friend in Las Vegas whose partner got incredibly sick and they thought it had something to do with his blood and his heart. Nobody thought to do an HIV test at any point. He didn’t even think to do it. It turns out that he had ten T cells left because he was that far along with HIV that it had become full blown AIDS. And somewhere in that line he passed it on to the boyfriend. If they had both gotten tested long before they could have completed avoided that ever having happened in the first place. Whatever it is they did in the bedroom if they had had those tests in the first place they would already have known and would already have been able to take the precautions they needed to.</p>
<p>Blade: Concerning the crystal meth issue, do you have any advice for young guys who are toying with it and saying oh I can keep it under control and do it as a recreational thing?</p>
<p>Pintauro: It doesn’t work. Meth is not the kind of drug that you will be able to do recreationally. And even if you do your brain chemistry becomes so far off so fast that you still have a lot of recovery to go through. And then there’s that thing that happens too where a lot of the time you’re doing meth and having sex so you’re combing the two and you lose sight of what having sex without meth looks like. And that’s really hard to find again. I take that – that’s from experience for sure. If you don’t want to lose sight of what it feels like to be normal in a sexual environment don’t get into it in the first place. Whether or not it makes you feel invincible or sexy or as dirty as you want to be – not dirty as in dirty dirty but dirty as in dirty dirty – It’s not worth it. It’s just not worth it.</p>
<p>Blade: You mentioned in another interview that you thought there is a linkage between meth use and S&amp;M-bondage practices. Have you gotten any flack for that?</p>
<p>Pintauro: Yeah, I’ve definitely gotten a little flack. And I don’t mean to say that the BDSM community is completely intertwined with crystal meth. In my experience they were always connected. I don’t know if my experience is a separate version or if it’s the norm. It doesn’t matter because the idea is the BDSM community is such a tight community, they take so much good care of each other, they’re so welcoming and accepting that I want them to do more to not welcome meth into that environment. That shouldn’t be a part of that. It’s about all of the other stuff and it’s about being in the moment. You can’t be in the moment in that kind of environment if you’re doing meth.</p>
<p>Blade: A lot of people have talked about your role as a child star in ‘Who’s the Boss?’ But can you tell a little about how you managed around the same age as you were in ‘Who’s the Boss’ when you appeared in the horror movie ‘Cujo,’ where your character was trapped inside a car in a garage with his mother and menaced by a huge monster dog that was killing people left and right?</p>
<p>Pintauro: It was a great movie. It’s got all the suspense. It’s got the actual story content. You actually end up caring for the characters. Nowadays it’s just very like slash and burn and kill. This has got that really nice edge to it. You never know what coming next.</p>
<p>Blade: But as a child actor was it scary for you?</p>
<p>Pintauro: No, no.</p>
<p>Blade: When you’re behind the scenes and in front of the camera it’s more like doing a job?</p>
<p>Pintauro: Yeah – and that’s what takes it away. Like I was acting so well that everybody kept saying it’s just pretending. And I was like I’m fine. But in the actual scene they thought I was going to be traumatized by filming it. But when you’ve got like half a car – they cut the car in half so they could put a camera inside. So when you’re seeing that and you’re seeing like these cute dogs with catchup on their face it’s not that scary.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">ABC</a> <a href="" type="internal">AIDS</a> <a href="" type="internal">Danny Pintauro</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dazon Dixon Diallo</a> <a href="" type="internal">Don Blanchon</a> <a href="" type="internal">HIV</a> <a href="" type="internal">HIV/AIDS</a> <a href="" type="internal">Oprah Winfrey</a> <a href="" type="internal">Raymond Martins</a> <a href="" type="internal">Whitman-Walker Health</a> <a href="" type="internal">Who's the Boss</a> <a href="" type="internal">Will Tabares</a></p>
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danny pintauro says hes unfairly criticized aids activists saying became infected hiv oral sex washington blade photo michael key former child star danny pintauro says hes unfairly criticized aids activists saying thinks became infected hiv oral sex decision raise subject drawn needed attention hiv prevention efforts interview washington blade pintauro says never made definitive statement certain oral sex means became infected 12 years ago everybody version truth ive since said couple things im 100 percent sure said recalling long reflected intimate relations male partner believes became infected never know said adding spent last 12 years sort trying figure happened day thats best guess pintauro 39 well known portrayal jonathan bower abcs 1980s sitcom hit whos boss made national headlines disclosed month ago oprah winfreys show hiv positive addicted crystal meth since announced plans tour country generate renewed phase aids activism deliver young people personal message overcame struggle crystal meth abuse staying away drug scene help people avoid hiv last saturday oct 24 dcs whitmanwalker health presented pintauro annual courage award person hiv shown remarkable courage leadership fight disease whitmanwalker executive director blanchon presented award pintauro atlanta aids womens rights activist dazon dixon diallo conclusion organizations walk end hiv drew close 5000 participants expected raise 600000 whitmanwalkers local aids programs pintauro diallo among led annual walk end hiv streets downtown washington come today see 5000 people walks life diversity great area see expression hope said blanchon minutes presented pintauro diallo courage awards public response pintauros disclosure oprah program hiv positive appeared overwhelmingly supportive comment less week later view thought became infected oral sex drew immediate criticism number aids activist bloggers among things pointed case oral transmission hiv scientifically confirmed experts hiv transmission including researchers us centers disease control prevention said transmission oral sex theoretically possible difficult impossible confirm virtually data based personal reporting sexual practices people infected hiv receiving fellatio giving receiving cunnilingus giving receiving anilingus carry little risk cdc says statement website highest oral sex risk individuals performing fellatio hivinfected man ejaculation mouth cdc statement says statement adds even though oral sex carries lower risk hiv transmission sexual activities risk zero difficult measure exact risk people practice oral sex may also practice forms sex encounter dr raymond martins whitmanwalkers senior director clinical training organizations former chief medical officer said view based voluminous data scientific studies hiv transmission hes seen transmission oral sex extremely unlikely according martins studies based patient interviews show chance becoming infected hiv performing oral sex less one every 10000 acts notes anatomy mouth unlike anal canal thicker lining protective cells making much harder virus get close enough either blood mouth white blood cells mouth virus could enter time saliva protective said doesnt allow hiv viable added martins anal canal lining thin tears easily lot times hiv comes direct contact blood white blood cells directly surface martins cdc experts said due easier transmission anal canal people engaging anal intercourse always use condom protection pintauro said since coming hiv positive may sores mouth due abuse crystal meth cause mouth ulcers could facilitated becoming infected oral sex martins said studies showing risk infection oral sex someone hiv positive less one 10000 must included people abrasions mouths seems increase risk dramatically said even ejaculation occurs mouth pintauro disputing data showing oral transmission unlikely points cdc statement saying oral transmission possible yeah chances incredibly slim admit told blade youd surprised number people contacted last week half saying thats way believe theyve contracted said remember im throwing meth picture statistics going change chances going different put factor ive god knows many hours said asked surprised criticism statement oral transmission pintauro said cant go something like expect get 100 percent support said little surprised backlash coming people wanted become aids activists mostly surprised didnt expect negativity would come within community said thought anything would come outside community stigma based said also taken aback aids activist critics accused uniformed hiv transmission scientific data hiv im saying wait minute dont go look cdcs website look fact say possible difficult said pintauro feel like youre one whos uniformed right added pintauro idea sort get past get bigger issues get broader topics need focus lets get time skip talk taking better care pintauro came gay 1997 development also drew widespread coverage entertainment media last year partner tabares married full transcript blades interview pintauro follows washington blade reported begun beacon light tour carry new role aids activist since coming september hiv positive tell little danny pintauro dont quite know means yet sort moniker given year im definitely excited turn tour right im still getting initial stuff getting initial interviews media settles really focus finding things go speak try go every pride around country speak teach learn make difference way blade pride mean lgbt pride day events different parts country dont take place mostly june pintauro yes lot june believe actually ton throughout year smaller ones september even los vegas early september theyre pride want get involved ill able talk people way think well see blade based las vegas pintauro yeah las vegas fine las vegas one block strip either side turns suburbia boring believe blade doesnt reputation boring pintauro know know live quite boring dont want go anywhere near strip expensive blade tell little prompted come hiv positive oprah show make decision producer called advance show think advance come pintauro five years ago living la thought great time talk publicist friend time decided would best person talk would one treat right could decide oprah mean nobody going better actually made steps called show time see would interested five months show left every episode full everyone wanted last five months didnt work im ok wasnt right time turns cut april get call producers wanting regular works pf changs los vegas publicist friend said look chance theyre coming youre never going opportunity least oprah made decision tell would really want talk expecting course producer like said im honored want trust us information alright call oprah see would excited like please dont call oprah said course call oprah see thinks next day called back said oprah honored cant wait sit interview person blade know happened surprise although public reaction appears overwhelmingly positive created controversy among aids lgbt activists statement another interview following week got infected could call reaction backlash pintauro call yeah wasnt surprised cant go something like expect hundred percent support cant especially age internet anybody computer write article posted somewhere little surprised backlash coming people want become hiv activists mostly surprised didnt expect negativity would come within community thought anything would come outside community stigma based fact came within really surprising everybody version truth ive since said couple things im one hundred percent sure idea thats point point wrong become palatable im sorry im lets get lets help become great activist want become blade still think could possibility becoming infected oral sex pintauro yeah chances incredibly slim admit youd surprised number people contacted last week half saying thats way believe theyve contracted remember im throwing meth picture statistics going change chances going different put factor ive god knows many hours know whats happening body person youre hes medication viral load high yeah could happen anyway could anything could viral load high fluids mixed way enough never know spent last 12 years sort trying figure happened day thats best guess blade us centers disease control prevention says website although oral sex carries much lower risk hiv transmission sexual activities risk zero pintauro thats funny part people trying say dont know im talking im informed im saying wait minute dont go look cdcs website look fact say possible difficult feel like youre one whos uninformed right make sense idea sort get past get bigger issues get broader topics need focus lets get time skip talk taking better care blade concerning plans make public appearances talk hiv hiv prevention would say young people situation including crystal meth problem looking back perhaps say done didnt pintauro think fact meth involved first place going make kinds scenarios dont happen first place youre getting drug scene ive talking people drinking much blacked dont remember exactly friends drugs still one time getting hiv matter complacency matter making sure people still need protect feel like people less may dont frame reference fear sort scary side hiv also seeing rise men 50 also getting hiv young kids think everybody taking many steps back still problem going go away take one pill day doesnt mean throw caution wind blade youve talked coming gay coming someone whos hiv positive impacted relationship family parents pintauro coming gay 1997 hard parents know didnt lot frames reference time pflag barely existence didnt really anyone go talk means figure handle thank well considering time hiv problem weve got lovely husband picture love know serodiscordant relationship get need take care parents oprah oprahs involved exciting know theyre proud making message taking theyre following along keep calling dad say like oh theyre getting messages across article nice sort hear looking whats coming next paying attention blade name pintauro italian american family pintauro little bit yeah one side italian half polish english irish german ive got whole crazy mix blood going yes pintauro last name italian blade fact husband married makes living example far gay rights movement come marriage equality nationwide thought gay lgbt movement going pintauro hits nail right head ive saying lot lately weve focused becoming socially acceptable focused getting rights marriage sort health benefits name weve focused weve achieving amazing things wonderful achieving things think weve forgotten little bit weve forgotten taking care focused externally think focus internally really good rallying community know think time rally within stop spread hiv make big problem meth much apparent community literally think focus next blade one aspect gay movement talked recently stonewall riots depicted recently released move called stonewall someone experience film industry chance see form opinion pintauro havent yet havent ive reading articles reading controversy really fine line film maker proud work allow proud work allow feel like hes done really great thing feel everyone going thoughts done right done wrong think im also happen people saying isnt right youre way want done im happy thing ive saying people talking im getting people talk im getting people conversation anything think movie really sort allowed us conversation remember come number people young gay men especially absolutely idea stonewall meant could come across article even bad article theyre still going read article theyre going want learn theyre either going see movie research stonewall brings back history whatever movie brought everyone back roots sort learning thats ok blade thinking seeing movie point pintauro yeah sure theres much going chance yes sure see anything community especially historical sense yeah stay tuned ill post something thoughts blade approach 2016 presidential election candidates running republicans democrats preference among candidates pintauro know theres one thing ive never ever good politics husband politician one follows believe still trying figure really trust really believe think going depend lot coming months definitely feel like would trust hillary white house 100 percent people great ideas opinions methods getting things done white house im listening course anybody whos going get white house potentially take away rights anybody care love somebody id want white house stay tuned well wait see blade seems among republican presidential candidates dont support lgbt rights pintauro mean anyone expects republican appreciate gay community lgbt rights fooling least right look may get place republican gets office understand impact world take steps learn least come terms fact lgbt community exists would hope would well see blade despite existing hiv prevention programs throughout country matter new infection rate remained gone particularly young gay men gay men color thoughts might say young gay men coming pintauro yeah feel like need learn hiv means comes back getting tested dont feel comfortable enough get tested afraid get tested dont want know answer dont want become guy whos got hiv youre going get tested biggest problem everyone got tested everyone knew status would eliminate hiv new infections altogether everyone would know matter getting people get tested bedroom obviously id like taking precautions youre getting regular tests checkups least taking care aspect least hopefully prevent passing virus someone else close friend las vegas whose partner got incredibly sick thought something blood heart nobody thought hiv test point didnt even think turns ten cells left far along hiv become full blown aids somewhere line passed boyfriend gotten tested long could completed avoided ever happened first place whatever bedroom tests first place would already known would already able take precautions needed blade concerning crystal meth issue advice young guys toying saying oh keep control recreational thing pintauro doesnt work meth kind drug able recreationally even brain chemistry becomes far fast still lot recovery go theres thing happens lot time youre meth sex youre combing two lose sight sex without meth looks like thats really hard find take thats experience sure dont want lose sight feels like normal sexual environment dont get first place whether makes feel invincible sexy dirty want dirty dirty dirty dirty dirty dirty worth worth blade mentioned another interview thought linkage meth use sampmbondage practices gotten flack pintauro yeah ive definitely gotten little flack dont mean say bdsm community completely intertwined crystal meth experience always connected dont know experience separate version norm doesnt matter idea bdsm community tight community take much good care theyre welcoming accepting want welcome meth environment shouldnt part stuff moment cant moment kind environment youre meth blade lot people talked role child star whos boss tell little managed around age whos boss appeared horror movie cujo character trapped inside car garage mother menaced huge monster dog killing people left right pintauro great movie got suspense got actual story content actually end caring characters nowadays like slash burn kill got really nice edge never know coming next blade child actor scary pintauro blade youre behind scenes front camera like job pintauro yeah thats takes away like acting well everybody kept saying pretending like im fine actual scene thought going traumatized filming youve got like half car cut car half could put camera inside youre seeing youre seeing like cute dogs catchup face scary abc aids danny pintauro dazon dixon diallo blanchon hiv hivaids oprah winfrey raymond martins whitmanwalker health whos boss tabares
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<p>In Gov. Jerry Brown’s <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=19280" type="external">State of the State Address</a> last week, he noted that California’s budget has repeatedly failed to prepare for recession, resulting in “painful and unplanned-for cuts” to schools, child care, courts, social services and other programs. He added, “I don’t want to make those mistakes again.”</p>
<p>But the governor’s <a href="http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/2016-17/agencies.html" type="external">proposed $170.7 billion budget</a> ($122.6 billion general fund) for the 2016-17 fiscal year would lead to repeating that mistake when the next recession hits.</p>
<p>Revenues will plunge $55 billion over three years if an average recession hits next year according to the <a href="http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/2016-17/pdf/BudgetSummary/Introduction.pdf" type="external">budget summary</a>. That would result in a $29 billion budget deficit in 2020 based on Brown’s current spending proposal, which includes $4 billion in one-time expenditures. If the Legislature instead spends that $4 billion on new or ongoing programs, the deficit would balloon to $43 billion – larger than occurred during the Great Recession.</p>
<p>California is in the seventh year of economic expansion. That makes it two years overdue for a recession, which has occurred every five years on average, according to <a href="http://www.dof.ca.gov/about_finance/staff/keely_bosler/" type="external">Keely Bosler</a>, chief deputy director of the California Department of Finance.</p>
<p>“While there is significant uncertainty in forecasts, there is one thing that is quite certain: and that is history,” Bosler <a href="http://calchannel.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=7&amp;clip_id=3303" type="external">told the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Jan. 19</a>. “It’s this boom-and-bust cycle that this budget really aims to avoid going forward.” But she acknowledged that “the budget in the state of California does remain precariously balanced over the long term.”</p>
<p>Her cautionary words were echoed by committee Vice Chairman <a href="http://nielsen.cssrc.us/" type="external">Sen. Jim Nielsen</a>, R-Tehama.</p>
<p>“We must keep in mind that though times are a little bit better, some parts of our economy have not improved,” he said. “And therefore we must exercise constraint and not get overly ambitious. And that will be what governs our progress in the budget. Let’s not get overly ambitious, and let’s not let government get out of control.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Examine the Department of Finance 2016 Budget Slides here</a></p>
<p>But Democratic legislators are eager to spend some of the budget surplus on ongoing social programs, particularly for the developmentally disabled, instead of socking it away in the state’s rainy day fund – despite the likelihood that doing so could once again bust the budget.</p>
<p>“It shouldn’t surprise any of us that a recession is at hand. The question is when, not if,” said committee Chairman <a href="http://sd11.senate.ca.gov/" type="external">Sen. Mark Leno</a>, D-San Francisco. “At the same time, an additional $2 billion set aside in the rainy day fund above and beyond what voters told us they’d like to see in it – that I think will be at least part of the playing field of our debate.</p>
<p>“What is appropriate for continuing payment of debt and for reserves, at the same time recognizing that so many Californians who have been hurt at the time of the recession have not seen much recovery or reinvestment in the programs for which they rely for their quality of life?” Sen. Leno asked.</p>
<p><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_2,_Rainy_Day_Budget_Stabilization_Fund_Act_(2014)" type="external">Proposition 2</a>, passed in 2014, requires that $2.6 billion in this year’s budget be placed in the rainy day fund. Brown has proposed adding an extra $2 billion to the fund. That would bring the total to $8 billion (with previous funding), equating to two-thirds of the constitutional target of 10 percent of general fund revenues, according to Bosler.</p>
<p>But legislative analyst <a href="http://www.lao.ca.gov/Staff/AssignmentDetail/11" type="external">Mac Taylor</a> warned the committee that, while it’s good to beef up state reserves, the Legislature would be unnecessarily tying its hands by going along with Brown’s extra $2 billion in the rainy day fund, which is known formally as the Budget Stabilization Account.</p>
<p>“We would caution you not to put extra money into the BSA,” Taylor said. “Once you put it in the BSA, it’s governed by the rules in the BSA. You can only take out half the monies, if you have a downturn, in the BSA. You might imagine a situation when you might want to take out more in the first year.”</p>
<p>Also up for grabs by the Legislature for whatever purpose it chooses is $1.1 billion from a tax on managed care organizations, an expenditure that Brown left unspecified, according to Taylor. In addition, he told the lawmakers that they could decide to siphon off some or all of the $2.5 billion Brown has proposed to spend on infrastructure, including $1.5 billion for state facilities.</p>
<p>“When it comes to one-time spending, the governor has focused on infrastructure,” said Taylor. “We think that’s a very positive thing. But keep in mind you have other one-time things that you can spend on. We have very high-cost pension and health retiree liabilities that are accruing costs at 7½ percent a year. So you may want to make additional payments to help fund those and pay those liabilities off. There’s no right choice.”</p>
<p>If the lawmakers do decide to spend the money on infrastructure, they should exercise more control on how it’s spent, instead of leaving it to the administration, Taylor said.</p>
<p>“You don’t want to lose control,” he said. “I think you’ve already lost way too much authority for capital outlay projects. You have given it to both university systems and the administration. Stop doing that. I think you should be exerting a lot more control over capital outlay projects.”</p>
<p>But Leno was more concerned about providing enough “human infrastructure” to help the state’s neediest residents.</p>
<p>“What I’m hearing is regarding developmentally disabled services that housing units are being lost, facilities are being closed,” Leno said. “Employees at the community-based organizations that supply services are leaving because the employees can find much better jobs than the $13-$14 per hour that some are being paid after 20, 25 years of service. What happens to that infrastructure?”</p>
<p>Taylor responded that there’s been a large growth in spending on the developmentally disabled due to the large increases in caseload. “But you can have just about every program and area of the budget come and tell you that they need a lot more,” he said.</p>
<p>Spending on regional centers for the developmentally disabled has grown by 24 percent in recent years, according to Bosler. “This is well beyond caseload and inflation,” she said. Contributing to the higher costs is California’s aging population, which requires more services and support, along with the rise in autism.</p>
<p>But Leno wasn’t satisfied, saying that the cuts made to social services during the Great Recession have yet to be fully restored.</p>
<p>“Do we want to suggest that even in these boom times that this is our new normal?” he asked. “Or do we have a goal of getting back to where we were at least in adjusted dollars to the 2008 level at some point? If not now, then the question is when. It certainly won’t happen during the next downturn, and quite likely we will have to make additional cuts. We continue to create a new normal level funding which is ever, ever lower.”</p>
<p>Nielsen called the budgeting process itself into question, asserting that it gives too much power over spending to the governor.</p>
<p>“We’ve abdicated our authority over the budget,” he said. “I believe that we are almost making the Legislature irrelevant. Maybe we go through the exercise and pound our chest and try to think we’re important. And this has been a steady erosion over a long period of time.”</p>
<p>Taylor responded that budgetary authority is hard to get back after being given away. He cited the state’s ballot measures as contributing to the problem.</p>
<p>“Almost every initiative that has increased a tax in the last 20 years has dedicated the funds for particular purposes,” he said. “From a budgeting perspective, that’s just a terrible development. No matter how well meaning or how well purposed they may have been in the first year that that measure was passed, that’s not what budgeting is about. It’s about changing priorities, as you know, and being able to make decisions.”</p>
<p>Legislative budget committees plan to hold numerous hearings in the coming months to gain more insight into and provide input on the budget before the governor’s planned budget revision with updated revenue and expenditure figures in May.</p>
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gov jerry browns state state address last week noted californias budget repeatedly failed prepare recession resulting painful unplannedfor cuts schools child care courts social services programs added dont want make mistakes governors proposed 1707 billion budget 1226 billion general fund 201617 fiscal year would lead repeating mistake next recession hits revenues plunge 55 billion three years average recession hits next year according budget summary would result 29 billion budget deficit 2020 based browns current spending proposal includes 4 billion onetime expenditures legislature instead spends 4 billion new ongoing programs deficit would balloon 43 billion larger occurred great recession california seventh year economic expansion makes two years overdue recession occurred every five years average according keely bosler chief deputy director california department finance significant uncertainty forecasts one thing quite certain history bosler told senate budget fiscal review committee jan 19 boomandbust cycle budget really aims avoid going forward acknowledged budget state california remain precariously balanced long term cautionary words echoed committee vice chairman sen jim nielsen rtehama must keep mind though times little bit better parts economy improved said therefore must exercise constraint get overly ambitious governs progress budget lets get overly ambitious lets let government get control examine department finance 2016 budget slides democratic legislators eager spend budget surplus ongoing social programs particularly developmentally disabled instead socking away states rainy day fund despite likelihood could bust budget shouldnt surprise us recession hand question said committee chairman sen mark leno dsan francisco time additional 2 billion set aside rainy day fund beyond voters told us theyd like see think least part playing field debate appropriate continuing payment debt reserves time recognizing many californians hurt time recession seen much recovery reinvestment programs rely quality life sen leno asked proposition 2 passed 2014 requires 26 billion years budget placed rainy day fund brown proposed adding extra 2 billion fund would bring total 8 billion previous funding equating twothirds constitutional target 10 percent general fund revenues according bosler legislative analyst mac taylor warned committee good beef state reserves legislature would unnecessarily tying hands going along browns extra 2 billion rainy day fund known formally budget stabilization account would caution put extra money bsa taylor said put bsa governed rules bsa take half monies downturn bsa might imagine situation might want take first year also grabs legislature whatever purpose chooses 11 billion tax managed care organizations expenditure brown left unspecified according taylor addition told lawmakers could decide siphon 25 billion brown proposed spend infrastructure including 15 billion state facilities comes onetime spending governor focused infrastructure said taylor think thats positive thing keep mind onetime things spend highcost pension health retiree liabilities accruing costs 7½ percent year may want make additional payments help fund pay liabilities theres right choice lawmakers decide spend money infrastructure exercise control spent instead leaving administration taylor said dont want lose control said think youve already lost way much authority capital outlay projects given university systems administration stop think exerting lot control capital outlay projects leno concerned providing enough human infrastructure help states neediest residents im hearing regarding developmentally disabled services housing units lost facilities closed leno said employees communitybased organizations supply services leaving employees find much better jobs 1314 per hour paid 20 25 years service happens infrastructure taylor responded theres large growth spending developmentally disabled due large increases caseload every program area budget come tell need lot said spending regional centers developmentally disabled grown 24 percent recent years according bosler well beyond caseload inflation said contributing higher costs californias aging population requires services support along rise autism leno wasnt satisfied saying cuts made social services great recession yet fully restored want suggest even boom times new normal asked goal getting back least adjusted dollars 2008 level point question certainly wont happen next downturn quite likely make additional cuts continue create new normal level funding ever ever lower nielsen called budgeting process question asserting gives much power spending governor weve abdicated authority budget said believe almost making legislature irrelevant maybe go exercise pound chest try think important steady erosion long period time taylor responded budgetary authority hard get back given away cited states ballot measures contributing problem almost every initiative increased tax last 20 years dedicated funds particular purposes said budgeting perspective thats terrible development matter well meaning well purposed may first year measure passed thats budgeting changing priorities know able make decisions legislative budget committees plan hold numerous hearings coming months gain insight provide input budget governors planned budget revision updated revenue expenditure figures may
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<p>Here's one for the better late than never file: Answers from the spokesman for the Delhi Metro Corporation.... &#160;For the original article on how the train tamed Delhi's rude commuters, and is starting to erase the city's rock hard class barrier, see <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/india/110518/delhi-metro-india-infrastructure-development" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>(Answers from the DMRC's Anuj Dayal:)</p>
<p>Q: As per your internal reviews/ any external studies, how has the Metro affected traffic flows and conjestion so far?</p>
<p>Ans: The Delhi Metro has played a major role in providing a world class public transport system to the people of Delhi. Apart from reducing traffic congestion, Delhi Metro has also tremendously helped in reducing the pollution levels in the city. In fact, according to projections made by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) in 2009, the Delhi Metro is expected to help in removing about 1.5 lakh vehicles from the streets of the city by the end of 2011. Today we are carrying over 1.5 million passengers everyday on seven operational lines spanning over 184 kilometres. It is due to the expansion of Delhi Metro that, today people are commuting easily from Gurgaon in Haryana to NOIDA in Uttar Pradesh. We, in fact, intend to take the Metro within 500 metres of every household in the city. (table omitted)</p>
<p>Q: Everyone is amazed that the project has met its deadlines and stayed on budget. What is the secret?</p>
<p>Ans: Two very important decisions were taken before starting the construction work of Delhi Metro. The first step was that, the project was equally divided into a few parts and separate teams of engineers were allocated to execute the work. Therefore, there were separate chief project managers for each stretch and deputy chief engineers for sections within those stretches. This decision ensured that the work continued simultaneously on all the under construction corridors. In many infrastructure projects in India, work remains incomplete in some places while some other areas see better progress. In order to finish the project on time, we wanted to avoid such situations.</p>
<p>Another major step was to introduce a competent and transparent management system, which was not susceptible to red tape, so very typical of other government agencies. Rather than relying on excessive paper work, the Managing Director stressed on meeting the officers regularly and take decisions on the spot. Even today, we have a weekly meeting of all heads of the departments, where we take many major decisions. By doing so, we have succeeded to cut short the time taken by unnecessary paper work. That apart, efforts are made to ensure that the contractors are paid their dues on time so that they do not haul up work for the want of funds. Countdown clocks detailing the number of days left for the commissioning of the projects are put up at the site offices which keep reminding the employees about the requirement of executing their work on time.</p>
<p>Q: How did you create such a different work culture from other government entities?</p>
<p>Ans: A vibrant work culture is created by a committed workforce and our employees are our biggest assets. Whatever success DMRC has achieved today is all because of their continuous commitment and hard work. Therefore, we try to ensure that they are in the best possible frame of mind to work. DMRC lays a lot of importance on stress management of the employees. Therefore, every employee is trained in yoga and meditation when he joins the organization. The Human Resource department keeps organizing competency building workshops for both executives and non executives where a lot of importance is given on skill development of the employees. The employees are also regularly sent outside to participate in workshops and seminars for greater exposure. We encourage the employees to read the Bhagawad Gita regularly. It is believed within the organization that the Gita has answers to all the modern day stress related issues. It is not a religious book but a tremendous management manual.</p>
<p>Q: What have the Metro's biggest challenges so far?</p>
<p>Ans: Constructing such a humungous infrastructure in the heart of a congested city like Delhi was not easy at all. In the developed world, the transportation infrastructure like roads, Metro etc are created first and then human settlements follow. However, here it was the other way round. There were a plenty of other challenges such as carrying on with construction without causing inconvenience to the people, providing adequate road diversions so that traffic was not hampered, liaison with other agencies for getting various clearances, resisting pressures from various quarters related to the fixing of Metro alignments.</p>
<p>Q: After Phase 4, the Metro will be bigger than the London Underground, correct? What will that mean for Delhi?</p>
<p>Ans: After the completion of Phase 4 in 2021, Delhi Metro proposes to have a total network of about 420 kilometres, which will indeed be more than that of the current network of the London tube.</p>
<p>With such a massive network, we plan to take the Metro within 500 metres of each and every household of the city. Today, Delhi has more vehicles than the combined number of vehicles in the other three Metropolises of Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. A Metro network of over 400 kilometres will cut across the length and breadth of the entire national capital region and help a lot in reducing the rapid increase in private vehicles. Apart from reducing traffic congestion on the roads, the network will also help in controlling pollution and providing a comfortable air conditioned mode of travel to the people. Any infrastructural landmark also provides a boost to the economy of the area. Such a big network will mean that more areas will now become accessible due to which both industrialization and the real estate sector will get benefitted. &#160;</p>
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heres one better late never file answers spokesman delhi metro corporation 160for original article train tamed delhis rude commuters starting erase citys rock hard class barrier see answers dmrcs anuj dayal q per internal reviews external studies metro affected traffic flows conjestion far ans delhi metro played major role providing world class public transport system people delhi apart reducing traffic congestion delhi metro also tremendously helped reducing pollution levels city fact according projections made central road research institute crri 2009 delhi metro expected help removing 15 lakh vehicles streets city end 2011 today carrying 15 million passengers everyday seven operational lines spanning 184 kilometres due expansion delhi metro today people commuting easily gurgaon haryana noida uttar pradesh fact intend take metro within 500 metres every household city table omitted q everyone amazed project met deadlines stayed budget secret ans two important decisions taken starting construction work delhi metro first step project equally divided parts separate teams engineers allocated execute work therefore separate chief project managers stretch deputy chief engineers sections within stretches decision ensured work continued simultaneously construction corridors many infrastructure projects india work remains incomplete places areas see better progress order finish project time wanted avoid situations another major step introduce competent transparent management system susceptible red tape typical government agencies rather relying excessive paper work managing director stressed meeting officers regularly take decisions spot even today weekly meeting heads departments take many major decisions succeeded cut short time taken unnecessary paper work apart efforts made ensure contractors paid dues time haul work want funds countdown clocks detailing number days left commissioning projects put site offices keep reminding employees requirement executing work time q create different work culture government entities ans vibrant work culture created committed workforce employees biggest assets whatever success dmrc achieved today continuous commitment hard work therefore try ensure best possible frame mind work dmrc lays lot importance stress management employees therefore every employee trained yoga meditation joins organization human resource department keeps organizing competency building workshops executives non executives lot importance given skill development employees employees also regularly sent outside participate workshops seminars greater exposure encourage employees read bhagawad gita regularly believed within organization gita answers modern day stress related issues religious book tremendous management manual q metros biggest challenges far ans constructing humungous infrastructure heart congested city like delhi easy developed world transportation infrastructure like roads metro etc created first human settlements follow however way round plenty challenges carrying construction without causing inconvenience people providing adequate road diversions traffic hampered liaison agencies getting various clearances resisting pressures various quarters related fixing metro alignments q phase 4 metro bigger london underground correct mean delhi ans completion phase 4 2021 delhi metro proposes total network 420 kilometres indeed current network london tube massive network plan take metro within 500 metres every household city today delhi vehicles combined number vehicles three metropolises mumbai chennai kolkata metro network 400 kilometres cut across length breadth entire national capital region help lot reducing rapid increase private vehicles apart reducing traffic congestion roads network also help controlling pollution providing comfortable air conditioned mode travel people infrastructural landmark also provides boost economy area big network mean areas become accessible due industrialization real estate sector get benefitted 160
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<p>When Lou Mavrakis graduated from high school six decades ago, he went to work in a local steel mill. He earned a good wage and built a sturdy middle class life. That’s the way things worked in Monessen, a small city along the Monongahela River 30 miles south of Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>Mavrakis, now 79, is the mayor today of a very different place.&#160;Monessen's population has dropped from 18,000 in 1960 to 7,500 in 2015, the local tax base has dried up, and the city's major steel mill&#160;closed in the 1980s.</p>
<p>“This is where the blast furnaces were, over there, blast furnace over here,” said Mavrakis, driving around and pointing toward an empty landscape. The mills here once&#160;supplied steel for the Golden Gate Bridge.&#160;</p>
<p>Mavrakis, known locally as <a href="http://www.cityofmonessen.com/council.html" type="external">Mayor Lou</a>, drives past rows of boarded-up homes with broken and blown-out windows. He said the city now has 400 blighted homes and 30 abandoned downtown buildings. He doesn’t have money to tear them down.</p>
<p>“All beautiful homes up here at one time when I was a kid. Now look at it, unreal. Just look, look at all this garbage. Forgotten world, that’s what we are. Just look,” said Mavrakis. “Does this look like the best country in the world to live in?”</p>
<p />
<p>An abandoned home in Monessen, one of some 400 blighted houses in the city.&#160;</p>
<p>Jason Margolis</p>
<p>Parts of city streets are also caving in leaving gaping, exposed holes.</p>
<p>There are some nice parts of town, but the mayor said he needs tens of millions to restore basic needs in his city. He and others in Monessen are angry for being left behind in the age of globalization.</p>
<p>“Global economy my ass,” said Mavrakis. “What has it done for us? Nothing.”</p>
<p>The life-long Democrat&#160;said he appealed to members of Congress and has written three letters to President Barack Obama asking for help.&#160;But nobody responds. He’s desperate. So he reached out to Donald Trump. &#160;</p>
<p>“I’ll reach out to Putin if I have to;&#160;what would you do if you were in my situation?”</p>
<p>Trump answered the call and <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/29/us/politics/donald-trump-trade-speech.html?emc=edit_th_20160629&amp;nl=todaysheadlines&amp;nlid=28747981&amp;_r=1" type="external">came to Monessen in late June</a>. He made some bold promises to put America first.</p>
<p>Trump said, “This wave of globalization has wiped out totally, totally, our middle class. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can turn it around, and we can turn it around fast.”</p>
<p>The mayor&#160;liked what he was hearing.</p>
<p>“Why would you take care of other countries and let your country go like this? And you’ve been around, my city is not the only one,” said Mavrakis. &#160;</p>
<p>Monessen is a Democratic bastion, but many residents were also persuaded by Trump’s anti-globalization message. And they have yard signs to show it.</p>
<p>“You never saw a Republican sign in Monessen like that for president,” said the mayor,&#160;driving around and pointing out Trump signs on lawns. “You know what would happen? People would throw eggs at their damn house or something. But you don’t see that now. People don’t care. They’re pissed off.”</p>
<p>“At this point, I’d probably vote for Trump,” Mavrakis said. “Whatever you can do for me, you’ve got my vote. If you can’t do nothing for me, the hell with you. I’m telling it like it is.”</p>
<p>One long-time Democrat, Billy Hans, has already made up his mind: “I like Trump.”</p>
<p>The 58-year-old building contractor has never voted Republican for president, but he thinks Trump can bring some jobs back to this area. “It’s not going to be easy, but I think he can bring some back. He’s got to get companies to invest.”</p>
<p />
<p>Contractor Billy Hans has never voted for a Republican for president. This November, he says he'll vote for Donald Trump.&#160;</p>
<p>Jason Margolis</p>
<p>“I like his [Trump's]&#160;ways. I like his thoughts on bringing the country back together again. I like him bringing jobs back,” said Hans. “The people that want to move their companies out, he wants to charge them for anything coming back in. He wants fair trade. So I think he’s a good prospect.”</p>
<p>But can Trump actually slow the tide of globalization and bring jobs back to places like Monessen?</p>
<p>“We’re not going to resurrect those giant steel factories — full of high school graduates and even high school dropouts — that used to ring Pittsburgh. That’s not going to happen,” said economist Lee Branstetter with <a href="http://www.heinz.cmu.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/faculty-details/index.aspx?faculty_id=11" type="external">Carnegie Mellon University</a> in Pittsburgh and the <a href="https://piie.com/experts/senior-research-staff/lee-g-branstetter" type="external">Peterson Institute</a> for International Economics in Washington, DC.</p>
<p>Branstetter said we don’t need as many manufacturing workers as we did a few decades ago, due to dramatic technological improvements. Second, a president needs congressional approval to levy tariffs on imports or amend trade deals.</p>
<p>The bottom line: Branstetter says a President Trump simply couldn’t do what he says he would, at least not on his own.</p>
<p>“It’s just unconscionable,” said Branstetter. “He’s selling false hopes. Basically what he’s saying is we can turn back the clock. You can’t turn back the clock.” &#160;</p>
<p>I suggested this to Trump supporters in Monessen like meter&#160;maid Nancy Horvath, another long-time Democrat. She didn’t care; she likes Trump’s message.</p>
<p>“I’m hopeful. No one has mentioned bringing back any manufacturing until he [Trump]&#160;did,” said Horvath. “Even if it’s just for face value to get votes, at least he’s going through the motions, that’s more than any Democrat did.”</p>
<p>Mayor Mavrakis&#160;said that’s what it’s all about.</p>
<p>“Is steel ever going to come back here? No. I understand that. The thing is he’s giving people hope that he’s going to do something about bringing some jobs here. That’s what the man is doing,” the mayor said. “No one else is doing that.”</p>
<p />
<p>An abandoned restaurant in Monessen.</p>
<p>Jason Margolis</p>
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lou mavrakis graduated high school six decades ago went work local steel mill earned good wage built sturdy middle class life thats way things worked monessen small city along monongahela river 30 miles south pittsburgh mavrakis 79 mayor today different place160monessens population dropped 18000 1960 7500 2015 local tax base dried citys major steel mill160closed 1980s blast furnaces blast furnace said mavrakis driving around pointing toward empty landscape mills once160supplied steel golden gate bridge160 mavrakis known locally mayor lou drives past rows boardedup homes broken blownout windows said city 400 blighted homes 30 abandoned downtown buildings doesnt money tear beautiful homes one time kid look unreal look look garbage forgotten world thats look said mavrakis look like best country world live abandoned home monessen one 400 blighted houses city160 jason margolis parts city streets also caving leaving gaping exposed holes nice parts town mayor said needs tens millions restore basic needs city others monessen angry left behind age globalization global economy ass said mavrakis done us nothing lifelong democrat160said appealed members congress written three letters president barack obama asking help160but nobody responds hes desperate reached donald trump 160 ill reach putin to160what would situation trump answered call came monessen late june made bold promises put america first trump said wave globalization wiped totally totally middle class doesnt way turn around turn around fast mayor160liked hearing would take care countries let country go like youve around city one said mavrakis 160 monessen democratic bastion many residents also persuaded trumps antiglobalization message yard signs show never saw republican sign monessen like president said mayor160driving around pointing trump signs lawns know would happen people would throw eggs damn house something dont see people dont care theyre pissed point id probably vote trump mavrakis said whatever youve got vote cant nothing hell im telling like one longtime democrat billy hans already made mind like trump 58yearold building contractor never voted republican president thinks trump bring jobs back area going easy think bring back hes got get companies invest contractor billy hans never voted republican president november says hell vote donald trump160 jason margolis like trumps160ways like thoughts bringing country back together like bringing jobs back said hans people want move companies wants charge anything coming back wants fair trade think hes good prospect trump actually slow tide globalization bring jobs back places like monessen going resurrect giant steel factories full high school graduates even high school dropouts used ring pittsburgh thats going happen said economist lee branstetter carnegie mellon university pittsburgh peterson institute international economics washington dc branstetter said dont need many manufacturing workers decades ago due dramatic technological improvements second president needs congressional approval levy tariffs imports amend trade deals bottom line branstetter says president trump simply couldnt says would least unconscionable said branstetter hes selling false hopes basically hes saying turn back clock cant turn back clock 160 suggested trump supporters monessen like meter160maid nancy horvath another longtime democrat didnt care likes trumps message im hopeful one mentioned bringing back manufacturing trump160did said horvath even face value get votes least hes going motions thats democrat mayor mavrakis160said thats steel ever going come back understand thing hes giving people hope hes going something bringing jobs thats man mayor said one else abandoned restaurant monessen jason margolis
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<p>During his failed bid to capture the Republican presidential nomination, Senator Marco Rubio did&#160; <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/marco-rubio-guns-debate/story?id=36344239" type="external">everything</a> he could to highlight his opposition to universal background checks.</p>
<p>The Florida Republican&#160; <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rubio-gun-background-checks-couldnt-have-stopped-terror-attack/" type="external">argued</a> on CBS News last December that expanding background checks to all purchases would put an “incredible burden” on gun sellers and would not have stopped the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. Those claims align with Rubio’s record: He opposed bids to strengthen background check laws in 2013, 2015, and 2016.</p>
<p>Subscribe to receive The Trace’s newsletters on important gun news and analysis.</p>
<p>But most Floridians didn’t get the message. Nearly 70 percent of registered voters in the state believe that Rubio supports background checks for all gun sales, or are not sure of his view,&#160; <a href="http://americansforresponsiblesolutions.org/files/2016/08/Polling-Memo.pdf" type="external">according</a> to a survey last month by Public Policy Polling on behalf of Americans for Responsible Solutions, the gun safety group founded by former congresswoman Gabby Giffords.</p>
<p>The findings highlight an almost paradoxical challenge with popular gun safety measures. Advocates push proposals like background checks for gun sales, which top 80 percent support in national polls, because many voters consider them common sense steps. Yet because the measures strike many as intuitive, poorly informed voters assume their representatives agree with their viewpoint.</p>
<p>“Background checks seem so obvious to people,” said Angela Kuefler, senior director at Global Strategy Group, which conducts polls for ARS and Democratic campaigns. Voters often assume their congressional representatives are reasonable and agree with what seems a common sense view.</p>
<p>New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, drew ire of gun safety advocates when she voted against the background check bill in 2013. Giffords’ group since May has blanketed New Hampshire with ads faulting Ayotte for her votes on guns.</p>
<p>Polling commissioned by the group in New Hampshire showed that prior to the advertising, 75 percent of Granite State voters believed Ayotte supported universal background checks or were not sure. The ads have changed this impression — at least a bit. By August, 59 percent of voters in the state were incorrect about or unsure of Ayotte’s position.</p>
<p>Voting with the NRA on background checks has not given Kelly Ayotte safe harbor.</p>
<p>by <a href="/index.php?s=Dan%20Friedman" type="external">Dan Friedman</a></p>
<p>Public understanding of how their representatives voted on a Democratic proposal to bar people on a federal terror watch lists from buying guns is also skewed. Senate Democrats forced votes on the so-called terror gap bill twice: once after the San Bernardino shooting last December, and again after the deadliest mass shooting ever occurred at an Orlando nightclub in June. Both incidents were carried out by shooters claiming allegiance to ISIS.</p>
<p>Rubio voted against both measures, and&#160; <a href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&amp;session=2&amp;vote=00110" type="external">against a</a> compromise bipartisan proposal based on a smaller list of terror suspects. Yet 76 percent of Florida voters believe Rubio “supports prohibiting individuals on the FBI Terror Watch List from buying guns” — or said they were unsure of his position.</p>
<p>Lawmakers often use procedural moves to muddy the waters when their legislative votes don’t line up with public opinion. Senate Republicans were reluctant to support the Democratic proposal to close the terror gap, so they offered up an alternative that would have allowed the Justice Department to block gun sales to terror suspects — but only if government officials appeared in court to show probable cause. The bill was faulted by many policy experts for posing too high of a burden on law enforcement officials. But it allowed its Republican backers to argue that they did, in fact, support closing loopholes that allow terror suspects to buy firearms.</p>
<p>On Thursday, Rubio introduced a similar <a href="http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/os-rubio-introduces-terrorist-gun-bill-murphy-camp-calls-it-sham-20160915-story.html" type="external">proposal</a>: It requires the Justice Department to show probable cause in court to temporarily block a gun sale to a terror suspect. The measure is unlikely to come up for vote this year.</p>
<p>Republicans have used the same tactic on background check legislation, repeatedly offering an alternative that would not have expanded background laws, but instead pushed for increased prosecution of people who break them. In a May campaign ad, Ayotte claimed that her support for that bill meant she <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kelly-ayotte-gun-background-checks_us_5748a629e4b055bb117231a5?8bima4vaxuhaor" type="external">voted</a> “for background checks.”</p>
<p>It’s not just gun laws. Americans are poorly informed about government basics, let alone specific lawmaker votes. A study&#160; <a href="http://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/americans-know-surprisingly-little-about-their-government-survey-finds/" type="external">released</a> Wednesday by the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center found 35 percent of respondents could not name a single branch of the federal government.</p>
<p>Voters are also confused about the laws themselves. In a&#160; <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(16)00042-8.pdf" type="external">survey</a> last year, Yale researchers found 41 of respondents incorrectly believed federal law currently requires universal background checks.</p>
<p>“People don’t keep up with these issues,” said Robert Blendon, a professor who heads an opinion research program at the Harvard School of Public Health analyzing public views on health policy.</p>
<p>Gun safety advocates and Democrats are eager to punish Republicans for their records on guns, and are spending millions of dollars to change public perceptions.</p>
<p>Background checks enjoy better than 80 percent backing in Florida and New Hampshire. Barring terror suspects from buying guns tops 85 percent in both states. A plurality in each state say they would vote against a candidate on the basis of their view on gun laws. But voters cannot punish politicians for positions they don’t understand.</p>
<p>[Photo: Dennis Van Tine/Geisler-Fotopres/AP]</p>
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failed bid capture republican presidential nomination senator marco rubio did160 everything could highlight opposition universal background checks florida republican160 argued cbs news last december expanding background checks purchases would put incredible burden gun sellers would stopped mass shooting san bernardino california claims align rubios record opposed bids strengthen background check laws 2013 2015 2016 subscribe receive traces newsletters important gun news analysis floridians didnt get message nearly 70 percent registered voters state believe rubio supports background checks gun sales sure view160 according survey last month public policy polling behalf americans responsible solutions gun safety group founded former congresswoman gabby giffords findings highlight almost paradoxical challenge popular gun safety measures advocates push proposals like background checks gun sales top 80 percent support national polls many voters consider common sense steps yet measures strike many intuitive poorly informed voters assume representatives agree viewpoint background checks seem obvious people said angela kuefler senior director global strategy group conducts polls ars democratic campaigns voters often assume congressional representatives reasonable agree seems common sense view new hampshire senator kelly ayotte republican drew ire gun safety advocates voted background check bill 2013 giffords group since may blanketed new hampshire ads faulting ayotte votes guns polling commissioned group new hampshire showed prior advertising 75 percent granite state voters believed ayotte supported universal background checks sure ads changed impression least bit august 59 percent voters state incorrect unsure ayottes position voting nra background checks given kelly ayotte safe harbor dan friedman public understanding representatives voted democratic proposal bar people federal terror watch lists buying guns also skewed senate democrats forced votes socalled terror gap bill twice san bernardino shooting last december deadliest mass shooting ever occurred orlando nightclub june incidents carried shooters claiming allegiance isis rubio voted measures and160 compromise bipartisan proposal based smaller list terror suspects yet 76 percent florida voters believe rubio supports prohibiting individuals fbi terror watch list buying guns said unsure position lawmakers often use procedural moves muddy waters legislative votes dont line public opinion senate republicans reluctant support democratic proposal close terror gap offered alternative would allowed justice department block gun sales terror suspects government officials appeared court show probable cause bill faulted many policy experts posing high burden law enforcement officials allowed republican backers argue fact support closing loopholes allow terror suspects buy firearms thursday rubio introduced similar proposal requires justice department show probable cause court temporarily block gun sale terror suspect measure unlikely come vote year republicans used tactic background check legislation repeatedly offering alternative would expanded background laws instead pushed increased prosecution people break may campaign ad ayotte claimed support bill meant voted background checks gun laws americans poorly informed government basics let alone specific lawmaker votes study160 released wednesday university pennsylvanias annenberg public policy center found 35 percent respondents could name single branch federal government voters also confused laws a160 survey last year yale researchers found 41 respondents incorrectly believed federal law currently requires universal background checks people dont keep issues said robert blendon professor heads opinion research program harvard school public health analyzing public views health policy gun safety advocates democrats eager punish republicans records guns spending millions dollars change public perceptions background checks enjoy better 80 percent backing florida new hampshire barring terror suspects buying guns tops 85 percent states plurality state say would vote candidate basis view gun laws voters punish politicians positions dont understand photo dennis van tinegeislerfotopresap
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<p><a href="" type="internal" />MARCH 15, 2011</p>
<p>BY JOHN SEILER</p>
<p>In the long run, California’s economy probably will not be greatly affected by the economic aftershocks of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. In the short run, it could be shaken in various ways. And these assumptions presume that the news from Japan does not get much worse that it already is.</p>
<p>Those are conclusions drawn from numerous news reports and from Esmael Adibi, director of the&#160; <a href="http://www.chapman.edu/argyros/asbecenters/acer/default.asp" type="external">A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research</a> and Anderson Chair of Economic Analysis. Chapman’s annual economic forecast, to be updated in June, includes highly accurate prognostications on California’s economy, which Adibi closely watches.</p>
<p>“Everything will be a short-term negative impact,” Adibi told me. “Japan is one of California’s largest trade partners, number three after Mexico and Canada.”</p>
<p>One immediate impact is to the eastern ports of Japan, which will affect imports and exports to California ports. In particular, he said, there will be lower car production in Japan.</p>
<p><a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/03/tsunami-cancels-toyota-overtime-in-us-threatens-supplies-of-luxury-and-high-mileage-models-/1" type="external">USA Today reported</a>:</p>
<p>Toyota has halted overtime at its U.S. factories to conserve Japan-supplied components delayed by the devastating Mar. 11 earthquake and tsunami that wiped out entire portions of the country’s northeast coast.</p>
<p>That’s the first direct effect of the Asian wave on the U.S. auto industry. The big Japan car companies build in North America most of their U.S.-market vehicles, but some still rely on parts from Japan.</p>
<p>Predictably, stocks in Japan <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Hedge-funds-hammer-Japan-rb-3702155011.html?x=0&amp;.v=14" type="external">have crashed</a>:</p>
<p>Japan’s Nikkei share average plunged 10.6 percent on Tuesday, posting the worst two-day rout since 1987, as hedge funds bailed out after reports of rising radiation near Tokyo. Many mutual funds were left on the sidelines, leaving them poised to dump shares into any rebound.</p>
<p>The yen tripped on talk of intervention by authorities trying to contain the economic impact from last week’s devastating earthquake and tsunami, but then recovered. Government bond yields rose as investors sold debt to offset stock market losses.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, American stocks continued their post-earthquake decline. According to <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Wall-St-drops-for-second-day-rb-1939730.html;_ylt=AnD3dtW5GEEXeewttQzDbvG7YWsA;_ylu=X3oDMTE1aWU5czZsBHBvcwM0BHNlYwN0b3BTdG9yaWVzBHNsawN3YWxsc3RwbHVuZ2U-?x=0&amp;sec=topStories&amp;pos=1&amp;asset=&amp;ccode=" type="external">today’s Reuters</a>:</p>
<p>Stocks fell 1 percent on Tuesday as fears of a nuclear crisis in Japan fanned caution in equities and the market looked likely to extend its bearish trend.</p>
<p>The Nasdaq briefly turned negative for the year in a second straight day of losses tied to worries about Japan. Analysts said a break below 1,257 on the S&amp;P 500, the index’s closing level for 2010, could signal deeper losses.</p>
<p>There are some positive signs, including for California. “California will get some rebuilding activity, such as of industrial machinery,” Adibi said. “Reduced exports now will be made up down the road. For imports from Japan, the earthquake could create shortages. Nobody can anticipate how long that will last.”</p>
<p>He added that, for Japan’s economy, a major problem will be electricity generation, which is essential to industrial production.</p>
<p><a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42079799/ns/world_news-disaster_in_japan/" type="external">Reported MSNBC</a>:</p>
<p>When Japan lost a large chunk of its electricity-generating capacity to the one-two punch of earthquake and tsunami, the narrative in parts of one of the world’s most technologically advanced societies was transformed overnight into one of Third World hardship.</p>
<p>For most Japanese, the rolling outages instituted in the wake of the twin disasters translate to inconvenience, sacrifice and economic loss. But for tens of thousands who are now homeless and huddled in evacuation centers in the hard-hit northeast, the stakes are much higher.</p>
<p>The earthquake hit Japan after two decades of stagnation. The 1990s are called the country’s “ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Decade_(Japan)" type="external">lost decade</a>,” with growth of just 1 percent a year. But the 2000s weren’t much better. <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/8381291/Will-earthquake-mean-a-third-lost-decade-for-Japan.html" type="external">Some now are speculating</a> that the earthquake could shake Japan into a third “lost decade.”</p>
<p>During the past 20 years, Japan went from the second-largest economy in the world, to third place, behind China. And Japan’s economy dropped from being about half that of the economy of the United States, to one-third.</p>
<p>Will Japan’s problems affect the ongoing struggle over California’s state budget? “I don’t think so,” Adibi said. “It will not have a significant impact on taxable sales and so on.”</p>
<p>But Japan’s predicament is a cautionary tale for California, which also suffers major earthquakes, and the United States as a whole. Even before the earthquake, a major factor hobbling growth in the Japanese economy was the immense debt run up by its government the past 20 years.</p>
<p>Japan’s public debt was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_by_public_debt" type="external">197 percent of GDP</a>in 2010, in second place among the nations behind only pathetic Zimbabwe, at 242 percent. The United States is at 59 percent.</p>
<p>Although U.S. debt seems better by comparison, it’s still in dangerous territory, especially <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_by_public_debt" type="external">when compared to</a> the so-called PIIGS nations on the brink of default: Portugal (83 percent), Ireland (99 percent), Italy (119 percent), Greece (114 percent) and Spain (63 percent).</p>
<p>Moreover, California’s state debt for bonds currently is $72 billion, according to state Treasurer <a href="http://www.treasurer.ca.gov/" type="external">Bill Lockyer’s Web site</a>. Amazingly, despite the state’s fiscal problems, another $10 billion was charged this year to the state’s credit card.</p>
<p>California’s debt rating now is the worst of the 50 states, and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/01/californias-debt-now-risk_n_481058.html" type="external">worse even that Kazakhstan,</a> a former Soviet republic.</p>
<p>The annual payment for the debt already run up <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/26/local/la-me-state-debt-20110226" type="external">now is $7.65 billion</a>. If that payment weren’t due, Gov. Jerry Brown’s demand for $12 billion in tax increases would be a lot smaller. This shows how, as I have pointed out for decades, debt equals delayed tax increases. The debt binge of the 2000s decade, under governors Davis and Schwarzenegger, now has turned into demands for tax increases.</p>
<p>Moreover, Japan’s earthquake could mean higher interest payments for the state’s debt (as well as for consumers). According to <a href="http://standstrongresearch.com/us-interest-rates/" type="external">Stand Strong Research</a>:</p>
<p>This probably means noticeably higher&#160; <a href="http://interestrates.us/" type="external">interest rates</a> across the board for Americans over the next year or so as they rebuild and start selling US gov securities in order to pay for their reconstruction.</p>
<p>So California’s immense debt could end up costing even more to taxpayers. And as Chriss Street <a href="" type="internal">writes today</a>, California’s immense debts for government workers’ pensions and medical insurance already have the state on the brink of insolvency.</p>
<p>Both Japan and California are getting lessons in how debt should be run up only for emergencies, such as earthquakes, not for normal expenses, let alone for such boondoggles as the <a href="http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/" type="external">California High-Speed Rail Authority</a>.</p>
<p>The Japan earthquake is another warning to get California’s fiscal house in order. When the Big One strikes here — and seismologists say <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/04/05/doomsday-number-california-earthquake-zone/" type="external">it’s only a matter of time</a>— a solvent state would be better able than an insolvent one to recover from disaster.</p>
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march 15 2011 john seiler long run californias economy probably greatly affected economic aftershocks earthquake tsunami japan short run could shaken various ways assumptions presume news japan get much worse already conclusions drawn numerous news reports esmael adibi director the160 gary anderson center economic research anderson chair economic analysis chapmans annual economic forecast updated june includes highly accurate prognostications californias economy adibi closely watches everything shortterm negative impact adibi told japan one californias largest trade partners number three mexico canada one immediate impact eastern ports japan affect imports exports california ports particular said lower car production japan usa today reported toyota halted overtime us factories conserve japansupplied components delayed devastating mar 11 earthquake tsunami wiped entire portions countrys northeast coast thats first direct effect asian wave us auto industry big japan car companies build north america usmarket vehicles still rely parts japan predictably stocks japan crashed japans nikkei share average plunged 106 percent tuesday posting worst twoday rout since 1987 hedge funds bailed reports rising radiation near tokyo many mutual funds left sidelines leaving poised dump shares rebound yen tripped talk intervention authorities trying contain economic impact last weeks devastating earthquake tsunami recovered government bond yields rose investors sold debt offset stock market losses meanwhile american stocks continued postearthquake decline according todays reuters stocks fell 1 percent tuesday fears nuclear crisis japan fanned caution equities market looked likely extend bearish trend nasdaq briefly turned negative year second straight day losses tied worries japan analysts said break 1257 sampp 500 indexs closing level 2010 could signal deeper losses positive signs including california california get rebuilding activity industrial machinery adibi said reduced exports made road imports japan earthquake could create shortages nobody anticipate long last added japans economy major problem electricity generation essential industrial production reported msnbc japan lost large chunk electricitygenerating capacity onetwo punch earthquake tsunami narrative parts one worlds technologically advanced societies transformed overnight one third world hardship japanese rolling outages instituted wake twin disasters translate inconvenience sacrifice economic loss tens thousands homeless huddled evacuation centers hardhit northeast stakes much higher earthquake hit japan two decades stagnation 1990s called countrys lost decade growth 1 percent year 2000s werent much better speculating earthquake could shake japan third lost decade past 20 years japan went secondlargest economy world third place behind china japans economy dropped half economy united states onethird japans problems affect ongoing struggle californias state budget dont think adibi said significant impact taxable sales japans predicament cautionary tale california also suffers major earthquakes united states whole even earthquake major factor hobbling growth japanese economy immense debt run government past 20 years japans public debt 197 percent gdpin 2010 second place among nations behind pathetic zimbabwe 242 percent united states 59 percent although us debt seems better comparison still dangerous territory especially compared socalled piigs nations brink default portugal 83 percent ireland 99 percent italy 119 percent greece 114 percent spain 63 percent moreover californias state debt bonds currently 72 billion according state treasurer bill lockyers web site amazingly despite states fiscal problems another 10 billion charged year states credit card californias debt rating worst 50 states worse even kazakhstan former soviet republic annual payment debt already run 765 billion payment werent due gov jerry browns demand 12 billion tax increases would lot smaller shows pointed decades debt equals delayed tax increases debt binge 2000s decade governors davis schwarzenegger turned demands tax increases moreover japans earthquake could mean higher interest payments states debt well consumers according stand strong research probably means noticeably higher160 interest rates across board americans next year rebuild start selling us gov securities order pay reconstruction californias immense debt could end costing even taxpayers chriss street writes today californias immense debts government workers pensions medical insurance already state brink insolvency japan california getting lessons debt run emergencies earthquakes normal expenses let alone boondoggles california highspeed rail authority japan earthquake another warning get californias fiscal house order big one strikes seismologists say matter time solvent state would better able insolvent one recover disaster
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<p><a href="" type="internal" />A bill that punishes businesses for changing employees’ work schedules recently passed the <a href="http://albr.assembly.ca.gov/" type="external">Assembly Labor and Employment Committee</a>, despite the <a href="http://www.calchamber.com/advocacy/Pages/default.aspx" type="external">California Chamber of Commerce</a> warning that it’s a <a href="http://www.calchamber.com/Headlines/Pages/04232015-Assembly-Policy-Committee-Passes-Job-Killer-Bill-Imposing-Scheduling-Mandate-on-Employers.aspx" type="external">“job killer.”</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/15-16/bill/asm/ab_0351-0400/ab_357_bill_20150427_amended_asm_v94.htm" type="external">Assembly Bill 357</a> affects California food and retail businesses with at least 10 stores and 500 employees that change or cancel a worker’s scheduled shift or require an employee to be “on call” to work. Those businesses must provide the following extra compensation for changed schedules:</p>
<p>When those businesses require an employee to be available to work but the employee is not called in to work, it must provide two hours of pay for a shift of four hours or less and four hours of pay for shifts of more than four hours.</p>
<p>In addition, AB357 prohibits these businesses from firing or discriminating against employees because they receive <a href="http://www.calfresh.ca.gov/" type="external">CalFresh</a> food assistance or either receive <a href="http://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/PG54.htm" type="external">CalWORKS</a> cash aid or are a parent, guardian or grandparent of children who receive CalWORKs cash aid. The bill also allows employees to leave work for eight hours twice a year without pay to attend appointments at a county human services agency.</p>
<p>The Chamber of Commerce argues that the bill “dramatically increases the cost of doing business for a broadly defined ‘food and general retail establishment’ in California by exposing employers to significant penalties and litigation for accommodating employee and business scheduling demands, creating a new protected classification for employees, and a new leave of absence for employees.”</p>
<p>The Chamber has labeled it a job killer because it:</p>
<p>CalChamber Policy Advocate Jennifer Barrera told the committee on April 22 that a similar ordinance is due to go into effect in San Francisco in July. “Why don’t we let that work out first in San Francisco before we impose this on a statewide mandate in California and to counties and cities that are not reflective of San Francisco?” she said.</p>
<p>Also speaking against the bill was Angie Manetti, representing the <a href="http://www.calretailers.com/" type="external">California Retailers’ Association</a>.</p>
<p>“We believe this bill seeks to mandate a rigid, one-size-fits-all scheduling model for food and retail establishments,” she said. “Retail by nature is dynamic and highly competitive. As such, retailers are constantly undertaking the challenge of balancing the needs of employees, responding to customer demands, all while enhancing our customer experiences.</p>
<p>“AB357 fails to contemplate these unique needs. The bill instead creates a significant administrative burden for retail employers and doesn’t take into consideration the rapidly changing business environment of retail establishments.</p>
<p>“The reality is that retailers and employers need a predictive schedule in place just as much as our employees do. We do this to the best of our ability and provide as much flexibility that we can. Stores must consider, number one, employee scheduling requests. There’s also sales forecasts that are considered, store productivity, workload, in-store events, merchandise deliveries and customer traffic patterns. Additionally, at any given time those factors can change due to unexpected scenarios.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />Manetti agreed with Barrera that the state should wait to see how San Francisco’s scheduling regulations work out. But the bill’s author, <a href="http://asmdc.org/members/a17/" type="external">Assemblyman David Chiu</a>, D-San Francisco, who also authored the San Francisco legislation, responded that there has been significant interest from legislators around the state in implementing it statewide.</p>
<p>“We are not talking about a job killer policy,” Chiu said. “In fact, we know the minimum wage, health care, sick leave – those were also called job killer policies. I would suggest there’s a lot about this policy that helps people to maintain and to take on second jobs or third jobs, to actually be job creating.</p>
<p>“Major employers like Costco, like Starbucks, like Wal-Mart … understand it’s good for business. When you are an employee and you have a predictability in scheduling, you are a more productive employee, you’re a happier employee, and you do better and you want to work hard.”</p>
<p>Chiu said there more than three million low-wage food and retail workers in California. Eighty percent of them have unstable schedules, he said, and 40 percent receive a week or less notice on their upcoming schedule.</p>
<p>A co-author of the bill, <a href="http://asmdc.org/members/a79/" type="external">Assemblywoman Shirley Weber</a>, D-San Diego, said that one out of five California children live in poverty, and their mothers have to work two or three part-time jobs to make ends meet.</p>
<p>“We see [reliable scheduling] as being critical in how we reverse California poverty levels,” she said. “California has the highest poverty rate in the nation. They need security to say ‘this is when you work.’ It’s not unreasonable to ask employers to give some sense of predictability on how their schedule is going to be and how they manage their lives.”</p>
<p>Two grocery workers, one of whom has two college degrees, also testified in support of the bill. They said not having a predictable schedule makes it difficult to attend college on off days.</p>
<p>Unlike most so-called “job killer” bills, AB357 did not break down strictly along party lines. One Democrat, Assemblyman Evan Low, D-Campbell, voted against it. Although he agrees with Chiu that it’s not a job killer, he said he’s concerned that it will have an impact on businesses in his Silicon Valley district.</p>
<p>The committee approved the bill, 4-3. It will next be considered by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.</p>
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bill punishes businesses changing employees work schedules recently passed assembly labor employment committee despite california chamber commerce warning job killer assembly bill 357 affects california food retail businesses least 10 stores 500 employees change cancel workers scheduled shift require employee call work businesses must provide following extra compensation changed schedules businesses require employee available work employee called work must provide two hours pay shift four hours less four hours pay shifts four hours addition ab357 prohibits businesses firing discriminating employees receive calfresh food assistance either receive calworks cash aid parent guardian grandparent children receive calworks cash aid bill also allows employees leave work eight hours twice year without pay attend appointments county human services agency chamber commerce argues bill dramatically increases cost business broadly defined food general retail establishment california exposing employers significant penalties litigation accommodating employee business scheduling demands creating new protected classification employees new leave absence employees chamber labeled job killer calchamber policy advocate jennifer barrera told committee april 22 similar ordinance due go effect san francisco july dont let work first san francisco impose statewide mandate california counties cities reflective san francisco said also speaking bill angie manetti representing california retailers association believe bill seeks mandate rigid onesizefitsall scheduling model food retail establishments said retail nature dynamic highly competitive retailers constantly undertaking challenge balancing needs employees responding customer demands enhancing customer experiences ab357 fails contemplate unique needs bill instead creates significant administrative burden retail employers doesnt take consideration rapidly changing business environment retail establishments reality retailers employers need predictive schedule place much employees best ability provide much flexibility stores must consider number one employee scheduling requests theres also sales forecasts considered store productivity workload instore events merchandise deliveries customer traffic patterns additionally given time factors change due unexpected scenarios manetti agreed barrera state wait see san franciscos scheduling regulations work bills author assemblyman david chiu dsan francisco also authored san francisco legislation responded significant interest legislators around state implementing statewide talking job killer policy chiu said fact know minimum wage health care sick leave also called job killer policies would suggest theres lot policy helps people maintain take second jobs third jobs actually job creating major employers like costco like starbucks like walmart understand good business employee predictability scheduling productive employee youre happier employee better want work hard chiu said three million lowwage food retail workers california eighty percent unstable schedules said 40 percent receive week less notice upcoming schedule coauthor bill assemblywoman shirley weber dsan diego said one five california children live poverty mothers work two three parttime jobs make ends meet see reliable scheduling critical reverse california poverty levels said california highest poverty rate nation need security say work unreasonable ask employers give sense predictability schedule going manage lives two grocery workers one two college degrees also testified support bill said predictable schedule makes difficult attend college days unlike socalled job killer bills ab357 break strictly along party lines one democrat assemblyman evan low dcampbell voted although agrees chiu job killer said hes concerned impact businesses silicon valley district committee approved bill 43 next considered assembly appropriations committee
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<p>That may sound like a misguided question. But let’s look at Tom DeLonge’s company, currently acting as a conduit for new UFO revelations.</p>
<p>DeLonge, a famous musician (Blink-182, Angels and Airwaves) has surrounded himself with high-level spooks from the CIA and the military, in his new venture, To the Stars Academy.</p>
<p>One of his lead collaborators is Luis Elizondo, who was the Pentagon chief of a secret program (2007-2012) to study and explore UFO activity. Elizondo is now the point man for media, explaining the breaking news about a 2004 US military sighting of a UFO, and subsequent failed attempts to analyze materials from UFOs. He’s also hinting that alien UFOs are a potential threat to our safety, a threat we can’t ignore.</p>
<p>Every major press outlet in the world, starting with the NY Times, is covering this story.</p>
<p>Who are the players on De Longe’s team? Buckle up. The following quotes are from the Academy’s site:</p>
<p>Jim Semivan—“Mr. Semivan retired from the Central Intelligence Agency’s Directorate of Operations after 25 years as an operations officer, both overseas and domestically.”</p>
<p>Hal Puthoff—“Dr. Puthoff’s professional background spans more than five decades of research at General Electric, Sperry, the National Security Agency (NSA), Stanford University and SRI International. Dr. Puthoff regularly advises NASA, the Department of Defense and intelligence communities…”</p>
<p>Luis Elizondo—“Luis Elizondo is a career intelligence officer whose experience includes working with the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense, the National Counterintelligence Executive, and the Director of National Intelligence. As a former Special Agent In-Charge, Luis conducted and supervised highly sensitive espionage and terrorism investigations around the world. As an intelligence Case Officer, he ran clandestine source operations throughout Latin America and the Middle East.”</p>
<p>Chris Mellon—“He served 20 years in the federal government, including as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence in the Clinton and Bush Administrations.”</p>
<p>Paul Rapp—“His past honors include a Certificate of Commendation from the Central Intelligence Agency for ‘significant contributions to the mission of the Office of Research and Development’.” (Note: This office, ORD, was where the CIA’s MKULTRA mind control program secretly landed, in 1962, after it purportedly ended.)</p>
<p>Norm Kahn—“Dr. Kahn had over a 30-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency…”</p>
<p>Getting the picture?</p>
<p>That’s quite a roll call of military and intelligence insiders. Did DeLonge recruit them, or did they covertly recruit him, viewing him as a sincere, but rather clueless front man they could use for their own purposes?</p>
<p>But let’s go one layer deeper with a few of these names on Tom DeLonge’s team at the To the Stars Academy.</p>
<p>Dr. Norm Kahn’s career with the CIA “culminat[ed] in his development and direction of the Intelligence Community’s Counter-Biological Weapons Program.”</p>
<p>Dr. Rapp “is a Professor of Military and Emergency Medicine at the Uniformed Services University.”</p>
<p>Dr. Garry Nolan, another Academy advisor, “is the Rachford and Carlota A. Harris Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine…He holds a B.S. in genetics from Cornell University, a Ph.D. in genetics from Stanford University.”</p>
<p>Luis Elizondo’s “academic background includes Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, with research experience in tropical diseases.”</p>
<p>And finally, another Academy team member, Dr. Adele Gilpin, “is a scientist with biomedical academic and research experience as well as an active, licensed, attorney.”</p>
<p>Why are all these medical people on board, along with intelligence and military players? Microbiology, parasitology, immunology, genetics, biological weapons? What do these fields have to do with UFOs?</p>
<p>It doesn’t take a great deal of imagination to come up with a few answers. Military and intelligence and microbiological people, working together on UFO scenarios, could easily concoct “threat assessments” focusing on “unique viruses coming to Earth from space.” Via drift, or even through “aliens” visiting from afar.</p>
<p>I say “threat assessments,” because that is how these people think and how they spin.</p>
<p>Don’t be too surprised if you hear language like this emerge:</p>
<p>“We must prepare for all eventualities. After all, if we aren’t alone in the universe, we could be subject to life forms at the micro level we aren’t ready for, and to which we have no natural immunity…”</p>
<p>When your professional background is inventing enemies, there are no limits to the scenarios you’ll dream up.</p>
<p>Suppose we soon hear this: “Dr. X has suggested the need for extensive research on possible vaccines against a whole range of unknown viral species from outer space…”</p>
<p>The CEO of Merck would sit up straight and grab the phone. He would want to talk to his contact at the Defense Department. He smells a new government contract.</p>
<p>A few big shots at the US Centers for Disease Control would huddle in a meeting. How can they get in on the action? Perhaps they can find an astrobiologist who’ll claim “the possibility of human disease originating in space has been considered for many years. We’ve always been puzzled by the genetic makeup of certain viruses. When you consider that components involved in the formation of Earth itself could have come from distant space, these components certainly could have carried microbes with them…”</p>
<p>Yes, that would be a start. “And if, in fact, we have had ‘visitors,’ wouldn’t they carry their own set of unique viruses?”</p>
<p>Here is an actual news story from gizmodo.com (6/22/15), “Why Scientists Have Been Scared of Space Germs for Almost 50 Years”: “The 1967 Outer Space Treaty was one of the few things the U.S. and the Soviet Union managed to agree on at the height of the Cold War. Among other things, it forbid both nations from bringing space microbes back to Earth, or spreading Earth germs to other planets.”</p>
<p>“Mostly, they [scientists] worry about single-celled, microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, some fungi, and viruses – or whatever the alien version of single-celled life looks like. We know for certain that bacteria and viruses can survive exposure to the harsh conditions of space long enough to hitch a ride to someplace more hospitable [like Earth].”</p>
<p>“Once they [Apollo mission personnel] returned to Earth, the crews went into immediate quarantine. First they lived in a mobile isolation unit on the aircraft carrier that recovered the landing capsule, then in an aircraft set up for isolation, and finally in a special quarantine unit at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. They stayed there for three weeks, while NASA doctors performed tests and watched for any signs of illness that might indicate an alien infection.”</p>
<p>Perfect. The intelligence and military and medical people at DeLonge’s Academy could cook up “space-virus” scenarios in a heartbeat. And with a series of press statements, they could pitch a threat assessment to the press. They already own a direct pipeline to the NY Times, which tells you they have an official green light to move forward.</p>
<p>We’re looking at something extraordinary here. A rock musician, who’s been intensely interested in UFOs for years, starts his own Academy, and he’s instantly surrounded by important CIA and Pentagon and medical players. They have access to the most powerful press outlets.</p>
<p>They’ve already sold a story about military contact with a UFO, and another story about pieces from a UFO that resist all attempts at analysis. It was a remarkably easy sale. Poof. No problem.</p>
<p>Why not hoist up the flag on bio-threats from deep space? Carefully craft the language. Peddle that tale, too.</p>
<p>There are lots of payoffs. Raise the public level of fear. Always a goal when the CIA and the Pentagon are in the game. Stimulate government contracts (big money) for new medical research. Use this research as a cover for yet more (illegal) work on offensive bio-warfare programs. Hell, if they’re going to go that far, why not claim the Russians have already isolated viruses from space and are developing super bio-weapons—and you have the makings of a brand new shiny Cold War.</p>
<p>Or in this case, space.</p>
<p>It may be the Final Frontier of exploration, but it’s also the frontier of sheer fabrication.</p>
<p>“Are you ready, boys? All right, let’s go. Work it. Work the new virus-from-space scenario. This is a big one. All hands on deck. Sell it. Sell that jive. The New York Times is panting for more. Give it to them.”</p>
<p>There are rumblings in Congress about resurrecting the Reagan Star Wars plan to build space weapons, which would intercept enemy nuclear missiles. Why not piggy-back a staggeringly expensive program to install “virus detectors” in space, to alert the government to “incoming microbes” from Out There—or from purported Russian “bio-attacks?”</p>
<p>“They’d never be able to sell that idea.”</p>
<p>Really? Given enough time and propaganda, and given control of the basic narrative, government scientists can sell almost anything.</p>
<p>For decades, they’ve been selling the concept and practice of taking babies and toddlers, who possess almost no immune systems of their own, and injecting them with brews of toxic chemicals and microbes—known as vaccination—in order to stimulate and produce immunity in those non-existent immune systems.</p>
<p>Back in the mid-1990s, a whole brew of hysteria was whipped up about the Hot Zone. The thesis went this way: Because of the ease of global travel, all sorts of dangerous viruses, buried for centuries in Africa and the rainforests of South America, were going to come to the West and kill untold numbers of people, who had developed no natural immunity to them. Books and articles and films about this threat appeared.</p>
<p>Well, the next great Hot Zone story would be Space.</p>
<p>And To the Stars Academy has the right people on board to promote and hustle it.</p>
<p>Plus, on the side, DeLonge’s Academy can always use all those medical experts to analyze an alien ET body that suddenly pops up in a locker at Area 51.</p>
<p>The author of three explosive collections,&#160; <a href="https://marketplace.mybigcommerce.com/the-matrix-revealed/" type="external">THE MATRIX REVEALED</a>,&#160; <a href="https://marketplace.mybigcommerce.com/exit-from-the-matrix/" type="external">EXIT FROM THE MATRIX</a>, and&#160; <a href="https://marketplace.mybigcommerce.com/power-outside-the-matrix/" type="external">POWER OUTSIDE THE MATRIX</a>, Jon was a candidate for a US Congressional seat in the 29th&#160;District of California. He maintains a consulting practice for private clients, the purpose of which is the expansion of personal creative power. Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, he has worked as an investigative reporter for 30 years, writing articles on politics, medicine, and health for CBS Healthwatch, LA Weekly, Spin Magazine, Stern, and other newspapers and magazines in the US and Europe. Jon has delivered lectures and seminars on global politics, health, logic, and creative power to audiences around the world. You can sign up for his&#160;free&#160;NoMoreFakeNews emails&#160; <a href="https://j.mp/1HvKCU1" type="external">here</a>&#160;or his&#160;free&#160;OutsideTheRealityMachine emails&#160; <a href="https://j.mp/1SfPuzL" type="external">here</a>.</p>
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may sound like misguided question lets look tom delonges company currently acting conduit new ufo revelations delonge famous musician blink182 angels airwaves surrounded highlevel spooks cia military new venture stars academy one lead collaborators luis elizondo pentagon chief secret program 20072012 study explore ufo activity elizondo point man media explaining breaking news 2004 us military sighting ufo subsequent failed attempts analyze materials ufos hes also hinting alien ufos potential threat safety threat cant ignore every major press outlet world starting ny times covering story players de longes team buckle following quotes academys site jim semivanmr semivan retired central intelligence agencys directorate operations 25 years operations officer overseas domestically hal puthoffdr puthoffs professional background spans five decades research general electric sperry national security agency nsa stanford university sri international dr puthoff regularly advises nasa department defense intelligence communities luis elizondoluis elizondo career intelligence officer whose experience includes working us army department defense national counterintelligence executive director national intelligence former special agent incharge luis conducted supervised highly sensitive espionage terrorism investigations around world intelligence case officer ran clandestine source operations throughout latin america middle east chris mellonhe served 20 years federal government including deputy assistant secretary defense intelligence clinton bush administrations paul rapphis past honors include certificate commendation central intelligence agency significant contributions mission office research development note office ord cias mkultra mind control program secretly landed 1962 purportedly ended norm kahndr kahn 30year career central intelligence agency getting picture thats quite roll call military intelligence insiders delonge recruit covertly recruit viewing sincere rather clueless front man could use purposes lets go one layer deeper names tom delonges team stars academy dr norm kahns career cia culminated development direction intelligence communitys counterbiological weapons program dr rapp professor military emergency medicine uniformed services university dr garry nolan another academy advisor rachford carlota harris professor department microbiology immunology stanford university school medicinehe holds bs genetics cornell university phd genetics stanford university luis elizondos academic background includes microbiology immunology parasitology research experience tropical diseases finally another academy team member dr adele gilpin scientist biomedical academic research experience well active licensed attorney medical people board along intelligence military players microbiology parasitology immunology genetics biological weapons fields ufos doesnt take great deal imagination come answers military intelligence microbiological people working together ufo scenarios could easily concoct threat assessments focusing unique viruses coming earth space via drift even aliens visiting afar say threat assessments people think spin dont surprised hear language like emerge must prepare eventualities arent alone universe could subject life forms micro level arent ready natural immunity professional background inventing enemies limits scenarios youll dream suppose soon hear dr x suggested need extensive research possible vaccines whole range unknown viral species outer space ceo merck would sit straight grab phone would want talk contact defense department smells new government contract big shots us centers disease control would huddle meeting get action perhaps find astrobiologist wholl claim possibility human disease originating space considered many years weve always puzzled genetic makeup certain viruses consider components involved formation earth could come distant space components certainly could carried microbes yes would start fact visitors wouldnt carry set unique viruses actual news story gizmodocom 62215 scientists scared space germs almost 50 years 1967 outer space treaty one things us soviet union managed agree height cold war among things forbid nations bringing space microbes back earth spreading earth germs planets mostly scientists worry singlecelled microscopic organisms bacteria fungi viruses whatever alien version singlecelled life looks like know certain bacteria viruses survive exposure harsh conditions space long enough hitch ride someplace hospitable like earth apollo mission personnel returned earth crews went immediate quarantine first lived mobile isolation unit aircraft carrier recovered landing capsule aircraft set isolation finally special quarantine unit johnson space center houston texas stayed three weeks nasa doctors performed tests watched signs illness might indicate alien infection perfect intelligence military medical people delonges academy could cook spacevirus scenarios heartbeat series press statements could pitch threat assessment press already direct pipeline ny times tells official green light move forward looking something extraordinary rock musician whos intensely interested ufos years starts academy hes instantly surrounded important cia pentagon medical players access powerful press outlets theyve already sold story military contact ufo another story pieces ufo resist attempts analysis remarkably easy sale poof problem hoist flag biothreats deep space carefully craft language peddle tale lots payoffs raise public level fear always goal cia pentagon game stimulate government contracts big money new medical research use research cover yet illegal work offensive biowarfare programs hell theyre going go far claim russians already isolated viruses space developing super bioweaponsand makings brand new shiny cold war case space may final frontier exploration also frontier sheer fabrication ready boys right lets go work work new virusfromspace scenario big one hands deck sell sell jive new york times panting give rumblings congress resurrecting reagan star wars plan build space weapons would intercept enemy nuclear missiles piggyback staggeringly expensive program install virus detectors space alert government incoming microbes thereor purported russian bioattacks theyd never able sell idea really given enough time propaganda given control basic narrative government scientists sell almost anything decades theyve selling concept practice taking babies toddlers possess almost immune systems injecting brews toxic chemicals microbesknown vaccinationin order stimulate produce immunity nonexistent immune systems back mid1990s whole brew hysteria whipped hot zone thesis went way ease global travel sorts dangerous viruses buried centuries africa rainforests south america going come west kill untold numbers people developed natural immunity books articles films threat appeared well next great hot zone story would space stars academy right people board promote hustle plus side delonges academy always use medical experts analyze alien et body suddenly pops locker area 51 author three explosive collections160 matrix revealed160 exit matrix and160 power outside matrix jon candidate us congressional seat 29th160district california maintains consulting practice private clients purpose expansion personal creative power nominated pulitzer prize worked investigative reporter 30 years writing articles politics medicine health cbs healthwatch la weekly spin magazine stern newspapers magazines us europe jon delivered lectures seminars global politics health logic creative power audiences around world sign his160free160nomorefakenews emails160 here160or his160free160outsidetherealitymachine emails160
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<p>Hillary Clinton did not know that "c" stood for confidential.</p>
<p>That was one of the revelations in the notes the FBI released Friday from their interview with Clinton about her use of a private email server while she was Secretary of State.</p>
<p>The notes which total 58 pages, including 14 that are redacted in full, provide more insight into the email scandal that has left a shadow over her campaign.</p>
<p>Documents reveal that Clinton, who as secretary of State bypassed her State Department email and installed a private email server at her home in Chappaqua, New York, was not aware of the challenges, questions and problems that could result from a high level U.S. official sidestepping security and archival guidelines.</p>
<p>But they also show Clinton's lack of understanding of standards that govern government officials, especially those with top security clearances.</p>
<p>Email Archive Deleted</p>
<p>The FBI notes show that the deletion of emails began after the New York Times first reported Clinton's use of a private email server, which could be a violation of public records' laws.</p>
<p>Someone the FBI interviewed, but who was redacted in the released documents, said he had an "oh sh--" moment around March 25, 2015 when he deleted Clinton's archive mailbox after realizing that he forgot to implement an "email retention policy changes" that had been requested in December 2014, several months prior, by Clinton's top aide, Cheryl Mills.</p>
<p>The New York Times released their story March 2, three weeks before this individual began deleting the archive.</p>
<p>Security Breach</p>
<p>The FBI found no evidence confirming that Clinton's email accounts or mobile devices were compromised, but efforts to penetrate her email did occur.</p>
<p>The FBI notes indicate that they found phishing emails sent to Clinton's private account on multiple occurrences. At one point, she opened an email that "contained a potentially malicious link" and she replied to the email asking if "is this really from you? I was worried about opening it!"</p>
<p>In the notes, the administrator of the server, Brian Pagliano, told the FBI that while no security breaches occurred, "he was aware there were many failed login attempts, which he referred to as brute force attacks."</p>
<p>Furthermore, the FBI found, according to their investigation, that Clinton’s email traffic “was potentially vulnerable to compromise when she first began using her personal account in January 2009” until late March of that year, when Pagliano set up login credentials and encryption.</p>
<p>However, as FBI Director James Comey reported on July 5, the FBI's inability to obtain all mobile devices and various computer components associated with the personal email systems prevented them from determining conclusively that classified information transmitted and stored on the personal systems were not compromised.</p>
<p>"The FBI did find that hostile foreign actors successfully gained access to the personal email accounts of individuals with whom Clinton was in regular contact and in doing so obtained emails sent to or received by Clinton on her personal account," Comey said.</p>
<p>In addition, of the 81 classified emailed chains sent on Clinton's private server, two were among the most sensitive because they are released only to a group of English-speaking countries who share a joint-intelligence sharing arrangement, also known as FVEY. Under FVEY, the U.S. provides some of its most sensitive electronic eavesdropping to the intelligence services of partner countries.</p>
<p>'Not Aware'</p>
<p>The FBI notes said that Clinton “never deleted, nor did she instruct anyone to delete” her email to avoid compliance with the Federal Records Act or official requests for information. Clinton said she “trusted her legal team” to “comply with the request” to obtain pertinent work-related information.</p>
<p>The secretary also mentioned in her interview that she had communicated with former Secretary of State Colin Powell about the use of a non-state email, and he said that anything in writing would be a government record so she wasn't concerned about bypassing government record-keeping guidelines.</p>
<p>At least one State Department employee, according to the 58-pages of notes written by FBI investigators, was concerned with Clinton's use of a private server, but Clinton said she was "not aware" that the concern existed.</p>
<p>Clinton also told FBI investigators that she wasn't sure what the "c" meant next to paragraphs in one email that was used to designate confidential information. She said she didn't know the difference between different levels of classification but that she took them all "seriously."</p>
<p>The State Department has previously said that officials can "confirm that a sentence in a document released in our online collection of former Secretary Clinton’s email includes a marking to indicate that the sentence was classified at the confidential level, the lowest level of classification. However, given the context of the document it appears the marking was no longer necessary or appropriate at the time it was sent."</p>
<p>Clinton was also questioned about training for handling classified information, but she couldn't recall receiving any training.</p>
<p>She told investigators that she did not intend to use the server to evade historical records act and that she requested a secure BlackBerry device when she first arrived at state but she was denied one, for reasons she couldn't remember.</p>
<p>The FBI notes that for their investigation they requested all 11 of Clinton’s BlackBerry’s used with her private server, including eight from her time as secretary of State, but her attorneys said that four years after her service ended, they couldn’t locate any of the devices. The FBI did obtain two of her five iPads, but Clinton aide Justin Cooper told them that twice he destroyed old devices by breaking them in half or smashing them with a hammer.</p>
<p>The Donald Trump campaign said that the latest documents further show that Clinton was "reckless" and "dishonest."</p>
<p>"Clinton’s secret email server was an end run around government transparency laws that wound up jeopardizing our national security and sensitive diplomatic efforts," Trump spokesperson Jason Miller wrote in a statement.</p>
<p>The FBI had already granted <a href="" type="internal">Congress access to the documents</a> with the understanding that some of the material would be made public.</p>
<p>The release detailed the FBI’s 3.5-hour interview with Clinton on July 2 and the FBI's memo to the Justice Department recommending that no one be prosecuted.</p>
<p>The FBI does not produce verbatim transcripts of its investigative interviews. Under the FBI's long-standing policy, agents do not make audio or video recordings of their interviews. Instead, summaries of the interviews are written on FBI Form 302, and have come to be known as "302's."</p>
<p>An FBI policy paper explains that "the presence of recording equipment may interfere with and undermine the successful rapport-building interviewing technique which the FBI practices.</p>
<p>Two years ago the Justice Department said FBI agents should begin recording interviews, but only involving "individuals in federal custody, after they have been arrested but before their initial appearance" in court. That rule did not apply to the Clinton interview, which was voluntary.</p>
<p>The State Department on Friday said that it doesn't have full insight into the FBI's investigation and therefore "it would be inappropriate for us to comment on their findings or their recommendations."</p>
<p>"It’s important to remember that the FBI memo and 302s are not transcripts — they are summaries. Furthermore, it is not appropriate to consider pieces of evidence outside of the broader context. So the State Department is not going to parse every individual piece of evidence that may be characterized through the media. As Director Comey noted in his July press conference, the FBI’s view was that ‘no charges are appropriate in this case,’” State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.</p>
<p>Clinton Campaign 'Pleased'</p>
<p>The Clinton campaign said they are "pleased" the FBI has released the documents.</p>
<p>"While her use of a single email account was clearly a mistake and she has taken responsibility for it, these materials make clear why the Justice Department believed there was no basis to move forward with this case," Clinton spokesperson, Brian Fallon, said in a statement.</p>
<p>Clinton's interview with the FBI, which took place July 2, was the culmination of a year-long investigation into Clinton's email practices. The head of the FBI, James Comey, recommended that no charges be filed because, in part, there was no "clearly intentional and willful mishandling of classified information."</p>
<p>The controversy over Clinton’s private email server — and the deletion of about half of her emails because her attorneys deemed them personal in nature — has dogged Clinton throughout her presidential run. It has led to ongoing questions about her trustworthiness and an appearance of entitlement that has contributed to the lowest favorability ratings of any recent presidential candidate — other than her opponent, Donald Trump.</p>
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hillary clinton know c stood confidential one revelations notes fbi released friday interview clinton use private email server secretary state notes total 58 pages including 14 redacted full provide insight email scandal left shadow campaign documents reveal clinton secretary state bypassed state department email installed private email server home chappaqua new york aware challenges questions problems could result high level us official sidestepping security archival guidelines also show clintons lack understanding standards govern government officials especially top security clearances email archive deleted fbi notes show deletion emails began new york times first reported clintons use private email server could violation public records laws someone fbi interviewed redacted released documents said oh sh moment around march 25 2015 deleted clintons archive mailbox realizing forgot implement email retention policy changes requested december 2014 several months prior clintons top aide cheryl mills new york times released story march 2 three weeks individual began deleting archive security breach fbi found evidence confirming clintons email accounts mobile devices compromised efforts penetrate email occur fbi notes indicate found phishing emails sent clintons private account multiple occurrences one point opened email contained potentially malicious link replied email asking really worried opening notes administrator server brian pagliano told fbi security breaches occurred aware many failed login attempts referred brute force attacks furthermore fbi found according investigation clintons email traffic potentially vulnerable compromise first began using personal account january 2009 late march year pagliano set login credentials encryption however fbi director james comey reported july 5 fbis inability obtain mobile devices various computer components associated personal email systems prevented determining conclusively classified information transmitted stored personal systems compromised fbi find hostile foreign actors successfully gained access personal email accounts individuals clinton regular contact obtained emails sent received clinton personal account comey said addition 81 classified emailed chains sent clintons private server two among sensitive released group englishspeaking countries share jointintelligence sharing arrangement also known fvey fvey us provides sensitive electronic eavesdropping intelligence services partner countries aware fbi notes said clinton never deleted instruct anyone delete email avoid compliance federal records act official requests information clinton said trusted legal team comply request obtain pertinent workrelated information secretary also mentioned interview communicated former secretary state colin powell use nonstate email said anything writing would government record wasnt concerned bypassing government recordkeeping guidelines least one state department employee according 58pages notes written fbi investigators concerned clintons use private server clinton said aware concern existed clinton also told fbi investigators wasnt sure c meant next paragraphs one email used designate confidential information said didnt know difference different levels classification took seriously state department previously said officials confirm sentence document released online collection former secretary clintons email includes marking indicate sentence classified confidential level lowest level classification however given context document appears marking longer necessary appropriate time sent clinton also questioned training handling classified information couldnt recall receiving training told investigators intend use server evade historical records act requested secure blackberry device first arrived state denied one reasons couldnt remember fbi notes investigation requested 11 clintons blackberrys used private server including eight time secretary state attorneys said four years service ended couldnt locate devices fbi obtain two five ipads clinton aide justin cooper told twice destroyed old devices breaking half smashing hammer donald trump campaign said latest documents show clinton reckless dishonest clintons secret email server end run around government transparency laws wound jeopardizing national security sensitive diplomatic efforts trump spokesperson jason miller wrote statement fbi already granted congress access documents understanding material would made public release detailed fbis 35hour interview clinton july 2 fbis memo justice department recommending one prosecuted fbi produce verbatim transcripts investigative interviews fbis longstanding policy agents make audio video recordings interviews instead summaries interviews written fbi form 302 come known 302s fbi policy paper explains presence recording equipment may interfere undermine successful rapportbuilding interviewing technique fbi practices two years ago justice department said fbi agents begin recording interviews involving individuals federal custody arrested initial appearance court rule apply clinton interview voluntary state department friday said doesnt full insight fbis investigation therefore would inappropriate us comment findings recommendations important remember fbi memo 302s transcripts summaries furthermore appropriate consider pieces evidence outside broader context state department going parse every individual piece evidence may characterized media director comey noted july press conference fbis view charges appropriate case state department spokesman john kirby said statement clinton campaign pleased clinton campaign said pleased fbi released documents use single email account clearly mistake taken responsibility materials make clear justice department believed basis move forward case clinton spokesperson brian fallon said statement clintons interview fbi took place july 2 culmination yearlong investigation clintons email practices head fbi james comey recommended charges filed part clearly intentional willful mishandling classified information controversy clintons private email server deletion half emails attorneys deemed personal nature dogged clinton throughout presidential run led ongoing questions trustworthiness appearance entitlement contributed lowest favorability ratings recent presidential candidate opponent donald trump
| 816 |
<p>NEW DELHI, India — When Yale University decided to establish its new Climate and Energy Institute in March the choice of Rajendra K. Pachauri to head it came as no surprise. Pachauri, who shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change with former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore, has after all set up Asia's first university focused entirely on sustainable development.</p>
<p>In 10 years&#160;— a short span for a university — Pachauri's TERI University has made a name for itself in the rapidly growing field of sustainable development. The New Delhi university has won praise from industry executives and academics who say the institution is tackling some of the world's most pressing environmental problems, including poverty and pollution, and has the brainpower to make a difference.</p>
<p>For Yale, Pachauri will not only bring experience in setting up a university, but also a rich body of research from TERI's parent body, the Energy and Resources Institute, an environmental think tank which he founded in 1974. Yale's new institute will provide seed grants, support graduate study, sponsor conferences and workshops, and foster interdisciplinary research in areas ranging from basic atmospheric science to public policy. Almost 100 Yale scientists, engineers, physicians, social scientists and policy experts have joined together to launch the enterprise.</p>
<p>“We are fortunate to attract one of the world’s foremost climate change experts to lead this ambitious new institute,” Yale’s president, Richard Levin said, when he announced Pachauri's appointment.</p>
<p>Known for training specialists who help companies become more environmentally friendly, TERI University has created academic and research partnerships with Yale, North Carolina State, Michigan State and Brandeis Universities; as well as with the Free University of Berlin, and with the University of New South Wales, in Australia. International universities consult with TERI faculty members on how best to develop their curricula, or to learn more about how India is promoting sustainable development.</p>
<p>Many of TERI graduates have been snapped up by multinational companies like Suzlon Energy Limited, one of the world's leading players in harnessing wind energy, and Ernst &amp; Young, an accounting firm, which has hired graduates as environmental consultants for its clients.</p>
<p>All students at TERI are required to take a broad range of courses in such subjects as economics, policy, sociology and the hard sciences. But what makes the program special, supporters say, is the requirement that students intern with companies or government agencies, and tackle actual environmental projects before they graduate.</p>
<p>"We don't want the students to specialize as scientists but as environmental managers, so they can work in the organization they join as advisers on environmental issues," P.P. Bhojvaid, dean of academics, said earlier this year.</p>
<p>TERI offers seven master's degrees, in areas including natural-resources management, water-resources management, and public policy and sustainable development. It also offers doctorates in the broad areas of biotechnology, energy and environment, regulatory and policy studies, and natural-resources management. The student-faculty ratio is four to one.</p>
<p>Students assist researchers at TERI on projects that include reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, building wastewater-treatment systems, and helping townships manage waste in an environmentally friendly manner. "After one year of course work, students jump in to live projects," said Rajiv Seth, a senior administrator at the university. "They do one semester of independent study, which we call a minor project, and then a full semester of a major project with industry."</p>
<p>To ensure that its graduates understand how their environmental projects will operate in the real world, the curriculum is a mix of social sciences and hard sciences. Students enrolled in water-resources management will also study policy issues, and students enrolled in public policy and sustainable development will also study pure sciences.</p>
<p>India's top industrial houses believe the university's balanced mix of multidisciplinary and innovative education equips students with skills suited to real-world problems rather than just academic theorizing.</p>
<p>"What they teach is very relevant to today's context," said Ulhas Parlikar, director of the alternative fuels and raw materials division of ACC Limited, a leading cement company in India. "Its graduates are multidimensional, are very willing to work in the field, and have passion for their work."</p>
<p>The university's next goal is to become more global, both in its curriculum and its student body.</p>
<p>"That is important because when it comes to environmental issues, we have a great deal to learn from others, and others can learn a great deal from us," said Mr. Pachauri. TERI's partnership with Yale reflects that interest. And Pachauri's appointment as head of Yale's Climate and Energy Institute will only deepen this partnership.</p>
<p>"Our collaboration with TERI University is beneficial to both sides," said Timothy Gregoire, a professor in the Yale forestry school. "It is imperative we remove the insularity of years past and become a global community." He noted that Yale, which last year announced a multimillion-dollar investment in academic partnerships in India, has a long-term commitment to the country. "They view our collaboration with TERI University as a model on which to develop such relationships," he said.</p>
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new delhi india yale university decided establish new climate energy institute march choice rajendra k pachauri head came surprise pachauri shared 2007 nobel peace prize behalf united nations intergovernmental panel climate change former us vicepresident al gore set asias first university focused entirely sustainable development 10 years160 short span university pachauris teri university made name rapidly growing field sustainable development new delhi university praise industry executives academics say institution tackling worlds pressing environmental problems including poverty pollution brainpower make difference yale pachauri bring experience setting university also rich body research teris parent body energy resources institute environmental think tank founded 1974 yales new institute provide seed grants support graduate study sponsor conferences workshops foster interdisciplinary research areas ranging basic atmospheric science public policy almost 100 yale scientists engineers physicians social scientists policy experts joined together launch enterprise fortunate attract one worlds foremost climate change experts lead ambitious new institute yales president richard levin said announced pachauris appointment known training specialists help companies become environmentally friendly teri university created academic research partnerships yale north carolina state michigan state brandeis universities well free university berlin university new south wales australia international universities consult teri faculty members best develop curricula learn india promoting sustainable development many teri graduates snapped multinational companies like suzlon energy limited one worlds leading players harnessing wind energy ernst amp young accounting firm hired graduates environmental consultants clients students teri required take broad range courses subjects economics policy sociology hard sciences makes program special supporters say requirement students intern companies government agencies tackle actual environmental projects graduate dont want students specialize scientists environmental managers work organization join advisers environmental issues pp bhojvaid dean academics said earlier year teri offers seven masters degrees areas including naturalresources management waterresources management public policy sustainable development also offers doctorates broad areas biotechnology energy environment regulatory policy studies naturalresources management studentfaculty ratio four one students assist researchers teri projects include reducing greenhousegas emissions building wastewatertreatment systems helping townships manage waste environmentally friendly manner one year course work students jump live projects said rajiv seth senior administrator university one semester independent study call minor project full semester major project industry ensure graduates understand environmental projects operate real world curriculum mix social sciences hard sciences students enrolled waterresources management also study policy issues students enrolled public policy sustainable development also study pure sciences indias top industrial houses believe universitys balanced mix multidisciplinary innovative education equips students skills suited realworld problems rather academic theorizing teach relevant todays context said ulhas parlikar director alternative fuels raw materials division acc limited leading cement company india graduates multidimensional willing work field passion work universitys next goal become global curriculum student body important comes environmental issues great deal learn others others learn great deal us said mr pachauri teris partnership yale reflects interest pachauris appointment head yales climate energy institute deepen partnership collaboration teri university beneficial sides said timothy gregoire professor yale forestry school imperative remove insularity years past become global community noted yale last year announced multimilliondollar investment academic partnerships india longterm commitment country view collaboration teri university model develop relationships said
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<p>NEW DELHI — In India, love is in the air. Unfortunately, so is the raucous noise of lover's quarrels and the soporific drone of the court judge.</p>
<p>The flawed, but familiar, bonds of tradition are fading away. And there's nothing to replace them except for what Danny DeVito identified in "The War of the Roses" as the “two dilemmas that rattle the human skull: How do you hang on to someone who won't stay? And how do you get rid of someone who won't go?”</p>
<p>For thousands of years, Hindu society had the first problem licked. Marriages were contracts of servitude that sent a daughter off to her husband's family home with a hefty dowry and the injunction not to complain, because it was a one-way trip. Now, though, India is working on DeVito's second dilemma.</p>
<p>Women are gaining independence through education and a more important role in the workforce. Divorce laws have been made more liberal, and progressive legislation has been adopted to curb “bride burning” to extort dowries. Women no longer have to suffer psychological or physical abuse. More couples live in nuclear families instead of with the husband's mother and father, which ought to make things easier but has instead resulted in a relaxing of the unofficial ban on a wife's family butting into the couple's business.</p>
<p>And, perhaps most significantly, a new cultural obsession with romance and personal fulfillment has raised the bar for a happy marriage.</p>
<p>“If people have to be romantic and romance has to endure through thick and thin, the idea can be that if romance withers, the marriage is ended,” says Patricia Uberoi, a New Delhi-based sociologist.</p>
<p>India does not track a national divorce rate, but some analyses of the number of divorce petitions filed in municipal courts indicate that divorce has doubled since 1990 in trend-setting Mumbai and Delhi.</p>
<p>“Statistically the number of cases on the docket has exploded,” says Prosenjit Banerjee, a Delhi divorce lawyer. That means that even though the number of courts devoted to divorce proceedings has grown to around a dozen over the past 10 years, up from just four or five, there are still more than 30 cases listed before each court every day.</p>
<p>The phenomenon has already spread beyond the cosmopolitan centers.</p>
<p>Though the broadest available figures, from the National Family Health Survey, still place the figure much lower, some estimates now peg the (once negligible) national divorce rate at close to 6 percent. The statistical discrepancy that can probably be attributed to the glacial pace of the Indian courts, since the NFHS counted the number of divorced people and other estimates focus on the number of divorce cases.</p>
<p>At least among Internet users, the problem knows no geographical boundaries. About 60 percent of the 50,000 customers who have registered with SecondShaadi.com, an online matchmaking service for divorced Indians that launched&#160; a year ago, live outside India's five largest cities; more than a third live outside the 20 largest cities. “In a few years, we may not even be talking about divorce and remarriage as a stigma anymore,” says Vivek Pahwa, the company's chief executive.</p>
<p>For men and women trapped in bad marriages, that's wonderful news. Rani, a 23-year-old woman from the provincial town of Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, for instance, applied for the courts after her husband sent her back to her parents a year into their marriage with a demand for a dowry supplement of 50,000 rupees (the equivalent of a year's salary in these parts). And when she gave birth to a daughter, her husband didn't even come to look at the baby. After three years of legal wrangling over the dowry — prohibited since 1961, though the law is widely flouted — she now says, “I want to be divorced this minute!”</p>
<p>But the state is flailing helplessly as it tries to balance tradition with modernity when it comes to the legal and law enforcement responses to marital discord.</p>
<p>Because a court-ordered divorce can take 15 years, women's attorneys often advise them to file dowry or domestic violence cases against their husbands instead, says Geeta Luthra, a lawyer who works on divorce and other women's issues. The criminal courts are equally slow, but the threat of being arrested and spending time behind bars while their lawyer argues for bail exerts pressure on men to settle. That's unfortunate, Luthra says, because the “eight false cases” are making the one genuine dowry petitioner more difficult to believe.</p>
<p>The domestic violence act of 2005 poses another kind of threat: An abused wife can be awarded any “matrimonial home” that she resided in during her marriage — whether or not her husband holds the deed. “The idea is that by scaring the husband and his family they'll force them to settle. And the settlement basically means money,” Banerjee says. “The law is certainly being abused. That's not my assessment, that's the assessment of the high court and the supreme court.”</p>
<p>For men like Rakesh, a middle-class Delhi resident, this means almost weekly trips to court and the police station's special cell for women.</p>
<p>After he refused his wife's demand to move into a second home that his family owned and rented to tenants, his wife filed a police case against him and threatened to have him, his aging mother, his two brothers and their wives thrown in jail for dowry violations he maintains are completely fictitious. He tried to come up with a compromise — he even rented a house for the couple to live in separate from his family. But when nothing worked he filed for divorce.</p>
<p>Now when he's not at the special police division devoted to women's issues suffering verbal abuse in the guise of police-enforced couples counseling, he spends his time wondering whether today is the day he'll get the warning he's going to be arrested and should seek anticipatory bail.</p>
<p>Still, the terms of the debate over dowry and domestic violence cases sometimes suggest what's at stake is a disagreement over the traditions of marriage.</p>
<p>For instance, a web site designed to help men victimized by false cases asks, “Wife forcing you to live separately? Wife does not respect you and is discourteous to your parents?”</p>
<p>This sort of thing cuts both ways, says Luthra. Perhaps understandably, women are less tolerant and more demanding than ever before. But it's not uncommon for a man to sue for divorce on the grounds that his wife refuses to do the housework, fails to play the good hostess when his friends drop by, or is impolite to her in-laws. On the other hand, Luthra says that these days, among couples who don't live with the husband's parents, the wife's mother may call with advice 10 times a day.</p>
<p>That's a problem any culture — traditional or modern — can understand.</p>
<p>More&#160;GlobalPost&#160;Dispatches on love in India:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/india/090209/india-million-romeos-million-juliets" type="external">A million Romeos, a million Juliets</a></p>
<p>More Dispatches on marriage:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/lebanon/090213/some-lebanese-call-civil-unions" type="external">Some Lebanese call for civil unions</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/saudi-arabia/090416/child-marriage-case-showcases-deep-splits-saudi-society" type="external">Child marriage case showcases deep splits in Saudi society</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/afghanistan/090413/setback-afghan-women" type="external">A setback for Afghan women</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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new delhi india love air unfortunately raucous noise lovers quarrels soporific drone court judge flawed familiar bonds tradition fading away theres nothing replace except danny devito identified war roses two dilemmas rattle human skull hang someone wont stay get rid someone wont go thousands years hindu society first problem licked marriages contracts servitude sent daughter husbands family home hefty dowry injunction complain oneway trip though india working devitos second dilemma women gaining independence education important role workforce divorce laws made liberal progressive legislation adopted curb bride burning extort dowries women longer suffer psychological physical abuse couples live nuclear families instead husbands mother father ought make things easier instead resulted relaxing unofficial ban wifes family butting couples business perhaps significantly new cultural obsession romance personal fulfillment raised bar happy marriage people romantic romance endure thick thin idea romance withers marriage ended says patricia uberoi new delhibased sociologist india track national divorce rate analyses number divorce petitions filed municipal courts indicate divorce doubled since 1990 trendsetting mumbai delhi statistically number cases docket exploded says prosenjit banerjee delhi divorce lawyer means even though number courts devoted divorce proceedings grown around dozen past 10 years four five still 30 cases listed court every day phenomenon already spread beyond cosmopolitan centers though broadest available figures national family health survey still place figure much lower estimates peg negligible national divorce rate close 6 percent statistical discrepancy probably attributed glacial pace indian courts since nfhs counted number divorced people estimates focus number divorce cases least among internet users problem knows geographical boundaries 60 percent 50000 customers registered secondshaadicom online matchmaking service divorced indians launched160 year ago live outside indias five largest cities third live outside 20 largest cities years may even talking divorce remarriage stigma anymore says vivek pahwa companys chief executive men women trapped bad marriages thats wonderful news rani 23yearold woman provincial town muzaffarnagar uttar pradesh instance applied courts husband sent back parents year marriage demand dowry supplement 50000 rupees equivalent years salary parts gave birth daughter husband didnt even come look baby three years legal wrangling dowry prohibited since 1961 though law widely flouted says want divorced minute state flailing helplessly tries balance tradition modernity comes legal law enforcement responses marital discord courtordered divorce take 15 years womens attorneys often advise file dowry domestic violence cases husbands instead says geeta luthra lawyer works divorce womens issues criminal courts equally slow threat arrested spending time behind bars lawyer argues bail exerts pressure men settle thats unfortunate luthra says eight false cases making one genuine dowry petitioner difficult believe domestic violence act 2005 poses another kind threat abused wife awarded matrimonial home resided marriage whether husband holds deed idea scaring husband family theyll force settle settlement basically means money banerjee says law certainly abused thats assessment thats assessment high court supreme court men like rakesh middleclass delhi resident means almost weekly trips court police stations special cell women refused wifes demand move second home family owned rented tenants wife filed police case threatened aging mother two brothers wives thrown jail dowry violations maintains completely fictitious tried come compromise even rented house couple live separate family nothing worked filed divorce hes special police division devoted womens issues suffering verbal abuse guise policeenforced couples counseling spends time wondering whether today day hell get warning hes going arrested seek anticipatory bail still terms debate dowry domestic violence cases sometimes suggest whats stake disagreement traditions marriage instance web site designed help men victimized false cases asks wife forcing live separately wife respect discourteous parents sort thing cuts ways says luthra perhaps understandably women less tolerant demanding ever uncommon man sue divorce grounds wife refuses housework fails play good hostess friends drop impolite inlaws hand luthra says days among couples dont live husbands parents wifes mother may call advice 10 times day thats problem culture traditional modern understand more160globalpost160dispatches love india million romeos million juliets dispatches marriage lebanese call civil unions child marriage case showcases deep splits saudi society setback afghan women 160
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<p><a href="" type="internal">Download file</a> | <a href="" type="internal">Play in new window</a></p>
<p>By Bob Allen</p>
<p>Pastor Jason Coker opened his third Sunday in Advent sermon at <a href="http://wiltonbaptist.org/" type="external">Wilton Baptist Church</a>, written earlier in the week, with words describing irrepressible joy.</p>
<p>“Circumstances dictate change,” Coker told parishioners Dec. 16 before switching gears to preach a new sermon rewritten in light of Friday’s massacre of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in nearby Newtown, Conn.</p>
<p>“Newtown is 15 miles from our church, and we have a family who lives there,” Coker said in an e-mail to ABPnews.com. “Three of our parishioners work with people and have friends who lost children.”</p>
<p>“It is an incredibly painful time for our whole area,” said Coker, a former member of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinating Council who last year chaired the personnel committee. “The only thing that I can compare it to is 9/11, when our town lost eight fathers.”</p>
<p>In his revised <a href="http://wiltonbaptist.org/clientimages/1703/advent%20joy%202012.mp3" type="external">sermon</a>, Coker said it became personal for him, when reading through the names and birth dates of victims it struck him that nearly all of the slain children were born the same year as his oldest child.</p>
<p>“I paused to think about how I would respond if this had been my first-born son,” Coker said. “It is so incomprehensible that I simply don’t know. It made me angry to think about it — so angry. In the midst of my anger, I realized that this is how hate breeds hate, fear breeds fear, evil breeds evil.”</p>
<p>Coker said many of the calls he’s heard advocating for tighter gun control or better school security are responses motivated by fear. While natural, he said, “These reactions provide no healing and no help to the families who have lost children and loved ones.”</p>
<p>“Love is the other reaction,” Coker said. “Love is the way forward. When hate raises its evil head, we should love.”</p>
<p>Coker said he honestly doesn’t know how he might respond if he were in the shoes of those personally affected by the Newtown tragedy, but “I hope I would be big enough to live into — at the very least, I would hope someone would tell me” that love is the answer.</p>
<p>“I don’t say ‘love’ lightly or tritely, like some lyric in a pop song,” Coker said. “I say ‘love’ from the power and depths of our sacred Scripture that boldly and unashamedly declares ‘God is love.’”</p>
<p>Far from a local tragedy, grief over the Sandy Hook massacre loomed over worship services nationwide on the week in the cycle of Sundays leading up to Christmas that is supposed to celebrate the joy of Christ’s coming.</p>
<p>Jim Somerville, pastor of <a href="http://fbcrichmond.org/index.htm" type="external">First Baptist Church in Richmond</a>, Va., described a “shockingly symbolic” awkward moment in his Sunday service when the pink joy candle kept going out despite frequent attempts by a group of students to relight it.</p>
<p>“Maybe those students didn’t fail,” Somerville said. “Maybe they lit the candle over and over again and God kept snuffing it out, whispering, ‘No, not today.’”</p>
<p>“You can’t really schedule joy, and unfortunately you can’t really schedule grief,” Somerville said. “It comes when it comes, and it came today.”</p>
<p>In Oklahoma City, site of the terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995, members of <a href="http://www.fbcokc.org/" type="external">First Baptist Church</a> prayed for the children of Sandy Hook, their parents, teachers and staff of the school and others dealing with grief and pain triggered by the tragedy.</p>
<p>“Of all cities, we know that this is not the first time tragedy triggered by the hands of evil has come home,” Pastor Tom Ogburn said in his sermon. “We also come as testimonies that the story does not, cannot, must not end with the triumph of evil.”</p>
<p>“If ever our community needed for us to live out and speak out as the people of Advent it is now,” Ogburn said. “If ever our world needed for us to lift our voices with the hope of God’s comfort and the power of God peace, it is now. If ever we needed to be the people who are changed by God to speak a word that God can and will still change the world, that time is now.”</p>
<p><a href="http://fbcknox.org/about-dr-shiell/" type="external">Bill Shiell</a>, pastor of First Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tenn., penned a third Sunday of Advent lament “over the loss of innocent life.”</p>
<p>“Today, we grieve with the parents who sit around Christmas trees with presents unopened, around tables where there will always be empty chairs,” Shiell wrote.</p>
<p>“While we wish we could bring each of those angels back, we cannot,” <a href="http://www.mabcnyc.org/audio/MABCNYCSermon185.mp3" type="external">said</a> Susan Sparks, pastor of <a href="http://mabcnyc.org/index.htm" type="external">Madison Avenue Baptist Church</a> in New York City. “We can, however, honor their memory by reaching out to the Newtown community, by working against gun violence to make the world a safer place for our future children, and by upholding not an ethic of revenge, but an ethic of love.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fbcraleigh.org/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=114&amp;Itemid=153" type="external">Chris Chapman</a> at First Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., voiced prayer for “a small community in Connecticut devastated by violence, that families which have lost loved ones would find comfort, a peaceful community thrown into chaos would be able to pull together, and in response to yet another tragedy with all too familiar details, we might finally take action as a nation to make all of our children safer.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.trinitybaptisthanover.org/" type="external">Trinity Baptist Church</a> of Hanover, N.H., observed a time of focused silent prayer for the people of Newtown, said co-pastor Ken Hale. He and his wife, Sandy Hale, <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~tucker/spiritual/groups/contactlist.html" type="external">head</a> of the Baptist Student Union at Dartmouth College, are former coordinators of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of the Northeast.</p>
<p>On top of helping church members make sense of the tragedy, Wilton Baptist Church’s Coker had to figure out how to respond to threatened funeral protests by Westboro Baptist Church in an area where most people don’t know a lot about Baptists.</p>
<p>“Of all the things to deal with, I never thought I’d have to defend what it means to be a Baptist in a context like this,” Coker said.</p>
<p>— With reporting by David Wilkinson.</p>
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download file play new window bob allen pastor jason coker opened third sunday advent sermon wilton baptist church written earlier week words describing irrepressible joy circumstances dictate change coker told parishioners dec 16 switching gears preach new sermon rewritten light fridays massacre 20 children six adults sandy hook elementary school nearby newtown conn newtown 15 miles church family lives coker said email abpnewscom three parishioners work people friends lost children incredibly painful time whole area said coker former member cooperative baptist fellowship coordinating council last year chaired personnel committee thing compare 911 town lost eight fathers revised sermon coker said became personal reading names birth dates victims struck nearly slain children born year oldest child paused think would respond firstborn son coker said incomprehensible simply dont know made angry think angry midst anger realized hate breeds hate fear breeds fear evil breeds evil coker said many calls hes heard advocating tighter gun control better school security responses motivated fear natural said reactions provide healing help families lost children loved ones love reaction coker said love way forward hate raises evil head love coker said honestly doesnt know might respond shoes personally affected newtown tragedy hope would big enough live least would hope someone would tell love answer dont say love lightly tritely like lyric pop song coker said say love power depths sacred scripture boldly unashamedly declares god love far local tragedy grief sandy hook massacre loomed worship services nationwide week cycle sundays leading christmas supposed celebrate joy christs coming jim somerville pastor first baptist church richmond va described shockingly symbolic awkward moment sunday service pink joy candle kept going despite frequent attempts group students relight maybe students didnt fail somerville said maybe lit candle god kept snuffing whispering today cant really schedule joy unfortunately cant really schedule grief somerville said comes comes came today oklahoma city site terrorist bomb attack alfred p murrah federal building april 19 1995 members first baptist church prayed children sandy hook parents teachers staff school others dealing grief pain triggered tragedy cities know first time tragedy triggered hands evil come home pastor tom ogburn said sermon also come testimonies story must end triumph evil ever community needed us live speak people advent ogburn said ever world needed us lift voices hope gods comfort power god peace ever needed people changed god speak word god still change world time bill shiell pastor first baptist church knoxville tenn penned third sunday advent lament loss innocent life today grieve parents sit around christmas trees presents unopened around tables always empty chairs shiell wrote wish could bring angels back said susan sparks pastor madison avenue baptist church new york city however honor memory reaching newtown community working gun violence make world safer place future children upholding ethic revenge ethic love chris chapman first baptist church raleigh nc voiced prayer small community connecticut devastated violence families lost loved ones would find comfort peaceful community thrown chaos would able pull together response yet another tragedy familiar details might finally take action nation make children safer trinity baptist church hanover nh observed time focused silent prayer people newtown said copastor ken hale wife sandy hale head baptist student union dartmouth college former coordinators cooperative baptist fellowship northeast top helping church members make sense tragedy wilton baptist churchs coker figure respond threatened funeral protests westboro baptist church area people dont know lot baptists things deal never thought id defend means baptist context like coker said reporting david wilkinson
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<p>BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. — As the world mourns Nelson Mandela, international leaders, including US President Barack Obama, gathered in Johannesburg to honor the legacy of the South African freedom fighter and reconciliation icon.</p>
<p>Obama eulogized Mandela as “the last great liberator of the 20th century.”</p>
<p>But Washington has not always praised South Africa’s first black president in this way.</p>
<p>As recently as 2008, Mandela required a special State Department waiver to enter the United States — his name was on a terrorist watch list.</p>
<p>Much ink has been devoted to Mandela’s revolutionary past since his death on Dec. 5, at age 95. Many want him remembered not as a saint, but as a full-blooded man whose metamorphosis from rebel to hero came during his more than 2 1/2 decades in prison.</p>
<p>But as Mandela broke rocks and mined salt on Robben Island, the United States government apparently thought he was right where he should be.</p>
<p>President Ronald Reagan vetoed a bill to impose sanctions on the South African government, even as world powers applied pressure on Pretoria’s white rulers and the “Free Mandela” cause swept the globe.</p>
<p>A bipartisan group of congressmen overrode the veto.</p>
<p>The Republicans in Washington who broke with Reagan included former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. They defied a president of their own party so they could be, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/28/weekinreview/in-summary-reagan-veto-sends-pretoria-sanctions-back-to-congress.html" type="external">in the words</a> of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar, “on the right side of history.”</p>
<p>At the time, apparently to some, it still was unclear on which side of history Mandela would lie.</p>
<p>The rhetoric against the anti-apartheid leader and his African National Congress (ANC) came straight from the Cold War playbook. Mandela’s ANC was seen as being dangerously close to the Soviet Union, and Mandela himself had been a member of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/opinion/sunday/keller-nelson-mandela-communist.html?pagewanted=1&amp;_r=2&amp;emc=eta1&amp;" type="external">South Africa’s Communist Party</a>.</p>
<p>Mandela also embraced Fidel Castro and his Cuban Revolution, which served as inspiration for the ANC’s own aims. This alone would have put him beyond the pale for many Americans.</p>
<p>When Mandela was finally let out of prison in 1990, conservative commentator William F. Buckley ominously <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/365611/nelson-mandela-dies-nro-staff" type="external">warned</a>, “the release of Mandela, for all we know, may one day be likened to the arrival of Lenin at the Finland Station in 1917.”</p>
<p>Today, the outpouring of praise for the man might say otherwise.</p>
<p>Instead, just months after Mandela’s release and before his planned US tour, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/10/world/cia-tie-reported-in-mandela-arrest.html" type="external">reports emerged</a> that the CIA had played a key role in his 1962 capture. Many had suspected that much all along.</p>
<p>Whatever did Americans see in South Africa’s oppressive state?</p>
<p>The country was a valuable trading partner, a source of gold and other minerals vital to the economies and lifestyles of the developed world.</p>
<p>Most important, its defenders said, it was a bulwark against communism.</p>
<p>The policy of supporting the apartheid regime was called “constructive engagement,” which, while it may sound a bit hypocritical today, does not have quite the sanctimonious ring of some other US foreign ventures.</p>
<p>When the CIA intervened in Guatemala in 1954 to topple the democratically elected president, Jacobo Arbenz, it did so in the name of saving civilization. Arbenz was directing land reforms that threatened the fortunes of the United Fruit Company, a corporation in which many Washington power brokers were heavily vested, including the spy agency’s director, Allen Dulles.</p>
<p>This and other escapades are outlined in detail in Stephen Kinzer’s recent book The Brothers: John Foster Dulles, Allen Dulles, and Their Secret World War.</p>
<p>The list goes on.</p>
<p>The CIA’s overthrow of Iran’s Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953, which would save Iran’s oil for the British, was also done in the name of the fight against communism.</p>
<p>Unquestioning support of the mujahedeen during the anti-Soviet jihad in Afghanistan during the 1980s was also an anti-communist measure — what was bad for Moscow had to be good for Washington.</p>
<p>Afghanistan was certainly disastrous for the Soviets, but few would argue that arming the future Taliban turned out well for the US.</p>
<p>So, what about Mandela carrying the terrorist label so long?</p>
<p>After all, Gerry Adams, leader of Ireland’s Sinn Fein Party, who has shown less of Mandela’s drive toward healing and reconciliation, made it off the watch list two years earlier in 2006.</p>
<p>Some US officials treated the South African’s listing as a minor oversight.</p>
<p>Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called it “ <a href="http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-04-30-watchlist_N.htm" type="external">embarrassing</a>.”</p>
<p>Her predecessor, Colin Powell, sounded baffled last week when a BBC interviewer brought it up.</p>
<p>“I saw that little factoid and it’s kind of astonishing. But I don’t think that was deliberate, I think nobody got around to taking him off the list,” he said.</p>
<p>Pressing further, the interviewer said, “I guess people would say those who saw him as a terrorist just got it wrong.”</p>
<p>“Well, no,” Powell replied, explaining that “terrorist” was an appropriate label for the “violent acts” Mandela and the ANC carried out.</p>
<p>Hear the full Powell interview below.</p>
<p />
<p>Indeed, as Mandela wrote in his 1994 autobiography, “when a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.”</p>
<p>The South African leader was no fan of Washington’s international hubris, something he made clear in an <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/nelson-mandela-united-states-america-threat-world-peace-223879" type="external">interview with Newsweek</a> in 2002.</p>
<p>“There is no doubt that the United States now feels that they are the only superpower in the world and they can do what they like,” he said.</p>
<p>These are words that may be hard for Americans to hear, but they are just as important as the civil rights hero’s more palatable utterances.</p>
<p>Rest in peace, Madiba.</p>
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buzzards bay mass world mourns nelson mandela international leaders including us president barack obama gathered johannesburg honor legacy south african freedom fighter reconciliation icon obama eulogized mandela last great liberator 20th century washington always praised south africas first black president way recently 2008 mandela required special state department waiver enter united states name terrorist watch list much ink devoted mandelas revolutionary past since death dec 5 age 95 many want remembered saint fullblooded man whose metamorphosis rebel hero came 2 12 decades prison mandela broke rocks mined salt robben island united states government apparently thought right president ronald reagan vetoed bill impose sanctions south african government even world powers applied pressure pretorias white rulers free mandela cause swept globe bipartisan group congressmen overrode veto republicans washington broke reagan included former house speaker newt gingrich senate minority leader mitch mcconnell defied president party could words republican sen richard lugar right side history time apparently still unclear side history mandela would lie rhetoric antiapartheid leader african national congress anc came straight cold war playbook mandelas anc seen dangerously close soviet union mandela member south africas communist party mandela also embraced fidel castro cuban revolution served inspiration ancs aims alone would put beyond pale many americans mandela finally let prison 1990 conservative commentator william f buckley ominously warned release mandela know may one day likened arrival lenin finland station 1917 today outpouring praise man might say otherwise instead months mandelas release planned us tour reports emerged cia played key role 1962 capture many suspected much along whatever americans see south africas oppressive state country valuable trading partner source gold minerals vital economies lifestyles developed world important defenders said bulwark communism policy supporting apartheid regime called constructive engagement may sound bit hypocritical today quite sanctimonious ring us foreign ventures cia intervened guatemala 1954 topple democratically elected president jacobo arbenz name saving civilization arbenz directing land reforms threatened fortunes united fruit company corporation many washington power brokers heavily vested including spy agencys director allen dulles escapades outlined detail stephen kinzers recent book brothers john foster dulles allen dulles secret world war list goes cias overthrow irans mohammad mossadegh 1953 would save irans oil british also done name fight communism unquestioning support mujahedeen antisoviet jihad afghanistan 1980s also anticommunist measure bad moscow good washington afghanistan certainly disastrous soviets would argue arming future taliban turned well us mandela carrying terrorist label long gerry adams leader irelands sinn fein party shown less mandelas drive toward healing reconciliation made watch list two years earlier 2006 us officials treated south africans listing minor oversight former secretary state condoleezza rice called embarrassing predecessor colin powell sounded baffled last week bbc interviewer brought saw little factoid kind astonishing dont think deliberate think nobody got around taking list said pressing interviewer said guess people would say saw terrorist got wrong well powell replied explaining terrorist appropriate label violent acts mandela anc carried hear full powell interview indeed mandela wrote 1994 autobiography man denied right live life believes choice become outlaw south african leader fan washingtons international hubris something made clear interview newsweek 2002 doubt united states feels superpower world like said words may hard americans hear important civil rights heros palatable utterances rest peace madiba
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<p>Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States. Each posting is for 30 days and is limited to 150 words. Businesses may purchase a post in the “And More” section for $1.20 per word (minimum of $50 for 30 days). To submit a ministry-related job or inquire about other advertising options on this page, contact Barbara Francis at 336-717-1135, ext. 8 or <a href="" type="internal">[email protected]</a>.</p>
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<p>FULL-TIME CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PASTORAL RESIDENCY. First Baptist Church, Colorado Springs, CO. The Pastoral Resident of First Baptist Church, a seminary graduate, will function as an associate pastor with special responsibility for children and families ministries. The Church will provide the Resident with a wide range of pastoral opportunities, under the guidance and supervision of the Senior Pastor. These opportunities include caring for our church family (with emphasis on children and families), preparing and teaching spiritual formation series, preaching and leading in worship, and developing lay leadership. Interested applicants can feel free to contact the Pastor for more information and for a more detailed job description. <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 06.12.17)</p>
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<p>PASTOR.&#160; Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Deltona, FL is seeking a full time Pastor for its multi-generational church.&#160; PIBD is an exciting church located in one of the fastest growing cities in Florida.&#160; We average 160-200 church attendees.&#160; We also have a Baptist Academy where we provide services from nursery to VPK.&#160; The church is looking for a committed follower of Jesus Christ with a gift for preaching, teaching and a heart to bring people to the gospel.&#160;&#160; The individual should have a Theological or Seminary education.&#160; PIBD is associated with ABC &amp; CBF.&#160; Please submit all inquiries, cover letter, resume, photo and recommendations to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 07.11.17)</p>
<p>PASTOR. Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Deltona, FL está buscando un pastor a tiempo completo para su iglesia multi-generacional. PIBD es una motivada iglesia ubicada en una de las ciudades de más rápido crecimiento en la Florida. Promedio de 160-200 asistentes a la iglesia. También tenemos una Academia Bautista donde ofrecemos servicios de guardería a VPK. La iglesia está buscando un seguidor comprometido de Jesucristo con un don para la predicación, la enseñanza y un corazón para alcanzar almas para Cristo. La persona debe tener una educación Teológica o Seminario. PIBD es asociada con ABC y CBF. Por favor, envíe todas las preguntas, carta de presentación, currículum, foto y recomendaciones a <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.&#160;(Posted 07.11.17)</p>
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<p>COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST.&#160; The Alliance of Baptists is seeking a mature, Christ-centered individual to serve as Communications Specialist providing vision and coordination for the Alliance’s efforts in print, personal and digital communications. The approximately 32 hour per week position is open to receiving applications from individuals seeking to work virtually and collaboratively, who have strong organizational skills and are highly motivated to pursue God’s justice-love. Interested applicants apply by submitting a resumé with references to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. Application deadline is August 4, 2017. We welcome inquiries and applications from all interested, qualified parties. Consistent with commitments in our mission to pursue justice with and for those who are oppressed, honor wisdom and lifelong learning, and to hold ourselves accountable for equity, collegiality, and diversity, we encourage people of color, LGBTQ persons and women to apply. (Posted 07.05.17)</p>
<p>ASSOCIATE PASTOR.&#160; First Baptist Church of Griffin, GA, a moderate congregation affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, is seeking an Associate Pastor to join our ministry staff.&#160; He or she needs to have strong people, preaching, and management skills.&#160; This person must work well as a team with other ministers and focus upon the entire congregation.&#160; However, he/she will lead and preach weekly in the Connexion worship ministry, our contemporary service which meets at the same time as our traditional service.&#160; This candidate will at times throughout the church year also preach in the traditional service. Preference will be given to candidates with a M.Div. degree from an accredited seminary and a minimum of four years of church ministry/preaching experience.&#160; Resumes and cover letters will be received at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> until September 15. (Posted 06.2.9.17)</p>
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<p>COORDINATOR.&#160;Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Kentucky seeks a full-time Coordinator to lead and guide in the development of strategies for expanding the scope and influence of the organization.&#160; The Coordinator shall represent CBFKY to the community, churches, individuals, the global Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and other organizations.&#160;&#160;All applications must include education and employment histories.&#160; Current involvement with CBF life as well as significant leadership and supervisory experience within the local church, non-profit world, and/or higher education are preferred. If you are interested in the position or if you would like to submit a name for consideration, please send a resume and letter of interest to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> by August 1, 2017. (Posted 06.20.17)</p>
<p>INTERIM PASTOR.&#160; First Congregational Methodist Church, Louisville, Ky., is seeking an interim pastor. FCMC is a Congregational Methodist Church with an average attendance of 50-65.&#160; The church has respectable facilities and room to expand; great location, and a desire for biblical spiritual growth. The Interim Pastor will lead the congregation, organizations, and the ministry staff to perform their tasks.&#160; He/she will work with the ministry staff to (1) lead the church in performing its tasks and (2) to lead the church to engage in a fellowship of worship, witness, education, and ministry among members and other persons in the community. The Interim Pastor will shepherd and guide the spiritual needs of the church. A bachelor degree is preferred.&#160; Please send letter of interest, resume, and references, CD or DVD (if available) to:&#160; First Congregational Methodist Church, Pastoral Selection Committee, c/o Ms. Marsha Anderson, 3810 Garland Avenue, Louisville, KY 40211. (Posted 05.23.17)</p>
<p>PASTOR.&#160; Small rural Southern Baptist church located in Central Kentucky is seeking a Pastor (due to our Pastor’s retirement). Send resume with photo and audio/video of two recent sermons to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 05.16.17)</p>
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<p>SENIOR PASTOR.&#160; Grace Baptist Church, an IFB KJV church in Zachary, La., is seeking a qualified and God-called individual for the position of Senior Pastor. Grace is a church of approx. 75 members, and ministries include a Christian school (ACE) and others. Our music style is traditional and conservative. The successful applicant will have formal Bible training, significant experience as an associate or pastor or associate and a burden for Christian education. Interested applicants should submit their resumes to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 05.22.17)</p>
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<p>FULL-TIME MINISTER OF YOUTH AND OUTREACH. Bethany Baptist Church, Ellicott City, MD, is seeking a full-time Minister of Youth and Outreach&#160; who is responsible for creating a long-term vision and its implementation for the overall youth ministry of the church, including grades six through twelve; promoting evangelism, discipleship training, and social ministries in the context of a multicultural church and community in the Baltimore-Washington DC corridor. He/she is responsible for developing and implementing an outreach ministry of the church to the community while working alongside other full-time staff in the successful growth of the church; and responsible for all aspects of connecting the church to the community and helping new people to assimilate into the congregation from the first-time visit through baptism and initial and continuing involvement. Send resumes to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 07.10.17)</p>
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<p>PART-TIME MUSIC MINISTRY DIRECTOR.&#160;&#160;This congregation of 300-400 is seeking a minister to join in its mission to be a harbor of God’s love and a beacon of Christ’s hope. The church’s music ministry is an integral part of the vision and mission. The Music Ministry Director will be responsible for the overall leadership and direction of the music ministries and should have bachelors/masters accomplishments in music performance and/or directing; be proficient in keyboard, voice, and directing; and possess the ability to effectively teach music to all types of choirs and students on a broad spectrum of ages, gifts, abilities, and experience. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to: First Baptist Church Attn: Music Ministry Director Search Committee P.O. Box 180 West Jefferson, NC 28694 (Telephone: 336-846-5141) OR&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>&#160;&#160;(Telephone: 336-877-6996). (Posted 07.11.17)</p>
<p>MINISTER TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.&#160;Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, is seeking a full time Minister to Children and Their Families. This person will also have oversight of the Child Development Center. Please send resumes to Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church, 1117 South Boulevard, Charlotte, NC&#160; 28203 (ATTN: Search Committee) or email to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 07.10.17)</p>
<p>MINISTER OF MUSIC AND FAMILIES. Godwin Heights Baptist Church, Lumberton, NC, is prayerfully searching for a minister for a newly formed full-time position of Minister of Music and Families. GHBC averages about 110 in Sunday School and 130 in morning worship which is tradition/liturgical in style. The successful candidate will have a minimum of a Bachelors Degree in Music with a Masters or higher preferred. S/he will plan and lead all other music related activities including a graded choir program and ensembles. The Minister will also provide leadership and oversight for a ministry to children and families. Interested candidates may submit a cover letter and resume to Rev. Dave Hawes, Pastor, at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> or via mail to Godwin Heights Baptist Church,&#160; 704 Godwin Avenue, Lumberton, NC 28358. Resumes will be accepted through August 1. (Posted 06.21.17)</p>
<p>MUSIC MINISTER. Jersey Baptist Church, Lexington, NC, is calling a part-time (20hr/wk) Music Minister. The vision for this ministry position is to provide leadership within all aspects of the church’s ministry specifically focusing on music. The Music Minister will work collaboratively to meet ministry goals and objectives with the Pastor and other church leaders or ministers. The music minister will be responsible for coordinating and implementing the music involved with the contemporary worship service (8:30) and traditional worship service (11:00). Responsibilities also include working with the leaders of the graded choirs of Jersey Baptist Church. This position will initiate, plan and coordinate the music programs and activities in collaboration with the Pastor, and Music and Worship Committee. This position will encourage and promote Christian values, ideals and discipleship while demonstrating spiritual maturity. This position reports to the personnel committee but will receive direct coaching and mentorship from the pastor. Submit inquires and résumés to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 06.19.17)</p>
<p>DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRY.&#160; Greenwood Forest Baptist Church, an inclusive community of faith in Cary, NC, is seeking a part-time (15 hrs/week) Director of Children’s Ministry. This director will provide leadership for the faith formation program for children (ages birth through 5th grade) and their families. They will work with the ministerial team to form and shape the disciples of Christ at GFBC. They will be supervised by the Associate Pastor of Worship and Faith Formation. Theological training from an accredited theological seminary preferred. Must support and endorse GFBC’s core values, which can be found on our website ( <a href="http://www.gfbccary.org/" type="external">www.gfbccary.org</a>). GFBC is affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Send resume and cover letter to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. Applicant Review will begin July 1, 2017. (06.08.17)</p>
<p>MINISTER FOR LATINO MINISTRIES.&#160; The First Baptist Church of Huntersville, NC, is seeking a part-time Minister for Latino Ministries. FBCH is a moderate Baptist congregation located in Charlotte metro near Lake Norman, with about 450 active members, approximately 50 of whom worship in our Spanish-language service. We are seeking a candidate with strong preaching, pastoral care, and leadership skills who will also work with the staff team to strengthen the connection between the Anglo and Latino communities. Candidates must be bilingual. Bachelor’s degree is required; some seminary training from a recognized college or university is preferred. A detailed church profile and job description can be found at <a href="http://www.fbc-h.org/" type="external">www.fbc-h.org</a> &#160;under the “Link ‘n Learn” tab. Résumé and cover letter may be submitted to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> by August 31. &#160;(06.08.17)</p>
<p>MINISTRO A MEDIO TEMPO PARA LA CONGREGACIÒN LATINA.&#160; La Primera Iglesia Bautista de Huntersville, NC, está buscando un Ministro a medio tiempo para la Congregación Latina. La Primera Iglesia Bautista de Huntersville es una moderada congregación localizada en Charlotte area metropolitana cerca del Lago Norman, con cerca de 450 miembros activos,&#160; de los cuáles aproximadamente 50 quienes asisten al servicio en Español. Nosotros estamos buscando un candidato con grandes condiciones a la hora de predicar, cuidado pastoral, y un gran liderazgo,&#160; quién también trabaje con el personal de la iglesia y fortalezca la relación entre las comunidades angloamericanas y latinas. Los candidatos deberán ser bilingües. Un grado de Bachiller es requerido; algún&#160; entrenamiento de seminario de un reconocido colegio o universidad es preferible. Un detallado perfil de la iglesia y descripción del puesto puede se encontrado en la página web de nuestra iglesia&#160; <a href="http://www.fbc-h.org/" type="external">www.fbc-h.org</a>&#160;bajo el enlace “Link’n Learn” tab. Currìculum y hoja de portada puede ser enviada a&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>&#160;de 31 de agosto. &#160;(06.08.17)</p>
<p>PART-TIME CONSULTANT – LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. Woman’s Missionary Union of North Carolina is seeking a part-time consultant for leadership development. Work location: Raleigh, NC (exceptions considered). Please send resume and cover letter to: Judy Pettigrew at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.&#160; Application deadline: July 15. For job description: <a href="http://www.wmunc.org/now-hiring" type="external">www.wmunc.org/now-hiring</a>.&#160;(06.08.17)</p>
<p>PART-TIME MINISTER OF MUSIC.&#160; Wilmar Park Baptist Church in Concord, NC is seeking a part-time worship leader.&#160; We are a traditional Southern Gospel style congregation with an established music program.&#160; We need a spiritually minded leader, called by God to provide leadership for our worship services.&#160; Please direct all inquiries and questions to David Wilson at&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 05.16.17)</p>
<p>MINISTER OF MUSIC &amp; SENIOR ADULTS.&#160; First Baptist Church, Southern Pines, NC, is seeking a full-time Minister of Music &amp; Senior Adults.&#160;&#160; The ideal minister will be a person of deep faith in Christ and possess a desire to model a Christ-centered devotion in their personal and professional life.&#160; The ideal candidate will be a dynamic worship leader to direct a comprehensive music ministry for all ages. The successful leader will cast a broad vision of music excellence with a deep appreciation for diverse, eclectic, and traditional worship styles.&#160; The person will also have responsibilities to guide the Senior Adult ministry with a team of qualified lay leaders. First Baptist Church is located in a resort community with a vibrant and diverse population.&#160; This position requires an advanced music degree from an accredited theological or divinity school.&#160; All inquiries may be sent to John Kinney, 200 East New York Avenue, Southern Pines, NC 28387 or to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.&#160; &#160;The deadline for receiving applications is July 15, 2017. (Posted 05.11.17)</p>
<p>ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF MUSIC AND WORSHIP ARTS.&#160; The Memorial Baptist Church in Greenville, NC, is seeking a full-time Associate Pastor of Music and Worship Arts, called by God to provide leadership for the entire music program. Responsibilities include: planning, conducting and evaluating a comprehensive ministry of music and worship program for all music genres/age levels and providing pastoral care. A minimum of 3 years of experience in Christian music ministry and seminary or graduate study is preferred. The successful candidate must be a cooperative, enthusiastic, and conscientious team member, displaying authentic Christian conduct in both private and public life. Compensation will be commensurate with experience. Please submit all inquiries, recommendations, cover letter and resume to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.&#160;(Posted 05.11.17)</p>
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<p>ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.&#160; Spring Creek Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Okla., is now accepting candidates for Associate Pastor of Youth and Community Engagement. This&#160;minister&#160;will focus on the particular needs of our youth and their families, using these primary relationships to serve the larger church.&#160; For more information and submitting resumes, click&#160; <a href="http://springcreekbc.com/associatepastorsearch/" type="external">here</a>. (Posted 06.15.17)</p>
<p>YOUTH/ASSOCIATE PASTOR.&#160; First Baptist Church, Spiro, OK, is seeking a youth/associate pastor. Competitive salary and housing offered. Send resume to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 06.12.17)</p>
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<p>CHORAL DIRECTOR.&#160; First Baptist Church (ABC-USA), Burlington, Vermont, is seeking a part-time choral director to conduct the 15-20 voice chancel choir on Sunday mornings and Thursday evening rehearsals.&#160; The choir sings for services beginning September through mid-June with summers off.&#160; Salary is competitive and negotiable based on experience.&#160; First Baptist Church supports an active music program including a children’s choir, instrumental ensemble, hand bells, annual guest organist recital and hosts outside musical groups.&#160; Submit resumes and inquiries to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 04.24.17)</p>
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<p>PART-TIME MINISTER/DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRIES. Westwood Baptist Church in Springfield, VA, is looking for a part-time Minister/Director of Youth Ministries. She/he would be responsible to provide pastoral care to youth in grades 7-12, their parents, and those who work in any facet of ministry with this age group. This position provides leadership and oversight in all aspects of planning, promoting, and implementing a ministry that guides youth in their growth and development as followers of Jesus Christ, and promotes fellowship among youth and their families within the larger congregation of Westwood Baptist Church. Click <a href="http://www.westwood-baptist.org/welcome/job-opening/" type="external">here</a> for a full position description and application instructions. (Posted 07.05.17)</p>
<p>FULL-TIME PASTOR. Central Baptist Church, Dinwiddie County, VA,&#160; is seeking a full-time pastor. Our church is affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia.&#160; The primary job of the pastor will be to preach the word of God. The pastor will also minister to the congregation and continue to guide the church in missions and community outreach programs. We are a growing church filled with Christians who possess a variety of gifts and interests. The pastor should be able to bridge all age groups. A more complete job description can be found at&#160; <a href="http://www.centralbaptist1873.org/" type="external">www.centralbaptist1873.org</a>. Resume can be sent to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 07.05.17)</p>
<p>INTERIM STUDENT PASTOR.&#160; Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond, VA, seeks to fill a full-time interim position to lead Student Ministry at its Buford Road Campus. Starts August 1, 2017. Click&#160;here&#160;for more information. Church Website:&#160; <a href="http://www.bonairbaptist.org/" type="external">www.bonairbaptist.org</a>. (Posted 06.21.17)</p>
<p>FULL-TIME SENIOR PASTOR. Clover Bottom Baptist Church, Nathalie, VA, is looking for a full-time pastor . Clover Bottom Baptist is a rural country church located in Halifax County Va. We are in the Dan River Baptist Association and the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Send resumes to&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 06.14.17)</p>
<p>SENIOR PASTOR.&#160; Walnut Grove Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, Va., is seeking a Senior Pastor. We are seeking an energetic shepherd with strong pastoral skills, flexibility in leading various worship styles and an effective communicator. Specific skills in expanding the scope of our mission programs and directing the continued growth of our&#160;Sunday&#160;school, Youth, Children, and Music Ministries. Proven ability to develop, train, and work with Church Staff and lay leadership. 5 years of experience and a minimum of a Master’s Degree from an accredited Seminary, Divinity School or College or the equivalent experience is preferred. Please send resume, references and any electronic media to Pastor Search Committee, 7001 Cornfield Lane, Mechanicsville, VA 23111 or via email to&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>&#160;by7/31/2017. (Posted 06.13.17)</p>
<p>FULL-TIME ASSOCIATE PASTOR.&#160; The Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond, VA, is searching for a full-time Associate Pastor.&#160; The church desires a dynamic, Christ-centered individual to equip our community with a more effective framework and systems both for and within our ministries. The ideal candidate will have a passion for both people and process, an ability to thrive in a team environment, and expertise in building teams.&#160; This pastoral ministry architect/administrator will guide the identification of gifted laity and, with them, create and implement a church wide, intergenerational structure that will better equip, communicate, and mobilize our efforts to support and extend ongoing and new ministries.&#160; A full position description can be found at <a href="http://www.tbcrichmond.org/" type="external">www.tbcrichmond.org</a>.&#160; Candidates should respond by email only to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> with their expression of interest and resume no later than July 15, 2017. No phone calls please. (Posted 06.12.17)</p>
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<p>ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS.&#160; The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, an education and advocacy organization in Washington, D.C., is seeking an Associate Director of Communications to expand the base of support for religious liberty, implementing the BJC’s strategic communications program to convey the importance of religious liberty for all people and the separation of church and state. To apply, send the following to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>: Resume, cover letter, and three samples of work. More details are available <a href="https://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit-job/6b37dbc721a84325b178061de0d113fa-associate-director-of-communications-baptist-joint-committee-for-religious-liberty-washington" type="external">here</a>. (Posted 05.23.17)</p>
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<p>SENIOR PASTOR.&#160; Bellepoint Baptist Church in Hinton, WV, is seeking a senior pastor. Located in the southern part of the beautiful state of WV this Independent, KJV church offers the opportunity for a pastor of any age. We are a conservative traditional church. Please contact at email address <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 06.27.17)</p>
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baptist news global provides free listing ministryrelated jobs baptist churches theological institutions organizations across united states posting 30 days limited 150 words businesses may purchase post section 120 per word minimum 50 30 days submit ministryrelated job inquire advertising options page contact barbara francis 3367171135 ext 8 barbarabaptistnewscom 160 fulltime children families pastoral residency first baptist church colorado springs co pastoral resident first baptist church seminary graduate function associate pastor special responsibility children families ministries church provide resident wide range pastoral opportunities guidance supervision senior pastor opportunities include caring church family emphasis children families preparing teaching spiritual formation series preaching leading worship developing lay leadership interested applicants feel free contact pastor information detailed job description pastorfirstbaptistcsorg posted 061217 back top page 160 pastor160 primera iglesia bautista hispana de deltona fl seeking full time pastor multigenerational church160 pibd exciting church located one fastest growing cities florida160 average 160200 church attendees160 also baptist academy provide services nursery vpk160 church looking committed follower jesus christ gift preaching teaching heart bring people gospel160160 individual theological seminary education160 pibd associated abc amp cbf160 please submit inquiries cover letter resume photo recommendations pibdbusquedagmailcom posted 071117 pastor primera iglesia bautista hispana de deltona fl está buscando un pastor tiempo completo para su iglesia multigeneracional pibd es una motivada iglesia ubicada en una de las ciudades de más rápido crecimiento en la florida promedio de 160200 asistentes la iglesia también tenemos una academia bautista donde ofrecemos servicios de guardería vpk la iglesia está buscando un seguidor comprometido de jesucristo con un para la predicación la enseñanza un corazón para alcanzar almas para cristo la persona debe tener una educación teológica seminario pibd es asociada con abc cbf por favor envíe todas las preguntas carta de presentación currículum foto recomendaciones pibdbusquedagmailcom160posted 071117 back top page 160 communications specialist160 alliance baptists seeking mature christcentered individual serve communications specialist providing vision coordination alliances efforts print personal digital communications approximately 32 hour per week position open receiving applications individuals seeking work virtually collaboratively strong organizational skills highly motivated pursue gods justicelove interested applicants apply submitting resumé references caroleallianceofbaptistsorg application deadline august 4 2017 welcome inquiries applications interested qualified parties consistent commitments mission pursue justice oppressed honor wisdom lifelong learning hold accountable equity collegiality diversity encourage people color lgbtq persons women apply posted 070517 associate pastor160 first baptist church griffin ga moderate congregation affiliated cooperative baptist fellowship seeking associate pastor join ministry staff160 needs strong people preaching management skills160 person must work well team ministers focus upon entire congregation160 however heshe lead preach weekly connexion worship ministry contemporary service meets time traditional service160 candidate times throughout church year also preach traditional service preference given candidates mdiv degree accredited seminary minimum four years church ministrypreaching experience160 resumes cover letters received searchcommitteefbcgriffinorg september 15 posted 062917 back top page coordinator160cooperative baptist fellowship kentucky seeks fulltime coordinator lead guide development strategies expanding scope influence organization160 coordinator shall represent cbfky community churches individuals global cooperative baptist fellowship organizations160160all applications must include education employment histories160 current involvement cbf life well significant leadership supervisory experience within local church nonprofit world andor higher education preferred interested position would like submit name consideration please send resume letter interest cbfkycoordinatorsearchgmailcom august 1 2017 posted 062017 interim pastor160 first congregational methodist church louisville ky seeking interim pastor fcmc congregational methodist church average attendance 5065160 church respectable facilities room expand great location desire biblical spiritual growth interim pastor lead congregation organizations ministry staff perform tasks160 heshe work ministry staff 1 lead church performing tasks 2 lead church engage fellowship worship witness education ministry among members persons community interim pastor shepherd guide spiritual needs church bachelor degree preferred160 please send letter interest resume references cd dvd available to160 first congregational methodist church pastoral selection committee co ms marsha anderson 3810 garland avenue louisville ky 40211 posted 052317 pastor160 small rural southern baptist church located central kentucky seeking pastor due pastors retirement send resume photo audiovideo two recent sermons pastorsearchpisgahoutlookcom posted 051617 back top page 160 senior pastor160 grace baptist church ifb kjv church zachary la seeking qualified godcalled individual position senior pastor grace church approx 75 members ministries include christian school ace others music style traditional conservative successful applicant formal bible training significant experience associate pastor associate burden christian education interested applicants submit resumes gbczacharygmailcom posted 052217 back top page 160 fulltime minister youth outreach bethany baptist church ellicott city md seeking fulltime minister youth outreach160 responsible creating longterm vision implementation overall youth ministry church including grades six twelve promoting evangelism discipleship training social ministries context multicultural church community baltimorewashington dc corridor heshe responsible developing implementing outreach ministry church community working alongside fulltime staff successful growth church responsible aspects connecting church community helping new people assimilate congregation firsttime visit baptism initial continuing involvement send resumes officebethanylanebaptistorg posted 071017 back top page 160 parttime music ministry director160160this congregation 300400 seeking minister join mission harbor gods love beacon christs hope churchs music ministry integral part vision mission music ministry director responsible overall leadership direction music ministries bachelorsmasters accomplishments music performance andor directing proficient keyboard voice directing possess ability effectively teach music types choirs students broad spectrum ages gifts abilities experience interested applicants submit cover letter resume first baptist church attn music ministry director search committee po box 180 west jefferson nc 28694 telephone 3368465141 or160 chairskybestcom160160telephone 3368776996 posted 071117 minister children families160pritchard memorial baptist church charlotte nc seeking full time minister children families person also oversight child development center please send resumes pritchard memorial baptist church 1117 south boulevard charlotte nc160 28203 attn search committee email bobbymorrowpritchardmemorialcom posted 071017 minister music families godwin heights baptist church lumberton nc prayerfully searching minister newly formed fulltime position minister music families ghbc averages 110 sunday school 130 morning worship traditionliturgical style successful candidate minimum bachelors degree music masters higher preferred plan lead music related activities including graded choir program ensembles minister also provide leadership oversight ministry children families interested candidates may submit cover letter resume rev dave hawes pastor godwinheightspastorgmailcom via mail godwin heights baptist church160 704 godwin avenue lumberton nc 28358 resumes accepted august 1 posted 062117 music minister jersey baptist church lexington nc calling parttime 20hrwk music minister vision ministry position provide leadership within aspects churchs ministry specifically focusing music music minister work collaboratively meet ministry goals objectives pastor church leaders ministers music minister responsible coordinating implementing music involved contemporary worship service 830 traditional worship service 1100 responsibilities also include working leaders graded choirs jersey baptist church position initiate plan coordinate music programs activities collaboration pastor music worship committee position encourage promote christian values ideals discipleship demonstrating spiritual maturity position reports personnel committee receive direct coaching mentorship pastor submit inquires résumés jerseybaptiststaffgmailcom posted 061917 director childrens ministry160 greenwood forest baptist church inclusive community faith cary nc seeking parttime 15 hrsweek director childrens ministry director provide leadership faith formation program children ages birth 5th grade families work ministerial team form shape disciples christ gfbc supervised associate pastor worship faith formation theological training accredited theological seminary preferred must support endorse gfbcs core values found website wwwgfbccaryorg gfbc affiliated alliance baptists cooperative baptist fellowship send resume cover letter gfbcsearchgmailcom applicant review begin july 1 2017 060817 minister latino ministries160 first baptist church huntersville nc seeking parttime minister latino ministries fbch moderate baptist congregation located charlotte metro near lake norman 450 active members approximately 50 worship spanishlanguage service seeking candidate strong preaching pastoral care leadership skills also work staff team strengthen connection anglo latino communities candidates must bilingual bachelors degree required seminary training recognized college university preferred detailed church profile job description found wwwfbchorg 160under link n learn tab résumé cover letter may submitted btclaytonmecom august 31 160060817 ministro medio tempo para la congregaciÒn latina160 la primera iglesia bautista de huntersville nc está buscando un ministro medio tiempo para la congregación latina la primera iglesia bautista de huntersville es una moderada congregación localizada en charlotte area metropolitana cerca del lago norman con cerca de 450 miembros activos160 de los cuáles aproximadamente 50 quienes asisten al servicio en español nosotros estamos buscando un candidato con grandes condiciones la hora de predicar cuidado pastoral un gran liderazgo160 quién también trabaje con el personal de la iglesia fortalezca la relación entre las comunidades angloamericanas latinas los candidatos deberán ser bilingües un grado de bachiller es requerido algún160 entrenamiento de seminario de un reconocido colegio universidad es preferible un detallado perfil de la iglesia descripción del puesto puede se encontrado en la página web de nuestra iglesia160 wwwfbchorg160bajo el enlace linkn learn tab currìculum hoja de portada puede ser enviada a160 btclaytonmecom160de 31 de agosto 160060817 parttime consultant leadership development womans missionary union north carolina seeking parttime consultant leadership development work location raleigh nc exceptions considered please send resume cover letter judy pettigrew judyjohnbellsouthnet160 application deadline july 15 job description wwwwmuncorgnowhiring160060817 parttime minister music160 wilmar park baptist church concord nc seeking parttime worship leader160 traditional southern gospel style congregation established music program160 need spiritually minded leader called god provide leadership worship services160 please direct inquiries questions david wilson at160 wdwilsonnovanthealthorg posted 051617 minister music amp senior adults160 first baptist church southern pines nc seeking fulltime minister music amp senior adults160160 ideal minister person deep faith christ possess desire model christcentered devotion personal professional life160 ideal candidate dynamic worship leader direct comprehensive music ministry ages successful leader cast broad vision music excellence deep appreciation diverse eclectic traditional worship styles160 person also responsibilities guide senior adult ministry team qualified lay leaders first baptist church located resort community vibrant diverse population160 position requires advanced music degree accredited theological divinity school160 inquiries may sent john kinney 200 east new york avenue southern pines nc 28387 musicfbcsporg160 160the deadline receiving applications july 15 2017 posted 051117 associate pastor music worship arts160 memorial baptist church greenville nc seeking fulltime associate pastor music worship arts called god provide leadership entire music program responsibilities include planning conducting evaluating comprehensive ministry music worship program music genresage levels providing pastoral care minimum 3 years experience christian music ministry seminary graduate study preferred successful candidate must cooperative enthusiastic conscientious team member displaying authentic christian conduct private public life compensation commensurate experience please submit inquiries recommendations cover letter resume ministersearchtmbcorg160posted 051117 back top page 160 associate pastor youth community engagement160 spring creek baptist church oklahoma city okla accepting candidates associate pastor youth community engagement this160minister160will focus particular needs youth families using primary relationships serve larger church160 information submitting resumes click160 posted 061517 youthassociate pastor160 first baptist church spiro ok seeking youthassociate pastor competitive salary housing offered send resume jamestsmithlivecom posted 061217 back top page 160 choral director160 first baptist church abcusa burlington vermont seeking parttime choral director conduct 1520 voice chancel choir sunday mornings thursday evening rehearsals160 choir sings services beginning september midjune summers off160 salary competitive negotiable based experience160 first baptist church supports active music program including childrens choir instrumental ensemble hand bells annual guest organist recital hosts outside musical groups160 submit resumes inquiries fbcvtgmailcom posted 042417 back top page 160 parttime ministerdirector youth ministries westwood baptist church springfield va looking parttime ministerdirector youth ministries shehe would responsible provide pastoral care youth grades 712 parents work facet ministry age group position provides leadership oversight aspects planning promoting implementing ministry guides youth growth development followers jesus christ promotes fellowship among youth families within larger congregation westwood baptist church click full position description application instructions posted 070517 fulltime pastor central baptist church dinwiddie county va160 seeking fulltime pastor church affiliated baptist general association virginia160 primary job pastor preach word god pastor also minister congregation continue guide church missions community outreach programs growing church filled christians possess variety gifts interests pastor able bridge age groups complete job description found at160 wwwcentralbaptist1873org resume sent centralbaptist1873searchgmailcom posted 070517 interim student pastor160 bon air baptist church richmond va seeks fill fulltime interim position lead student ministry buford road campus starts august 1 2017 click160here160for information church website160 wwwbonairbaptistorg posted 062117 fulltime senior pastor clover bottom baptist church nathalie va looking fulltime pastor clover bottom baptist rural country church located halifax county va dan river baptist association baptist general association virginia send resumes to160 micdocembarqmailcom posted 061417 senior pastor160 walnut grove baptist church mechanicsville va seeking senior pastor seeking energetic shepherd strong pastoral skills flexibility leading various worship styles effective communicator specific skills expanding scope mission programs directing continued growth our160sunday160school youth children music ministries proven ability develop train work church staff lay leadership 5 years experience minimum masters degree accredited seminary divinity school college equivalent experience preferred please send resume references electronic media pastor search committee 7001 cornfield lane mechanicsville va 23111 via email to160 pastorsearchwalnutgrovebaptistcom160by7312017 posted 061317 fulltime associate pastor160 tabernacle baptist church richmond va searching fulltime associate pastor160 church desires dynamic christcentered individual equip community effective framework systems within ministries ideal candidate passion people process ability thrive team environment expertise building teams160 pastoral ministry architectadministrator guide identification gifted laity create implement church wide intergenerational structure better equip communicate mobilize efforts support extend ongoing new ministries160 full position description found wwwtbcrichmondorg160 candidates respond email tbcrichassociatepastorgmailcom expression interest resume later july 15 2017 phone calls please posted 061217 back top page 160 associate director communications160 baptist joint committee religious liberty education advocacy organization washington dc seeking associate director communications expand base support religious liberty implementing bjcs strategic communications program convey importance religious liberty people separation church state apply send following resumesbjconlineorg resume cover letter three samples work details available posted 052317 back top page 160 senior pastor160 bellepoint baptist church hinton wv seeking senior pastor located southern part beautiful state wv independent kjv church offers opportunity pastor age conservative traditional church please contact email address wheb123suddenlinknet posted 062717 back top page 160 back top page
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<p>If you could expunge or seal one person’s criminal record, whose would it be: One who was prostituting himself 10 yards away from an elementary school or another who cheated on his spouse?</p>
<p>It may be a moral dilemma for some, but Illinois law is clear: Only the prostitute can get his or her record expunged. On the other hand, adultery, which is actually a misdemeanor, cannot be expunged; neither can fornication. The Illinois sealing and expungement law, while offering a second chance in life to thousands, is riddled with inconsistencies.</p>
<p>Consider this: Selling 30 grams of marijuana is sealable. Sexual conduct in a public place–”a car in a parking lot, for instance–”is not. Buying less than 15 grams of cocaine is sealable. Emailing a picture of a nude Playboy bunny to a 15- year-old is not.</p>
<p>“It makes absolutely no sense that fornication is not a sealable offense where prostitution is, because it leads any reasonable person to think that you’re far better off selling sex than you are giving it away,” said Chris Fischer, staff attorney in the expungement program at the Office of the State Appellate Defender. “But it’s just one of the anomalies in the law, and there are a number of them. Anybody who works in the expungement business has been rolling their eyes at that provision for years.”</p>
<p>The majority of crimes are unsealable. All felonies except prostitution and minor drug offenses–”both considered class-four felonies–”aren’t eligible for sealing or expungement; more than 87 percent of all felonies are more serious than class-four offenses.</p>
<p>Most unsealable misdemeanors are violent crimes, like aggravated assault, domestic battery, crimes against animals and sex crimes. But many might not believe that adultery and fornication, for instance, should be considered crimes at all.</p>
<p>These crimes are rarely charged–” they made up just 1.4 percent of the state’s prison population on June 30, 2007, the latest date for which the data are available from the Illinois Department of Corrections. But when they are charged, the consequences are just as devastating to the ex-offender.</p>
<p>Fischer had a client who lost his job and couldn’t find another after serving his sentence for public indecency. Fischer suspects that a prank led to his legal problems, but anything from relieving his bladder in an alley to showing too much skin in a car could have landed him in court, she said. Initially, a prosecutor argued he didn’t qualify for expungement. The client had no other criminal history and, on those grounds, eventually convinced his judge to expunge it. But he’d already gone without a source of income for more than seven months.</p>
<p>Fischer said the impact of unsealable crimes can be enormous. “Your sentence is never complete,” she said. “You are marginalized. We have, in our zeal –¦ to create a crimeless society, created a permanent underclass.”</p>
<p>A group of attorneys is helping draft a bill that would increase the list of expungeable crimes, but they’re not sure which crimes they will put on the list. The new bill will be just the latest chapter in the long history of Illinois sealing and expungement legislation.</p>
<p>For some, the very first version of the Illinois expungement statute, adopted in 1931, would actually be better than today’s edition. Under that law, any individual acquitted of a crime would automatically get his or her record expunged; now, an arrest without conviction requires application for expungement–” a fact many don’t realize. In 1991, supervision sentences became eligible for expungement.</p>
<p>The advocates who proposed liberalizing the law in 2004 wanted to extend expungement to as many ex-offenders as possible, with the sealing of records a possibility for the first time. But the politicians they were lobbying didn’t want to appear soft on crime.</p>
<p>“Nobody wanted a felon to get a job, beat someone up there, then point at a legislator, and a future opponent could beat them over the head saying, –˜Look what you did,'” said former Cook County State’s Attorney Dick Devine.</p>
<p>The same was true in 2005, when the law underwent another liberalization. “The hardest thing was getting the votes,” said the Rev. Sharod Gordon, who describes himself as “convener” of the Developing Justice Coalition, one of the original supporters of the 2005 amendment. “In a lot of communities outside of Chicago, they don’t like that stuff. It’s all deemed as soft on crime.”</p>
<p>Short on political capital, Gordon decided to focus on sealing the most common offenses in his community–” low-level drug felonies. They made up 55 percent of class-four felonies in fiscal year 2004, according to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority’s 2005 Research Bulletin. The corrections department’s report states that drug offenders of all levels represented 24 percent of the state’s total prison population on June 30, 2007. Sealing those crimes would help people find jobs and stay out of prison, Gordon reasoned. The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless worked to include prostitution, which is closely related to the drug trade, in the proposed bill for expungement.</p>
<p>But the coalition’s efforts were not focused on sealing or expunging adultery, fornication, marriage of a bigamist, public indecency and obscenity, all listed under article 11 of the criminal code. “For one, our communities aren’t concerned about that,” Gordon said. “Our community is concerned about how to get the population who is affected by these bills–”which is largely drug offenders. We weren’t down there to fight for human rights legislation. We were down there trying to represent our community.”</p>
<p>Nor did any politicians stand up for offenders of article 11 crimes. “I suspect that the Chapter 11 violations are prohibited from being sealed because I don’t think there’s a politician worthy of a name that wants to stand up in the general assembly and say, –˜I’m actually for adultery,'” Fischer said.</p>
<p>A third round of liberalization looms. It might finally include article 11. It might not.</p>
<p>One Chicago advocate, the Rev. Al Sampson, a civil rights leader who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta, hopes it does. Sampson helped found the movement to expand the sealing and expungement of records in Illinois in the mid-1990s.</p>
<p>“Those are really minor, minor infractions that keep blocking our people from access to jobs and professions as well as boards and agencies,” Sampson said. “Those are the subtleties of the strangeness of these different –¦ blocks, so that people don’t get access to the furtherance of their career.”</p>
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could expunge seal one persons criminal record whose would one prostituting 10 yards away elementary school another cheated spouse may moral dilemma illinois law clear prostitute get record expunged hand adultery actually misdemeanor expunged neither fornication illinois sealing expungement law offering second chance life thousands riddled inconsistencies consider selling 30 grams marijuana sealable sexual conduct public placea car parking lot instanceis buying less 15 grams cocaine sealable emailing picture nude playboy bunny 15 yearold makes absolutely sense fornication sealable offense prostitution leads reasonable person think youre far better selling sex giving away said chris fischer staff attorney expungement program office state appellate defender one anomalies law number anybody works expungement business rolling eyes provision years majority crimes unsealable felonies except prostitution minor drug offensesboth considered classfour feloniesarent eligible sealing expungement 87 percent felonies serious classfour offenses unsealable misdemeanors violent crimes like aggravated assault domestic battery crimes animals sex crimes many might believe adultery fornication instance considered crimes crimes rarely charged made 14 percent states prison population june 30 2007 latest date data available illinois department corrections charged consequences devastating exoffender fischer client lost job couldnt find another serving sentence public indecency fischer suspects prank led legal problems anything relieving bladder alley showing much skin car could landed court said initially prosecutor argued didnt qualify expungement client criminal history grounds eventually convinced judge expunge hed already gone without source income seven months fischer said impact unsealable crimes enormous sentence never complete said marginalized zeal create crimeless society created permanent underclass group attorneys helping draft bill would increase list expungeable crimes theyre sure crimes put list new bill latest chapter long history illinois sealing expungement legislation first version illinois expungement statute adopted 1931 would actually better todays edition law individual acquitted crime would automatically get record expunged arrest without conviction requires application expungement fact many dont realize 1991 supervision sentences became eligible expungement advocates proposed liberalizing law 2004 wanted extend expungement many exoffenders possible sealing records possibility first time politicians lobbying didnt want appear soft crime nobody wanted felon get job beat someone point legislator future opponent could beat head saying look said former cook county states attorney dick devine true 2005 law underwent another liberalization hardest thing getting votes said rev sharod gordon describes convener developing justice coalition one original supporters 2005 amendment lot communities outside chicago dont like stuff deemed soft crime short political capital gordon decided focus sealing common offenses community lowlevel drug felonies made 55 percent classfour felonies fiscal year 2004 according illinois criminal justice information authoritys 2005 research bulletin corrections departments report states drug offenders levels represented 24 percent states total prison population june 30 2007 sealing crimes would help people find jobs stay prison gordon reasoned chicago coalition homeless worked include prostitution closely related drug trade proposed bill expungement coalitions efforts focused sealing expunging adultery fornication marriage bigamist public indecency obscenity listed article 11 criminal code one communities arent concerned gordon said community concerned get population affected billswhich largely drug offenders werent fight human rights legislation trying represent community politicians stand offenders article 11 crimes suspect chapter 11 violations prohibited sealed dont think theres politician worthy name wants stand general assembly say im actually adultery fischer said third round liberalization looms might finally include article 11 might one chicago advocate rev al sampson civil rights leader worked dr martin luther king jr atlanta hopes sampson helped found movement expand sealing expungement records illinois mid1990s really minor minor infractions keep blocking people access jobs professions well boards agencies sampson said subtleties strangeness different blocks people dont get access furtherance career
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<p>Speculation that former D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray is considering running for a Council seat intensified this week. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>LGBT activists are predicting former D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray would capture the lion’s share of the LGBT vote in the city’s June 14 Democratic primary if he decides to run for a seat on the City Council.</p>
<p>Speculation that Gray is strongly considering running for a Council seat intensified this week when news surfaced that his supporters commissioned a poll to see how Gray would do if he challenges incumbent Council members Vincent Orange (D-At-Large) or Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7).</p>
<p>Gray has said he’s looking into a possible run for either of those two seats. He won election to the Ward 7 seat before running and winning subsequent citywide races for City Council Chairman and mayor.</p>
<p>“I think he’ll do very well with the LGBT vote regardless of which one he runs for,” said veteran gay rights and Ward 8 community activist Phil Pannell.</p>
<p>Earl Fowlkes, president of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, the city’s largest LGBT political group, said Gray remains a highly popular figure among LGBT voters because of his unprecedented support for LGBT issues, including transgender rights issues, during his tenure as a Council member and mayor.</p>
<p>“I think obviously he has a good chance of winning,” Fowlkes said. “He’s very popular. He is seen as pro-LGBT. And he has a very strong record to stand on both as a member of the City Council, as chairman of the City Council, and as mayor.”</p>
<p>Transgender activist Jeri Hughes called Gray one of the city’s most accessible mayors ever on LGBT issues, especially transgender issues.</p>
<p>“I can’t speak for the community but I personally would cast my vote in his favor,” Hughes said.</p>
<p>Like other Gray supporters, Gray’s LGBT supporters have blamed Gray’s defeat in the April 2014 Democratic mayoral primary to then-Council member Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) on a news conference held by then-D.C. U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen Jr. Most political observers said Machen gave the strong impression at the widely reported news conference held three weeks before the primary that Gray would likely be indicted on criminal charges related to illegal fundraising activities associated with Gray’s 2010 mayoral campaign.</p>
<p>Gray, who has repeatedly denied any knowledge or involvement in the illegal fundraising activities, was leading Bowser in the polls prior to the news conference but quickly fell behind in its aftermath.</p>
<p>Bowser beat Gray in the primary and defeated gay City Council member David Catania (I-At-Large) and former Council member Carol Schwartz, who switched from Republican to independent, in the general election. She took office as mayor in January 2015.</p>
<p>It was not until Dec. 9 of last year that Machen’s successor, U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips, announced that a lengthy investigation into Gray’s possible involvement in the illegal campaign activities had ended and Gray would not be charged. Gray’s supporters noted that the development at long last lifted a cloud hanging over Gray’s head and opened the way for Gray to return to elective office should he choose to do so.</p>
<p>A decision by Gray to run for the at-large seat would have the greatest impact on Orange and gay civic activist David Garber. Garber, a former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Ward 6, announced in August that he would challenge Orange for the Democratic nomination for the at-large seat in the June 2016 Democratic primary.</p>
<p>Among those supporting Garber is Bob Summersgill, former president of the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance, who is serving as Garber’s campaign treasurer.</p>
<p>Most political observers have said Garber would have an uphill quest to unseat Orange but would have a long-shot chance of succeeding.</p>
<p>Garber’s best hope, LGBT observers say, would be if Gray decides to run for the Ward 7 seat. Although Gray lost the mayoral primary to Bowser in 2014 he beat Bowser decisively in Ward 7, which is his home base, indicating he could be expected to beat Alexander this year.</p>
<p>Alexander and Orange have been supportive of LGBT issues in recent years but both opposed same-sex marriage legislation in past campaigns. Alexander was one of just two Council members to vote against the city’s marriage equality law in 2009.</p>
<p>Fowlkes said he would remain neutral in the upcoming campaigns until the Stein Club votes on endorsements in April. He notes that both Orange and Alexander have since come out in support of marriage equality and he doesn’t think most LGBT voters would consider that a key factor in 2016.</p>
<p>“Our president has come along on marriage equality,” Fowlkes said. “Hillary Clinton has come along on marriage equality.”</p>
<p>Chuck Thies, who served as manager of Gray’s 2014 mayoral campaign, is the lead organizer of a PAC he helped organize to conduct the polling this week on the upcoming Council races. Thies said Gray played no role in organizing or financing the poll, but Thies acknowledges that it will likely help Gray decide whether or not to run for either the at-large or Ward 7 seat.</p>
<p>One of the poll questions released by Thies asks potential D.C. voters, “If the Democratic candidates for At-Large D.C. Council were Vincent Orange, David Garber, Robert White, and Vince Gray, who would you vote for?”</p>
<p>White, a local community activist, is among the candidates that have filed to run for the at-large seat along with Garber to challenge Orange.</p>
<p>Under the city’s election law, two at-large Council seats are up for election this year. The other seat is held by Democrat-turned-independent David Grosso, a strong LGBT rights supporter. Grosso will not appear on the Democratic primary ballot in June, but will be on the ballot in the November general election.</p>
<p>At that time, the winner of the Democratic primary for the at-large seat would be on the same ballot as Grosso and other independent and other party candidates such as the city’s Statehood Green Party. The D.C. election law calls for voters to vote for two at-large candidates, with the highest two vote-getters declared the winners.</p>
<p>Thus, theoretically, Gray, Orange or Garber could be on the November ballot with Grosso if either of them wins the June Democratic primary.</p>
<p>Pannell, a longtime Stein Club member, said he’s certain that Gray would win the Stein Club’s endorsement for either the at-large or Ward 7 seat if he enters the race as a Council candidate.</p>
<p>Thies said he expects Gray to make a decision on whether to run by the end of this month, when the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics releases nominating petitions for candidates to obtain the required number of signatures to get on the ballot.</p>
<p>The deadline for filing nominating petitions with the board is March 16.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Advisory Neighborhood Commission</a> <a href="" type="internal">ANC</a> <a href="" type="internal">Bob Summersgill</a> <a href="" type="internal">Carol Schwartz</a> <a href="" type="internal">Channing Phillips</a> <a href="" type="internal">Chuck Thies</a> <a href="" type="internal">D.C. Council</a> <a href="" type="internal">David Catania</a> <a href="" type="internal">David Garber</a> <a href="" type="internal">David Grosso</a> <a href="" type="internal">Earl Fowlkes</a> <a href="" type="internal">Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance</a> <a href="" type="internal">Gertrude Stein Democratic Club</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jeri Hughes</a> <a href="" type="internal">LGBT</a> <a href="" type="internal">Muriel Bowser</a> <a href="" type="internal">Phil Pannell</a> <a href="" type="internal">Robert White</a> <a href="" type="internal">Ronald Machen Jr.</a> <a href="" type="internal">Statehood-Green Party</a> <a href="" type="internal">transgender</a> <a href="" type="internal">Vince Gray</a> <a href="" type="internal">Vincent Gray</a> <a href="" type="internal">Vincent Orange</a> <a href="" type="internal">Ward 7</a> <a href="" type="internal">Yvette Alexander</a></p>
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speculation former dc mayor vincent gray considering running council seat intensified week washington blade file photo michael key lgbt activists predicting former dc mayor vincent gray would capture lions share lgbt vote citys june 14 democratic primary decides run seat city council speculation gray strongly considering running council seat intensified week news surfaced supporters commissioned poll see gray would challenges incumbent council members vincent orange datlarge yvette alexander dward 7 gray said hes looking possible run either two seats election ward 7 seat running winning subsequent citywide races city council chairman mayor think hell well lgbt vote regardless one runs said veteran gay rights ward 8 community activist phil pannell earl fowlkes president gertrude stein democratic club citys largest lgbt political group said gray remains highly popular figure among lgbt voters unprecedented support lgbt issues including transgender rights issues tenure council member mayor think obviously good chance winning fowlkes said hes popular seen prolgbt strong record stand member city council chairman city council mayor transgender activist jeri hughes called gray one citys accessible mayors ever lgbt issues especially transgender issues cant speak community personally would cast vote favor hughes said like gray supporters grays lgbt supporters blamed grays defeat april 2014 democratic mayoral primary thencouncil member muriel bowser dward 4 news conference held thendc us attorney ronald machen jr political observers said machen gave strong impression widely reported news conference held three weeks primary gray would likely indicted criminal charges related illegal fundraising activities associated grays 2010 mayoral campaign gray repeatedly denied knowledge involvement illegal fundraising activities leading bowser polls prior news conference quickly fell behind aftermath bowser beat gray primary defeated gay city council member david catania iatlarge former council member carol schwartz switched republican independent general election took office mayor january 2015 dec 9 last year machens successor us attorney channing phillips announced lengthy investigation grays possible involvement illegal campaign activities ended gray would charged grays supporters noted development long last lifted cloud hanging grays head opened way gray return elective office choose decision gray run atlarge seat would greatest impact orange gay civic activist david garber garber former advisory neighborhood commissioner ward 6 announced august would challenge orange democratic nomination atlarge seat june 2016 democratic primary among supporting garber bob summersgill former president gay lesbian activists alliance serving garbers campaign treasurer political observers said garber would uphill quest unseat orange would longshot chance succeeding garbers best hope lgbt observers say would gray decides run ward 7 seat although gray lost mayoral primary bowser 2014 beat bowser decisively ward 7 home base indicating could expected beat alexander year alexander orange supportive lgbt issues recent years opposed samesex marriage legislation past campaigns alexander one two council members vote citys marriage equality law 2009 fowlkes said would remain neutral upcoming campaigns stein club votes endorsements april notes orange alexander since come support marriage equality doesnt think lgbt voters would consider key factor 2016 president come along marriage equality fowlkes said hillary clinton come along marriage equality chuck thies served manager grays 2014 mayoral campaign lead organizer pac helped organize conduct polling week upcoming council races thies said gray played role organizing financing poll thies acknowledges likely help gray decide whether run either atlarge ward 7 seat one poll questions released thies asks potential dc voters democratic candidates atlarge dc council vincent orange david garber robert white vince gray would vote white local community activist among candidates filed run atlarge seat along garber challenge orange citys election law two atlarge council seats election year seat held democratturnedindependent david grosso strong lgbt rights supporter grosso appear democratic primary ballot june ballot november general election time winner democratic primary atlarge seat would ballot grosso independent party candidates citys statehood green party dc election law calls voters vote two atlarge candidates highest two votegetters declared winners thus theoretically gray orange garber could november ballot grosso either wins june democratic primary pannell longtime stein club member said hes certain gray would win stein clubs endorsement either atlarge ward 7 seat enters race council candidate thies said expects gray make decision whether run end month dc board elections ethics releases nominating petitions candidates obtain required number signatures get ballot deadline filing nominating petitions board march 16 advisory neighborhood commission anc bob summersgill carol schwartz channing phillips chuck thies dc council david catania david garber david grosso earl fowlkes gay lesbian activists alliance gertrude stein democratic club jeri hughes lgbt muriel bowser phil pannell robert white ronald machen jr statehoodgreen party transgender vince gray vincent gray vincent orange ward 7 yvette alexander
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<p><a href="" type="internal" />JUNE 20, 2011</p>
<p>By STEVEN GREENHUT</p>
<p>Hours before the midnight Wednesday deadline for passing a state budget, legislative Democrats rammed through a ridiculous, gimmick-laden, majority-vote spending plan that failed to reform anything and failed to impress Gov. Jerry Brown, who wisely vetoed it less than a day later. The budget succeeded mainly in one area: ensuring the legislators would continue getting their paychecks, given that an initiative passed by voters last year, <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_25,_Majority_Vote_for_Legislature_to_Pass_the_Budget_%282010%29" type="external">Proposition 25</a>, would have permanently denied them their pay for every day after a missed budget deadline.</p>
<p>Brown might do another good thing that would give California property owners reason to celebrate: sign the budget trailer bills that would eliminate the state’s noxious redevelopment agencies. There’s been debate in the Capitol about whether his budget veto affects the redevelopment trailer bills, but the latest information from Assembly Republicans is that the trailer bills can be signed or vetoed separately.</p>
<p>An earlier effort this year to kill these local central-planning fiefdoms — which run up debt, divert existing tax dollars from traditional public services such as schools and public safety, abuse government’s power to seize private property and dole out subsidies to politically savvy developers — failed when Republicans rallied to save the agencies, their free-market rhetoric notwithstanding. But Wednesday, the Legislature voted to end their reign of terror, with a handful of Republicans joining Democrats in doing the right thing.</p>
<p>The previous bid to kill redevelopment failed because the bill required a two-thirds majority vote, but Wednesday a version stripped of its appropriations provisions came before both houses of the Legislature for a simple majority vote. AB 26x would “dissolve all redevelopment agencies and community development agencies in existence and designate successor agencies.”</p>
<p>A companion bill, AB 27x, was a sop to weak-in-the-knees Democrats afraid to kill these agencies outright. It allows the agencies to rise like zombies, provided they pay a large portion of the revenue they collect to schools, fire protection agencies and other agencies from which they divert funds. That’s problematic, but as news reports suggest, city officials don’t think they have the cash to revive their agencies.</p>
<p>San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed complained in published reports that such a payback provision is “an impossible demand to meet.” Given the abusive and wasteful actions of redevelopment in that city and elsewhere, California property owners should be relieved that Reed and other redevelopment advocates are upset.</p>
<p>“The Senate and the Assembly just voted to kill redevelopment, plain and simple,” the California Redevelopment Association’s John Shirey told the media. The governor has yet to sign (or even receive) the bills, and the agencies’ fate could end up in court, but Shirey is not crying wolf.</p>
<p>The redevelopment industry suffered an enormous defeat, despite its phalanx of lobbyists. Prior to the vote, Republican U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock of Rocklin, and one of the state’s conservative icons, released a short video urging Republicans to join with Democrats to kill the agencies.</p>
<p>Yet, even though any serious conservative should agree with McClintock and be eager to kill redevelopment agencies, which epitomize crony capitalism and central planning, Republicans were the biggest obstacle to their elimination. They found various reasons to support them, ranging from the desire not to give Brown any sort of budget victory to the oft-stated claim that redevelopment at least keeps the money in the hands of cities rather than in Sacramento.</p>
<p>In reality, many Republican legislators are more interested in being pro-business than pro-freedom, and they have become addicted to the redevelopment cash and the political support from developers who benefit from the process.</p>
<p>On the Assembly floor Wednesday, Assemblyman Don Wagner, R-Irvine, rightly compared redevelopment tactics to the Mafia — thus sparking a schoolyard-like scuffle on the floor with an Italian-American assemblyman who demanded an apology on behalf of his fellow Italians. But Wagner then opposed the legislation because AB 27x provided a way to revive RDAs.</p>
<p>I’ve never heard a Republican refuse to support a tax cut on the grounds that the Legislature could raise taxes in the future. When it comes to redevelopment, Wagner and other Republicans contorted logic to defend these agencies.</p>
<p>Obviously, Democrats didn’t vote to shut down redevelopment agencies for the right reasons. They don’t mind central planning and subsidies.</p>
<p>If they didn’t like those things, they wouldn’t be Democrats. They are looking for cash to close the budget hole. But who cares why they did it? Principled politicians find allies wherever they can find them, even if such alliances are fleeting.</p>
<p>There were some genuine heroes. Ted Gaines of Roseville was the only Senate Republican to vote to end the agencies, providing the swing vote. His wife, Beth Gaines, a newly elected assemblywoman, joined Chris Norby of Fullerton, Allan Mansoor of Costa Mesa, Jim Nielsen of Gerber and Dan Logue of Linda in voting to kill redevelopment.</p>
<p>I loved what Beth Gaines said in her floor speech: “Redevelopment agencies were first created to clean up blight and improve infrastructure, and while some have completed very successful projects in their communities, unfortunately today, many use these state-subsidies as slush funds to seize private property through eminent domain and supplement other general fund expenditures, with little accountability to taxpayers.”</p>
<p>This redevelopment vote separated real Republicans — note how few there were — from the Republicans In Rhetoric Only.</p>
<p>Good for Gov. Brown for quickly rejecting the Democrats’ scam budget, even though he is sticking to his playbook calling for tax extensions as the only solution to the state’s deficit. Still, whatever emerges from this budget drama will have a short-term effect on the state. The budget won’t be fixed until Californians elect politicians willing to exert some fiscal discipline.</p>
<p>But the death of redevelopment — and I believe Shirey that these votes really would have meant their death — would be a great advance for fiscal responsibility and property rights and could give Brown a serious legacy.</p>
<p>However this plays out, redevelopment is on the ropes. That is a reason to celebrate.</p>
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june 20 2011 steven greenhut hours midnight wednesday deadline passing state budget legislative democrats rammed ridiculous gimmickladen majorityvote spending plan failed reform anything failed impress gov jerry brown wisely vetoed less day later budget succeeded mainly one area ensuring legislators would continue getting paychecks given initiative passed voters last year proposition 25 would permanently denied pay every day missed budget deadline brown might another good thing would give california property owners reason celebrate sign budget trailer bills would eliminate states noxious redevelopment agencies theres debate capitol whether budget veto affects redevelopment trailer bills latest information assembly republicans trailer bills signed vetoed separately earlier effort year kill local centralplanning fiefdoms run debt divert existing tax dollars traditional public services schools public safety abuse governments power seize private property dole subsidies politically savvy developers failed republicans rallied save agencies freemarket rhetoric notwithstanding wednesday legislature voted end reign terror handful republicans joining democrats right thing previous bid kill redevelopment failed bill required twothirds majority vote wednesday version stripped appropriations provisions came houses legislature simple majority vote ab 26x would dissolve redevelopment agencies community development agencies existence designate successor agencies companion bill ab 27x sop weakintheknees democrats afraid kill agencies outright allows agencies rise like zombies provided pay large portion revenue collect schools fire protection agencies agencies divert funds thats problematic news reports suggest city officials dont think cash revive agencies san jose mayor chuck reed complained published reports payback provision impossible demand meet given abusive wasteful actions redevelopment city elsewhere california property owners relieved reed redevelopment advocates upset senate assembly voted kill redevelopment plain simple california redevelopment associations john shirey told media governor yet sign even receive bills agencies fate could end court shirey crying wolf redevelopment industry suffered enormous defeat despite phalanx lobbyists prior vote republican us rep tom mcclintock rocklin one states conservative icons released short video urging republicans join democrats kill agencies yet even though serious conservative agree mcclintock eager kill redevelopment agencies epitomize crony capitalism central planning republicans biggest obstacle elimination found various reasons support ranging desire give brown sort budget victory oftstated claim redevelopment least keeps money hands cities rather sacramento reality many republican legislators interested probusiness profreedom become addicted redevelopment cash political support developers benefit process assembly floor wednesday assemblyman wagner rirvine rightly compared redevelopment tactics mafia thus sparking schoolyardlike scuffle floor italianamerican assemblyman demanded apology behalf fellow italians wagner opposed legislation ab 27x provided way revive rdas ive never heard republican refuse support tax cut grounds legislature could raise taxes future comes redevelopment wagner republicans contorted logic defend agencies obviously democrats didnt vote shut redevelopment agencies right reasons dont mind central planning subsidies didnt like things wouldnt democrats looking cash close budget hole cares principled politicians find allies wherever find even alliances fleeting genuine heroes ted gaines roseville senate republican vote end agencies providing swing vote wife beth gaines newly elected assemblywoman joined chris norby fullerton allan mansoor costa mesa jim nielsen gerber dan logue linda voting kill redevelopment loved beth gaines said floor speech redevelopment agencies first created clean blight improve infrastructure completed successful projects communities unfortunately today many use statesubsidies slush funds seize private property eminent domain supplement general fund expenditures little accountability taxpayers redevelopment vote separated real republicans note republicans rhetoric good gov brown quickly rejecting democrats scam budget even though sticking playbook calling tax extensions solution states deficit still whatever emerges budget drama shortterm effect state budget wont fixed californians elect politicians willing exert fiscal discipline death redevelopment believe shirey votes really would meant death would great advance fiscal responsibility property rights could give brown serious legacy however plays redevelopment ropes reason celebrate
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<p>Virginia Baptists witnessed first-hand the destructive power of December's tsunami as an assessment team visited India to determine how to meet some of the needs created when the disaster struck the subcontinent.</p>
<p>As Kristin Fogg rode along a half-eroded road on the southern coast of India last week, she thought how beautiful the beaches looked.</p>
<p>“There was clean, yellow sand with coconut trees waving lazily over them in the breeze,” said Fogg, part of a Virginia Baptist assessment team that traveled to India in the wake of December's tsunami there.</p>
<p>“Just then our host leaned forward and said, ‘All of this beach was filled with houses-they were all washed away with the tsunami,' ” she recalled. “Suddenly the beaches lost their beauty.”</p>
<p>Fogg, multicultural resourcing innovator for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia, was part of a four-person team that traveled across southern India Jan. 19-28, evaluating needs and determining how Virginia Baptists can meet them as part of a developing relief and recovery project with the India Baptist Convention.</p>
<p>“The needs are incredible,” said Dean Miller, the team's leader and deployment agent in the Mission Board's emerging leaders team. “Not only have thousands died in India, but thousands more have lost homes and livelihoods, and hundreds of children are orphaned. Our short-term relief project could easily become a long-term partnership with Indian Baptists,” he said.</p>
<p>Other members of the assessment team were Murphy Terry, director of missions for the Goshen Baptist Association, and Kevin Meadows, pastor of Grandin Court Baptist Church in Roanoke, which has long-established relations with the Indian convention and its theological seminary.</p>
<p>The four traveled the coastal areas of the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where dozens of fishing villages were wiped out, killing hundreds.</p>
<p>“It is estimated over 2,000 people are missing and hundreds of people are given asylum in schools and church buildings,” said Kunjumon Chacko, a leader in the India Baptist Convention, who worked closely with the Virginia Baptist team. “Many people lost their houses with all belongings, villagers lost their livestock. It is hard to loose one's future. But here many have lost their past also. People working in towns and cities went back to their villages and they could not even locate the places where they lived.”</p>
<p>Fogg's experience of beauty transformed into horror occurred two other times on her trip.</p>
<p>“At one tsunami-affected area we stopped at a big sand pit where locals were hovering around making a sand sculpture in the shape of an ornate cross,” she said. Again she was struck by the beauty and began to videotape their art work.</p>
<p>“Then our host came to me and said, ‘We are standing on the mass grave of 180-some children; the adult mass grave is down the street.' The cross in the sand suddenly lost its beauty.</p>
<p>“In another coastal village I was taking pictures of the ocean at sunset, sparkling and shimmering as the sun slowly descended behind it. Once again I was overcome by the beauty before me. Then our host translated the stories of the people talking behind me: ‘The waves brought many fish to the beach, and then the sea disappeared. The women and children went out to collect the fish that were left on the sand, then the tsunami came, and 250 women and children were sucked into the ocean and drowned.' Suddenly the ocean lost its beauty.”</p>
<p>Helping Indians regain a measure of their former lives is the goal of the relief and recovery project, said team leaders.</p>
<p>“I will never fathom what God has allowed to transpire in those fishing villages in India,” said Fogg. “I will, however, choose to put my faith, hope and love in the one who is able to make beauty from ashes.”</p>
<p>While in India, Miller and his team presented $4,000 in Virginia Baptist relief contributions to the Precious Children's Home, an orphanage in Kerala state affiliated with Indian Baptists. That amount will cover the expenses for one year of 10 children orphaned by the tsunami.</p>
<p>In addition, a Mission Board allocation of $500 was given to India Baptist Convention leaders to help with disaster relief.</p>
<p>“Since we had the opportunity, we decided it would be best to present this money in person,” said Miller.</p>
<p>Miller and his team targeted a variety of needs and discussed them at a Jan. 31 meeting with Mission Board leaders, who agreed to pursue them.</p>
<p>At the top of the list is raising funds to cover expenses for one year at the Precious Children's Home for an additional 100 children who lost parents in the disaster.</p>
<p>“There will be several hundred, if not thousands, of children whose families have been affected by the tsunami and can no longer care for their own children,” said Miller. “Some children lost parents and have no relatives to care for them. Many of the children that are in need still have surviving parents, but the parents are in no condition to care for their children. Most of the families we met are from fishing villages and they can no longer provide meaningful support for themselves, because their boats have been destroyed and therefore there is no income generated.</p>
<p>“Our hope is to raise an initial one-year support for as many of these children as the India Baptist Convention can accommodate. Our goal then will be to have individuals and churches make a longer-term commitment and begin long-term sponsorship. Sponsorship is basically $1 per day plus an additional $35 at the beginning of each school year to purchase the necessary school supplies-two uniforms, textbooks, notebooks, pencils and pens-which are required for every student in India. This is a total of $395 per child per year. An additional $5 will help for special times such as birthdays and Christmas.”</p>
<p>Other projects include:</p>
<p>• Raising funds to replace fishing boats and nets lost in Kulachal in the state of Tamal Nadu. The cost is approximately $1,000 for one boat and net.</p>
<p>“We will hopefully know the number of fishing boats for this one particular village by next week,” said Miller. “We are waiting for the Indian convention to complete its assessment of the area. If there is not enough money to purchase each family a fishing boat then we will pursue a program called micro-economics‚ a cooperative arrangement among families to share a boat and the profits, setting aside a certain amount each month until another boat can be purchased.</p>
<p>• Raising funds to replace school items for about 2,000 children in Kerala. The cost is about $25 per student. “Children are being allowed to finish out this school year without proper uniforms and supplies,” said Miller. “The school year will end on March 1 and the new school year will begin June 1. Children who do not have the required uniforms and supplies at the beginning of the new school year will not be permitted to attend school.”</p>
<p>• Raising funds to send construction teams to assist with the establishment of at least one new orphanage near a tsunami-affected area.</p>
<p>• Sending construction teams to make immediate repairs to existing homes still habitable by families but damaged from the tsunamis.</p>
<p>“There are innumerable homes damaged from the tsunami but are still being used by the families as their main residence simply because the option of government-supplied temporary housing is rather pitiful,” said Miller. “The monsoon season begins in June and lasts until August. Immediate repairs to these homes will allow the families to keep dry and make it through the wet season. After this, the government will make decisions about more permanent repairs to these structures.</p>
<p>• Sending one or two crisis care teams to visit the affected areas and provide the necessary ministry. These individuals would also train seminary students and pastors in crisis and pastoral care.</p>
<p>• Sending one or two “Venturers” to oversee the work of teams and administer the process and funds that are received for the fishing boats and nets. “ ‘Venturers' is a new volunteer mission opportunity for those willing to serve for a six to 24-month period,” said Miller. “This opportunity is currently under development in the Mission Board's glocal missions and evangelism team and will be field tested in 2005. If it is deemed necessary, Virginia Baptists will send a Venturer (or a couple) to assist with the recovery effort.</p>
<p>• Providing living expenses for church planters who will work in the field in support of these ministries. Cost is $100 per month for one person.</p>
<p>Written by Robert Dilday, Kristen Fogg and Dean Miller.</p>
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virginia baptists witnessed firsthand destructive power decembers tsunami assessment team visited india determine meet needs created disaster struck subcontinent kristin fogg rode along halferoded road southern coast india last week thought beautiful beaches looked clean yellow sand coconut trees waving lazily breeze said fogg part virginia baptist assessment team traveled india wake decembers tsunami host leaned forward said beach filled housesthey washed away tsunami recalled suddenly beaches lost beauty fogg multicultural resourcing innovator virginia baptist mission board womans missionary union virginia part fourperson team traveled across southern india jan 1928 evaluating needs determining virginia baptists meet part developing relief recovery project india baptist convention needs incredible said dean miller teams leader deployment agent mission boards emerging leaders team thousands died india thousands lost homes livelihoods hundreds children orphaned shortterm relief project could easily become longterm partnership indian baptists said members assessment team murphy terry director missions goshen baptist association kevin meadows pastor grandin court baptist church roanoke longestablished relations indian convention theological seminary four traveled coastal areas indian states kerala tamil nadu dozens fishing villages wiped killing hundreds estimated 2000 people missing hundreds people given asylum schools church buildings said kunjumon chacko leader india baptist convention worked closely virginia baptist team many people lost houses belongings villagers lost livestock hard loose ones future many lost past also people working towns cities went back villages could even locate places lived foggs experience beauty transformed horror occurred two times trip one tsunamiaffected area stopped big sand pit locals hovering around making sand sculpture shape ornate cross said struck beauty began videotape art work host came said standing mass grave 180some children adult mass grave street cross sand suddenly lost beauty another coastal village taking pictures ocean sunset sparkling shimmering sun slowly descended behind overcome beauty host translated stories people talking behind waves brought many fish beach sea disappeared women children went collect fish left sand tsunami came 250 women children sucked ocean drowned suddenly ocean lost beauty helping indians regain measure former lives goal relief recovery project said team leaders never fathom god allowed transpire fishing villages india said fogg however choose put faith hope love one able make beauty ashes india miller team presented 4000 virginia baptist relief contributions precious childrens home orphanage kerala state affiliated indian baptists amount cover expenses one year 10 children orphaned tsunami addition mission board allocation 500 given india baptist convention leaders help disaster relief since opportunity decided would best present money person said miller miller team targeted variety needs discussed jan 31 meeting mission board leaders agreed pursue top list raising funds cover expenses one year precious childrens home additional 100 children lost parents disaster several hundred thousands children whose families affected tsunami longer care children said miller children lost parents relatives care many children need still surviving parents parents condition care children families met fishing villages longer provide meaningful support boats destroyed therefore income generated hope raise initial oneyear support many children india baptist convention accommodate goal individuals churches make longerterm commitment begin longterm sponsorship sponsorship basically 1 per day plus additional 35 beginning school year purchase necessary school suppliestwo uniforms textbooks notebooks pencils penswhich required every student india total 395 per child per year additional 5 help special times birthdays christmas projects include raising funds replace fishing boats nets lost kulachal state tamal nadu cost approximately 1000 one boat net hopefully know number fishing boats one particular village next week said miller waiting indian convention complete assessment area enough money purchase family fishing boat pursue program called microeconomics cooperative arrangement among families share boat profits setting aside certain amount month another boat purchased raising funds replace school items 2000 children kerala cost 25 per student children allowed finish school year without proper uniforms supplies said miller school year end march 1 new school year begin june 1 children required uniforms supplies beginning new school year permitted attend school raising funds send construction teams assist establishment least one new orphanage near tsunamiaffected area sending construction teams make immediate repairs existing homes still habitable families damaged tsunamis innumerable homes damaged tsunami still used families main residence simply option governmentsupplied temporary housing rather pitiful said miller monsoon season begins june lasts august immediate repairs homes allow families keep dry make wet season government make decisions permanent repairs structures sending one two crisis care teams visit affected areas provide necessary ministry individuals would also train seminary students pastors crisis pastoral care sending one two venturers oversee work teams administer process funds received fishing boats nets venturers new volunteer mission opportunity willing serve six 24month period said miller opportunity currently development mission boards glocal missions evangelism team field tested 2005 deemed necessary virginia baptists send venturer couple assist recovery effort providing living expenses church planters work field support ministries cost 100 per month one person written robert dilday kristen fogg dean miller
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<p>The last Equality March was held in 2009. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>As thousands descend on Washington, D.C. for the Equality March for Unity and Pride, it’s important to remember that the LGBT community has quite a bit of experience executing national demonstrations. Here, we take a look back through the photographic archives of the Blade at five previous major LGBT demonstrations in D.C.</p>
<p>The 1979 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights (Washington Blade archive photo by John M. Yanson)</p>
<p>In what LGBT advocates and political observers considered an historic first, LGBT people from throughout the country came to the nation’s capital on Oct. 14, 1979 for the nation’s first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.</p>
<p>The idea of a gay march on Washington similar to the famous 1963 March on Washington for African-American rights initiated by Martin Luther King, Jr. had been pushed by San Francisco gay Supervisor Harvey Milk shortly before his assassination in 1978. New York gay activist Steve Ault and New York lesbian activist Joyce Hunter have been credited with moving Milk’s plans forward.</p>
<p>Similar to the four LGBT Washington marches that followed in subsequent years, there were conflicting reports on the size of the turnout. The U.S. Park Police, which at the time gave crowd estimates for public events, initially estimated the turnout for the march to be 75,000 but later said between 25,000 and 50,000 people turned out.</p>
<p>Organizers of the march insisted that more than 100,000 people turned out.</p>
<p>Whatever the turnout, the event drew national media attention to the LGBT rights movement and, according LGBT advocates, motivated thousands of LGBT people to become active in the movement to secure their rights who were not involved before.</p>
<p>A five-point platform for the march called for passage by Congress of a “comprehensive” lesbian and gay civil rights bill; a presidential executive order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in the federal workforce, the military, federally contracted private employers; repeal of all anti-gay/lesbian laws; an end to discrimination in child custody disputes for gay and lesbian parents; and protections for gay and lesbian youth against discrimination at home or in schools.</p>
<p>The march began near the Capitol and traveled along Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House before ending on the grounds of the Washington Monument, where a rally with speakers was held.</p>
<p>The 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights (Washington Blade archive photo by Doug Hinckle)</p>
<p>Activists familiar with the Oct. 11, 1987 march say that while it called for some of the same LGBT rights advances as the 1979 march, it was prompted by two major developments – the widespread belief that the administration of President Ronald Reagan had failed to adequately respond to the AIDS epidemic and the 1986 U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding state sodomy laws, which made it a crime for consenting adults of the same gender to engage in sexual relations.</p>
<p>This time, U.S. Park Police estimated the turnout to be at least 200,000. Organizers declared the turnout to be well over 300,000, making the 1987 march and rally the largest LGBT demonstration ever held in the U.S.</p>
<p>Media coverage of the march and rally was heightened by the decision by creators of the AIDS Memorial Quilt to display the quilt for the first time on the National Mall on the same day as the march.</p>
<p>During the days following the march, some participants staged a civil disobedience demonstration on the steps of the Supreme Court to protest the sodomy law ruling that resulted in arrests.</p>
<p>Among the speakers at the march rally, which was held on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, where gay U.S. Reps. Barney Frank and Gerry Studds, both Democrats from Massachusetts; former National Organization for Women president Eleanor Smeal; United Farm Workers Union president Cesar Chavez; and civil rights leader and then-presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson.</p>
<p>Items added to the platform beyond those included for the 1979 march included a call for legal recognition of lesbian and gay relationships; repeal of sodomy laws applying to consenting adults; an end to discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS; reproductive freedom for women; and an end to racism in the U.S. and an end to apartheid in South Africa.</p>
<p>The 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi-Equal Rights and Liberation (Washington Blade archive photo by Doug Hinckle)</p>
<p>Plans for the third march on Washington for “Lesbian, Gay, and Bi-Equal Rights and Liberation,” as it was officially named, began prior to the 1992 presidential election while George H. W. Bush was president.</p>
<p>By the time the march took place on April 25, President Bill Clinton, who expressed support for gay rights during his election campaign, had been in office for just over two months. While march organizers were generally optimistic over a Clinton White House, some expressed concern that the new president appeared to be backing down from his promise to lift the ban on gays in the military following opposition to the proposal by many in Congress.</p>
<p>Thus a major theme of the 1993 march and its large rally at the site of the U.S. Capitol was the call to “lift the ban.” Among those playing a visible role in the march were gay and lesbian veterans, some of whom wore their military uniforms.</p>
<p>Another vocal message delivered at the march was strong opposition to Colorado’s Amendment 2, a ballot measure passed by voters that banned cities and counties in the state from adopting anti-discrimination laws protecting gays and lesbians.</p>
<p>AIDS activists and members of the AIDS protest group ACT UP also emerged as highly visible participants in the march, which traveled from the White House to the Capitol.</p>
<p>By 5 p.m., hours after the march began, marchers could be seen at the far end of the National Mall near the Washington Monument still streaming onto the Mall, which appeared to be completely filled with people involved in the march. This prompted organizers to declare they had reached their goal of drawing a turnout of a million people. As with the previous two gay marches, U.S. Park Police issued a significantly lower figure, putting the turnout at 300,000.</p>
<p>Some participants expressed disappointment that Clinton declined an invitation to speak at the rally and also didn’t agree to record a video message to be shown at the rally. Instead, he sent a written message to be read at the rally expressing strong support for LGBT rights and increased funds for the fight against AIDS.</p>
<p>Then-D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly, then-New York City Mayor David Dinkins, and U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.), were among the speakers at the rally.</p>
<p>Students attend the Millennium March for Equality&#160;(Photo courtesy of Michael Key)</p>
<p>Held on April 30, 2000, the fourth national LGBT march on Washington, named the Millennium March on Washington for Equality, drew hundreds of thousands of LGBT people and their supporters despite a rocky start that sparked strong divisions among LGBT activists.</p>
<p>In a break from the first three ‘gay’ Washington marches, which were initiated by individual activists, the Millennium &#160;March was initiated by the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights group, and the Rev. Troy Perry, leader of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.</p>
<p>Rather than seek input from grassroots activists and local LGBT groups, HRC and Perry formed a march committee on their own and hired lesbian comedian and events producer Robin Tyler, who had been calling for another gay march, as the march’s executive producer. In a press release announcing the march, the committee boasted that corporate sponsors were being lined up to help finance the march and a long list of celebrities, most of whom were gay or lesbian, would be performing at a concert during the weekend of the planned march.</p>
<p>Infuriated over what they called a top down, undemocratic structure, many LGBT activists denounced the proposed march and vowed to organize a boycott. But as criticism mounted, HRC and Perry agreed to make changes to broaden the organizing committee and vowed to make the march the most diverse LGBT event ever held. Transgender activists and LGBT people of color were brought into leadership positions.</p>
<p>With the November 2000 presidential election approaching, many LGBT activists agreed a national LGBT march would be an important showing of LGBT political clout. Similar to the 1993 march, the National Mall appeared filled with march participants on April 20, 2000, prompting organizers and many observers to estimate the turnout to be 800,000. A short time before the Millennial March was held, U.S. Park Police discontinued making crowd estimates for events on the Mall.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, this time President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, who was running for president, spoke to the crowd through a large video screen on the Mall near the Capitol, where the rally was held.</p>
<p>An array of entertainers and celebrities, including Melissa Etheridge, Martina Navratilova, and actress Anne Heche, appeared on the stage at the rally. On the evening before the march, an HRC-produced concert at D.C.’s RFK Stadium called Equality Rocks, drew a sold-out crowd, which saw performances by Etheridge, George Michael, Pet Shop Boys, and k.d. Lang.</p>
<p>All of this drew extensive media coverage that for the most part omitted any mention of the internal LGBT strife surrounding the march and portrayed the event as a successful demonstration for LGBT equality.</p>
<p>The last LGBT march on Washington was the National Equality March on Oct. 11, 2009. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>Held on Oct. 11, 2009 on National Coming Out Day, the National Equality March is believed to have attracted about 150,000 people to Washington on a relatively short notice.</p>
<p>Longtime gay rights advocate David Mixner is credited with initiating the march in an effort to build on the groundswell of LGBT activism on social media generated by the approval by California voters of Proposition 8, a ballot measure that overturned the state’s same-sex marriage law.</p>
<p>San Francisco gay rights leader Cleve Jones, founder of the Names Project that created the AIDS Memorial Quilt, became involved as one of the lead organizers along with lesbian activist Robin McGehee and gay activist Kip Williams.</p>
<p>Similar to the previous LGBT Washington marches, the 2009 march traveled from the White House to the U.S. Capitol, where about two-dozen speakers, including mainline civil rights leaders, LGBT leaders, and supportive elected officials spoke in support of marriage equality, a federal LGBT non-discrimination bill, and repealing the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy.</p>
<p>The march took place during President Barack Obama’s first year in office, and some of the march speakers expressed concern that he wasn’t moving fast enough on his campaign promises to back LGBT rights legislation.</p>
<p>Among those who spoke and performed at the rally was bisexual singer and LGBT rights supporter Lady Gaga.</p>
<p>Unlike the previous LGBT Washington marches, that mainly closed their books in debt, the 2009 march generated a surplus in funds that organizers gave to existing grassroots LGBT rights organizations.</p>
<p>Among the key goals of march organizers was to put in place a network of grassroots LGBT organizers in each of the nation’s 435 congressional districts to push for LGBT equality under the auspices of a new group called Equality Across America. But activists familiar with the group acknowledge that goal was never reached and the group is no longer active.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">1979 National March</a> <a href="" type="internal">1993 March on Washington</a> <a href="" type="internal">2000 Millennium March</a> <a href="" type="internal">2009 National Equality March</a> <a href="" type="internal">Anne Heche</a> <a href="" type="internal">Barney Frank</a> <a href="" type="internal">Cesar Chavez</a> <a href="" type="internal">Cleve Jones</a> <a href="" type="internal">David Dinkins</a> <a href="" type="internal">David Mixner</a> <a href="" type="internal">Don't Ask Don't Tell</a> <a href="" type="internal">George Michael</a> <a href="" type="internal">Gerry Studs</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jesse Jackson</a> <a href="" type="internal">k.d. lang</a> <a href="" type="internal">Kip Williams</a> <a href="" type="internal">Lady Gaga</a> <a href="" type="internal">Martina Navratilova</a> <a href="" type="internal">Melissa Etheridge</a> <a href="" type="internal">National Coming Out Day</a> <a href="" type="internal">Paul Wellstone</a> <a href="" type="internal">Pet Shop Boys</a> <a href="" type="internal">Robin McGehee</a> <a href="" type="internal">Sharon Pratt Kelly</a> <a href="" type="internal">Troy Perry</a></p>
| false | 3 |
last equality march held 2009 washington blade file photo michael key thousands descend washington dc equality march unity pride important remember lgbt community quite bit experience executing national demonstrations take look back photographic archives blade five previous major lgbt demonstrations dc 1979 national march washington lesbian gay rights washington blade archive photo john yanson lgbt advocates political observers considered historic first lgbt people throughout country came nations capital oct 14 1979 nations first national march washington lesbian gay rights idea gay march washington similar famous 1963 march washington africanamerican rights initiated martin luther king jr pushed san francisco gay supervisor harvey milk shortly assassination 1978 new york gay activist steve ault new york lesbian activist joyce hunter credited moving milks plans forward similar four lgbt washington marches followed subsequent years conflicting reports size turnout us park police time gave crowd estimates public events initially estimated turnout march 75000 later said 25000 50000 people turned organizers march insisted 100000 people turned whatever turnout event drew national media attention lgbt rights movement according lgbt advocates motivated thousands lgbt people become active movement secure rights involved fivepoint platform march called passage congress comprehensive lesbian gay civil rights bill presidential executive order banning discrimination based sexual orientation federal workforce military federally contracted private employers repeal antigaylesbian laws end discrimination child custody disputes gay lesbian parents protections gay lesbian youth discrimination home schools march began near capitol traveled along pennsylvania avenue white house ending grounds washington monument rally speakers held 1987 national march washington lesbian gay rights washington blade archive photo doug hinckle activists familiar oct 11 1987 march say called lgbt rights advances 1979 march prompted two major developments widespread belief administration president ronald reagan failed adequately respond aids epidemic 1986 us supreme court decision upholding state sodomy laws made crime consenting adults gender engage sexual relations time us park police estimated turnout least 200000 organizers declared turnout well 300000 making 1987 march rally largest lgbt demonstration ever held us media coverage march rally heightened decision creators aids memorial quilt display quilt first time national mall day march days following march participants staged civil disobedience demonstration steps supreme court protest sodomy law ruling resulted arrests among speakers march rally held grounds us capitol gay us reps barney frank gerry studds democrats massachusetts former national organization women president eleanor smeal united farm workers union president cesar chavez civil rights leader thenpresidential candidate rev jesse jackson items added platform beyond included 1979 march included call legal recognition lesbian gay relationships repeal sodomy laws applying consenting adults end discrimination people hivaids reproductive freedom women end racism us end apartheid south africa 1993 march washington lesbian gay biequal rights liberation washington blade archive photo doug hinckle plans third march washington lesbian gay biequal rights liberation officially named began prior 1992 presidential election george h w bush president time march took place april 25 president bill clinton expressed support gay rights election campaign office two months march organizers generally optimistic clinton white house expressed concern new president appeared backing promise lift ban gays military following opposition proposal many congress thus major theme 1993 march large rally site us capitol call lift ban among playing visible role march gay lesbian veterans wore military uniforms another vocal message delivered march strong opposition colorados amendment 2 ballot measure passed voters banned cities counties state adopting antidiscrimination laws protecting gays lesbians aids activists members aids protest group act also emerged highly visible participants march traveled white house capitol 5 pm hours march began marchers could seen far end national mall near washington monument still streaming onto mall appeared completely filled people involved march prompted organizers declare reached goal drawing turnout million people previous two gay marches us park police issued significantly lower figure putting turnout 300000 participants expressed disappointment clinton declined invitation speak rally also didnt agree record video message shown rally instead sent written message read rally expressing strong support lgbt rights increased funds fight aids thendc mayor sharon pratt kelly thennew york city mayor david dinkins us sen paul wellstone dminn among speakers rally students attend millennium march equality160photo courtesy michael key held april 30 2000 fourth national lgbt march washington named millennium march washington equality drew hundreds thousands lgbt people supporters despite rocky start sparked strong divisions among lgbt activists break first three gay washington marches initiated individual activists millennium 160march initiated human rights campaign nations largest lgbt civil rights group rev troy perry leader universal fellowship metropolitan community churches rather seek input grassroots activists local lgbt groups hrc perry formed march committee hired lesbian comedian events producer robin tyler calling another gay march marchs executive producer press release announcing march committee boasted corporate sponsors lined help finance march long list celebrities gay lesbian would performing concert weekend planned march infuriated called top undemocratic structure many lgbt activists denounced proposed march vowed organize boycott criticism mounted hrc perry agreed make changes broaden organizing committee vowed make march diverse lgbt event ever held transgender activists lgbt people color brought leadership positions november 2000 presidential election approaching many lgbt activists agreed national lgbt march would important showing lgbt political clout similar 1993 march national mall appeared filled march participants april 20 2000 prompting organizers many observers estimate turnout 800000 short time millennial march held us park police discontinued making crowd estimates events mall meanwhile time president clinton vice president al gore running president spoke crowd large video screen mall near capitol rally held array entertainers celebrities including melissa etheridge martina navratilova actress anne heche appeared stage rally evening march hrcproduced concert dcs rfk stadium called equality rocks drew soldout crowd saw performances etheridge george michael pet shop boys kd lang drew extensive media coverage part omitted mention internal lgbt strife surrounding march portrayed event successful demonstration lgbt equality last lgbt march washington national equality march oct 11 2009 washington blade file photo michael key held oct 11 2009 national coming day national equality march believed attracted 150000 people washington relatively short notice longtime gay rights advocate david mixner credited initiating march effort build groundswell lgbt activism social media generated approval california voters proposition 8 ballot measure overturned states samesex marriage law san francisco gay rights leader cleve jones founder names project created aids memorial quilt became involved one lead organizers along lesbian activist robin mcgehee gay activist kip williams similar previous lgbt washington marches 2009 march traveled white house us capitol twodozen speakers including mainline civil rights leaders lgbt leaders supportive elected officials spoke support marriage equality federal lgbt nondiscrimination bill repealing militarys dont ask dont tell policy march took place president barack obamas first year office march speakers expressed concern wasnt moving fast enough campaign promises back lgbt rights legislation among spoke performed rally bisexual singer lgbt rights supporter lady gaga unlike previous lgbt washington marches mainly closed books debt 2009 march generated surplus funds organizers gave existing grassroots lgbt rights organizations among key goals march organizers put place network grassroots lgbt organizers nations 435 congressional districts push lgbt equality auspices new group called equality across america activists familiar group acknowledge goal never reached group longer active 160 1979 national march 1993 march washington 2000 millennium march 2009 national equality march anne heche barney frank cesar chavez cleve jones david dinkins david mixner dont ask dont tell george michael gerry studs jesse jackson kd lang kip williams lady gaga martina navratilova melissa etheridge national coming day paul wellstone pet shop boys robin mcgehee sharon pratt kelly troy perry
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<p>Dec. 19, 2012</p>
<p>By Chris Reed</p>
<p>The conventional wisdom about the 400,000 members of the California Teachers Association and the 120,000 members of the California Federation of Teachers is difficult to dispute:&#160;&#160;Their unions dominate Sacramento in a way no other special interest remotely rivals.</p>
<p>Aside from charter schools <a href="http://www.calcharters.org/understanding/what-are-charter-schools.html" type="external">way back in 1992</a>, the only fundamental school reform to get through the Legislature the past 20 years is the one that swelled the CTA’s and the CFT’s ranks: <a href="http://www.edsource.org/iss_fin_sys_csr.html" type="external">classroom-size reduction</a>. No other special interest gets promised future <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2009/aug/01/lz1e1reed00637-americas-finest-blog/?print&amp;page=all" type="external">multibillion-dollar payoffs</a> to go along with tough budgets, as the teacher unions secured in 2009.</p>
<p />
<p>But in early 2013, we could see that conventional wisdom tested in a way without modern precedent. The issue is how to shore up the struggling California State Teachers’ Retirement System, which as of Oct. 31 had $154.8 billion in investments and an unfunded liability of $64.5 billion, meaning it is only 71 percent funded.</p>
<p>The state Legislature sets the contribution rates for teachers that each school district must pay. The status quo has long been that&#160;employers contribute&#160;8.25 percent&#160;of pay, teachers&#160;8 percent&#160;of pay and the state 2 percent&#160;of pay.</p>
<p>But Gov. Jerry Brown signed a pension reform plan in September, <a href="http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/AB_340/20112012/" type="external">AB 340</a> by Assemblyman Warren Furutani, D-Gardena. Under the reform, government agencies in California must adopt contracts going forward that have employers and employees equally share the normal cost of pension liabilities by 2018.</p>
<p>If that happens, it means a sharp cut in take-home pay for every CTA and CFT member. As Ed Mendel <a href="http://calpensions.com/2012/11/26/calstrs-action-on-long-delayed-rate-increase/" type="external">laid out</a> in calpensions.com, actuaries say teachers hired going forward under the less generous terms of the new state pension will need to pay 15.9 percent of pay — nearly double the current 8 percent contribution. Meanwhile, veteran teachers would need to pay 18.3 percent of pay — 10.3 percentage points more than they now pay and more than the total that is now set aside by all three contributors combined (teachers, districts and the state treasury).</p>
<p>This 50-50 required split of pension costs is jaw-dropping given what the CalSTRS board recommended when the topic of shoring up the teachers’ pension fund <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/weblogs/americas-finest/2007/may/30/how-perata-bowen-and-cedillo-helped-calstrs-waterb/" type="external">came up in 2007</a>. It wanted teachers to go from contributing 8 percent to 8.5 percent; for districts to gradually go from 8.25 percent to a maximum of 13 percent; and for the state to gradually go from 2 percent to a maximum of 3.25 percent.</p>
<p>Or, to put the plan in a context that more readily shows its outrageousness, CalSTRS wanted teachers to increase their contributions by 6.25 percent — and for taxpayers to increase their contributions by 59 percent, nearly 10 times as much! The result would have been a pension system in which taxpayers had roughly twice the obligation (66 percent) as teachers (34 percent).</p>
<p>With the state economy rapidly slowing and the Schwarzenegger administration strongly opposed, the Legislature never passed the CalSTRS proposal. &#160;That the CalSTRS board put the plan forward as a serious policy alternative showed that the CTA and CFT were calling the shots — just as Senate Democrats wanted.</p>
<p>In a 2006 Senate committee vote, State Sens. Don Perata, Debra Bowen and Gil Cedillo rejected Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s nomination of David Crane to the California State Teachers Retirement System board. A Democrat himself, Crane is&#160;a sharp San Francisco financier and government reformer. Crane’s disqualification? “The three Democrats on the five-member Senate (Rules Committee) agreed that Crane seemed too concerned about the burden of pension shortfalls on taxpayers,” The Los Angeles Times <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jun/08/local/me-crane8" type="external">reported</a>.</p>
<p>The CTA and the CFT must daydream about the good old days. The unions can’t even be very confident that the Legislature will do rope-a-dope with Brown’s pension reform by just never changing the present contribution rules for CalSTRS. That’s because state lawmakers also passed a bill that directs CalSTRS to <a href="http://totalcapitol.com/?bill_id=201120120SCR105" type="external">prepare three alternatives</a> that address the pension underfunding and to formally present it to the Legislature by Feb. 15, 2013.</p>
<p>So, in a rational world, the teachers’ unions would appear to be trapped, likely to face a permanent cut in take-home pay of about 10 percent. They are sure to sue and claim that existing funding formulas amount to a vested pension benefit, as a CalSTRS legal opinion concludes. Yet&#160;that legal view seems shakier than ever given the readiness of so many collective bargaining units to <a href="http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121209/A_NEWS/212090313" type="external">accept increases</a> in their contributions and to&#160; <a href="http://blogs.sacbee.com/the_state_worker/unions-contracts/collective-bargaining/" type="external">make concessions</a> in recent years. There’s also no question that judges are influenced by the headlines of the era.</p>
<p>But that’s forecasting what would happen in a rational world, not Sacramento — and especially not in the Assembly, where union power is so intense that <a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0151-0200/sb_161_vote_20110830_1202PM_asm_floor.html" type="external">21 Democrats</a> actually voted against a bill to overturn school regulations that allowed only union nurses to give medical help to students suffering life-threatening epileptic seizures. The 21 included Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles.</p>
<p>So expect an epic, years-long battle over <a href="http://www.calpers.ca.gov/eip-docs/about/press/pr-2012/aug/prelim-analysis.pdf" type="external">AB 340</a>.&#160;It may be law, but laws can be changed, ignored or sabotaged — and&#160;the CTA and the CFT can’t live with the new status quo that the governor’s pension reform portends.</p>
| false | 3 |
dec 19 2012 chris reed conventional wisdom 400000 members california teachers association 120000 members california federation teachers difficult dispute160160their unions dominate sacramento way special interest remotely rivals aside charter schools way back 1992 fundamental school reform get legislature past 20 years one swelled ctas cfts ranks classroomsize reduction special interest gets promised future multibilliondollar payoffs go along tough budgets teacher unions secured 2009 early 2013 could see conventional wisdom tested way without modern precedent issue shore struggling california state teachers retirement system oct 31 1548 billion investments unfunded liability 645 billion meaning 71 percent funded state legislature sets contribution rates teachers school district must pay status quo long that160employers contribute160825 percent160of pay teachers1608 percent160of pay state 2 percent160of pay gov jerry brown signed pension reform plan september ab 340 assemblyman warren furutani dgardena reform government agencies california must adopt contracts going forward employers employees equally share normal cost pension liabilities 2018 happens means sharp cut takehome pay every cta cft member ed mendel laid calpensionscom actuaries say teachers hired going forward less generous terms new state pension need pay 159 percent pay nearly double current 8 percent contribution meanwhile veteran teachers would need pay 183 percent pay 103 percentage points pay total set aside three contributors combined teachers districts state treasury 5050 required split pension costs jawdropping given calstrs board recommended topic shoring teachers pension fund came 2007 wanted teachers go contributing 8 percent 85 percent districts gradually go 825 percent maximum 13 percent state gradually go 2 percent maximum 325 percent put plan context readily shows outrageousness calstrs wanted teachers increase contributions 625 percent taxpayers increase contributions 59 percent nearly 10 times much result would pension system taxpayers roughly twice obligation 66 percent teachers 34 percent state economy rapidly slowing schwarzenegger administration strongly opposed legislature never passed calstrs proposal 160that calstrs board put plan forward serious policy alternative showed cta cft calling shots senate democrats wanted 2006 senate committee vote state sens perata debra bowen gil cedillo rejected gov arnold schwarzeneggers nomination david crane california state teachers retirement system board democrat crane is160a sharp san francisco financier government reformer cranes disqualification three democrats fivemember senate rules committee agreed crane seemed concerned burden pension shortfalls taxpayers los angeles times reported cta cft must daydream good old days unions cant even confident legislature ropeadope browns pension reform never changing present contribution rules calstrs thats state lawmakers also passed bill directs calstrs prepare three alternatives address pension underfunding formally present legislature feb 15 2013 rational world teachers unions would appear trapped likely face permanent cut takehome pay 10 percent sure sue claim existing funding formulas amount vested pension benefit calstrs legal opinion concludes yet160that legal view seems shakier ever given readiness many collective bargaining units accept increases contributions to160 make concessions recent years theres also question judges influenced headlines era thats forecasting would happen rational world sacramento especially assembly union power intense 21 democrats actually voted bill overturn school regulations allowed union nurses give medical help students suffering lifethreatening epileptic seizures 21 included speaker john perez dlos angeles expect epic yearslong battle ab 340160it may law laws changed ignored sabotaged and160the cta cft cant live new status quo governors pension reform portends
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<p>This is the 12th installment in a monthly series reporting on political crowds in the United States. Each month, the&#160; <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/crowdcountingconsortium/home" type="external">Crowd Counting Consortium</a>&#160;will post updates about trends and patterns from the previous month as recorded by our volunteers. Find all the previous posts in the series&#160; <a href="" type="internal">here</a>. For our counting methods, please see our&#160; <a href="" type="internal">first post in the series</a>.</p>
<p>For December 2017, we tallied 796 protests, demonstrations, strikes, marches, sit-ins and rallies in the United States, with at least one in every state and the District of Columbia. Our conservative guess is that between 58,986 and 81,091 people showed up at these political gatherings, although it is likely there were far more. Because mainstream media often neglect to report nonviolent actions — especially small ones — it is probable that we did not record every event that took place. For 28 percent of the events we listed this month, we lacked an estimate of crowd size.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, we think our tally gives us a useful pool of information to better understand political mobilization in the United States — particularly how reports of crowds change from month to month. The number of protests remains fairly stable month to month, and&#160;December 2017 is no exception, although the crowds at 2017’s end were&#160;somewhat smaller than they were earlier in 2017.</p>
<p>A larger share of December’s&#160;protests were against the Trump administration than in November. Whereas such events represented roughly 77.8 percent of crowds in November 2017, we estimate 88.5 percent of the events we recorded in December were opposing President Trump’s policies. About 62.4 percent overall were explicitly anti-Trump while another 26.1 percent overall took stances on issues that contradict the president.&#160;</p>
<p>[ <a href="" type="internal">One year after the Women’s March on Washington, people are still protesting en masse. A lot. We’ve counted.</a>]</p>
<p>The most common protests were against the Republican tax plan that was <a href="" type="internal">signed</a> into law on Dec. 22. We counted at least 188 such protests, including one in <a href="http://poststar.com/news/local/small-group-protests-tax-bill/article_6930c02a-452d-52c9-95a8-db7d0248fd46.html" type="external">Glens Falls</a>, N.Y., where some protesters wore&#160;costumes outside congressional offices. On Dec. 9 alone, we listed protests in <a href="https://socialistworker.org/2017/12/11/tax-the-rich-not-the-sick" type="external">Columbus</a>, Ohio;&#160; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/150047005622644/" type="external">Los Angeles</a>;&#160; <a href="http://www.nbc15.com/content/news/Socalist-group-organizes-protest-of-tax-reform-bill-in-Madison-463067643.html" type="external">Madison</a>, Wis.;&#160; <a href="http://fox6now.com/2017/12/09/rally-to-fight-gop-tax-plan-held-in-pere-marquette-park/" type="external">Milwaukee</a>;&#160; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/432323823832276/" type="external">Montclair</a>, N.J.;&#160; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/345741692502971/?event_time_id=345741709169636" type="external">New Orleans</a>;&#160; <a href="http://kfor.com/2017/12/09/rally-held-in-opposition-of-federal-tax-bills/" type="external">Oklahoma City</a>;&#160; <a href="https://freepressonline.com/Content/Download-the-current-issue-as-a-pdf/Features/Article/How-Goes-the-Revolution-/93/78/56480" type="external">Rockland</a>, Maine;&#160; <a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/crowd-gathers-in-salt-lake-to-protest-tax-bill/878330870" type="external">Salt Lake City</a>;&#160; <a href="http://www.whsv.com/content/news/People-brave-the-Saturday-snow-to-protest-Congress-463071323.html" type="external">Staunton</a>, Va.; and <a href="http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/update-lawyer-pastor-tries-to-send-message-with-waterloo-post/article_29e30767-6448-56c9-a686-79c5539cb313.html" type="external">Waterloo</a>, Iowa.</p>
<p>Protesters gathered at the Russell Senate Building on Capitol Hill on Dec. 18 to protest the GOP tax bill, and several were arrested. (Twitter/Mariam Ehrari via Storyful)</p>
<p>At least 65 <a href="http://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/dreamer-rally-held-saturday-outside-popular-cuban-sandwich-shop/85-499922280" type="external">protests</a> focused on DACA. In <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1907376362610185/?active_tab=discussion" type="external">La Palma</a>, Calif., protesters demanded a clean Dreamers Act; others staged a <a href="https://www.gwhatchet.com/2017/12/14/five-students-arrested-at-capitol-hill-die-in-urging-support-for-dreamer-bill/" type="external">die-in</a>. Almost 50 protests focused on net neutrality, many taking&#160; place outside Verizon stores in places like <a href="http://www.benningtonbanner.com/stories/protesters-rally-against-net-neutrality-repeal,526516" type="external">Bennington</a>, Vt.; <a href="http://www.kivitv.com/news/protesters-take-a-stand-for-net-neutrality-in-boise" type="external">Boise</a>, Idaho; and <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2017/12/08/protesters-take-net-neutrality-fight-to-verizon.html?ana=RSS&amp;s=article_search" type="external">Boston</a>.</p>
<p>We also saw a number of protests against many of the same issues that have already been in the spotlight:&#160;decrying <a href="http://www.news9.com/story/37086936/protesters-march-for-magdiel-sanchez" type="external">police</a> <a href="http://wivb.com/2017/12/13/protest-erupts-after-state-rules-out-criminal-charges-against-officers-in-buffalo-mans-death/" type="external">shootings</a> and <a href="http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article191111774.html" type="external">racism</a>, ending <a href="http://www.timesleader.com/news/686375/st-stephens-holds-annual-vigil-for-homeless" type="external">homelessness</a>&#160;and fighting gun violence on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/136895516921010/?" type="external">fifth</a> anniversary of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Meanwhile, NFL <a href="http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/261005/nfl-players-who-protested-during-national-anthem-in-week-14" type="external">players</a> continued to protest during the national anthem.</p>
<p>About 3.6 percent of the events we recorded were rallies supporting the president and his policies, either directly or indirectly. As a share of events, December’s total decreased from November, when 6.6 percent of the events supported the president and his policies.</p>
<p>For example, on Dec. 5, before the Supreme Court, supporters <a href="http://krqe.com/2017/12/05/justices-take-up-dispute-over-wedding-cake-for-gay-couple/" type="external">rallied</a> around a baker who had refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple. On Dec. 9, protesters <a href="http://kxan.com/2017/12/10/3-troopers-injured-5-people-arrested-saturday-in-downtown-austin-protest/" type="external">spoke out</a> in Austin against sanctuary cities. Antiabortion leaders <a href="http://yellowhammernews.com/featured/pro-life-leaders-rally-calling-on-the-state-to-shut-down-birmingham-planned-parenthood-clinic/" type="external">rallied</a> in Montgomery, Ala., on Dec. 15. And we counted several Roy Moore campaign <a href="http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2017/12/moore_bannon_rally_tonight_ope.html" type="external">rallies</a>.</p>
<p>The final 7.8 percent of the crowds were involved in actions directed at other politicians or about issues that were neither pro- nor anti-Trump. We found a broad range of such topics, as we have in previous months. In <a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/21/horse-governors-building/108823274/" type="external">one protest</a> against the Line 5 pipeline in Lansing, Mich., a horse even joined the protest inside the State Capitol building. We regularly see protests against a proposed school closing. This month, for example, protesters were opposed to closing the Pioneer School in <a href="http://katu.com/news/local/parents-teachers-students-rally-for-future-of-pioneer-school" type="external">Portland</a>, Ore., and P.S. 92 in the <a href="http://bronx.news12.com/story/37129577/parents-protest-possible-closure-of-bronx-school" type="external">Bronx</a>.</p>
<p>This month, we saw protests about&#160;international issues other than migration. Protests&#160;objected to&#160;slavery in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/545786412427061/?active_tab=discussion" type="external">Libya</a>, human rights violations in the <a href="http://www.fightbacknews.org/2017/12/12/new-york-protest-demands-end-killings-philippines" type="external">Philippines</a>, and U.S. involvement in the war in <a href="https://twitter.com/ActionCorpsNYC/status/940279696251674625" type="external">Yemen</a>. Almost 30 protests rejected Trump’s new Jerusalem policy, with protests in places like <a href="http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Dozens-gather-to-protest-naming-Jerusalem-12437492.php" type="external">Bridgeport</a>, Conn.;&#160; <a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2017/12/08/hundreds-rally-trump-jerusalem-declaration/108446606/" type="external">Detroit</a>;&#160; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/168030557134043/" type="external">Kansas City</a>, Kan.;&#160; <a href="http://www.oudaily.com/news/ou-students-faculty-protest-trump-s-declaration-of-jerusalem-as/article_3eeb13f8-dabf-11e7-8409-f7137c16c41b.html" type="external">Norman</a>, Okla.; and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/307092906444030/" type="external">Sarasota</a>, Fla.</p>
<p>Demonstrators gathered in New York's Times Square on Dec. 8 to protest President Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel (Rob McDonagh)</p>
<p>At about 777 events, or 97.6 percent&#160;of the total, police made no arrests. This was a slightly higher percentage of arrest-free protests than in the past few months. The numbers of protesters arrested increased from 128 in November to 371 in December, with at least 360 (more than 97 percent) of those coming in 14 cases of nonviolent civil disobedience. For example, 84 people were <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/activists-arrested-protesting-gop-tax-bill_us_5a31d3bbe4b07ff75b0027e7" type="external">arrested</a> at the U.S. Capitol while protesting the Republican tax plan.</p>
<p>politics</p>
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<p>monkey-cage</p>
<p>Orlando Shooting Updates</p>
<p>News and analysis on the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.</p>
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<p>About four of these arrests appeared to be connected to violence or the destruction of property — the same number we counted in November.</p>
<p>You can download the data&#160; <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/crowdcountingconsortium/view-download-the-data?authuser=0" type="external">here</a>. We’ll release the data for January 2018 soon. In the meantime, we are still counting. Click&#160; <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/crowdcountingconsortium/submit-a-record?authuser=0" type="external">here</a>&#160;to submit information about a protest, and click&#160; <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/crowdcountingconsortium/join-the-consortium?authuser=0" type="external">here</a>&#160;to volunteer to help us count.&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://jeremy-pressman.uconn.edu/" type="external">Jeremy Pressman</a>&#160;is an associate professor of political science and director of Middle East Studies at the University of Connecticut. Find him on Twitter @djpressman.</p>
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12th installment monthly series reporting political crowds united states month the160 crowd counting consortium160will post updates trends patterns previous month recorded volunteers find previous posts series160 counting methods please see our160 first post series december 2017 tallied 796 protests demonstrations strikes marches sitins rallies united states least one every state district columbia conservative guess 58986 81091 people showed political gatherings although likely far mainstream media often neglect report nonviolent actions especially small ones probable record every event took place 28 percent events listed month lacked estimate crowd size nevertheless think tally gives us useful pool information better understand political mobilization united states particularly reports crowds change month month number protests remains fairly stable month month and160december 2017 exception although crowds 2017s end were160somewhat smaller earlier 2017 larger share decembers160protests trump administration november whereas events represented roughly 778 percent crowds november 2017 estimate 885 percent events recorded december opposing president trumps policies 624 percent overall explicitly antitrump another 261 percent overall took stances issues contradict president160 one year womens march washington people still protesting en masse lot weve counted common protests republican tax plan signed law dec 22 counted least 188 protests including one glens falls ny protesters wore160costumes outside congressional offices dec 9 alone listed protests columbus ohio160 los angeles160 madison wis160 milwaukee160 montclair nj160 new orleans160 oklahoma city160 rockland maine160 salt lake city160 staunton va waterloo iowa protesters gathered russell senate building capitol hill dec 18 protest gop tax bill several arrested twittermariam ehrari via storyful least 65 protests focused daca la palma calif protesters demanded clean dreamers act others staged diein almost 50 protests focused net neutrality many taking160 place outside verizon stores places like bennington vt boise idaho boston also saw number protests many issues already spotlight160decrying police shootings racism ending homelessness160and fighting gun violence fifth anniversary shootings sandy hook elementary school newtown conn meanwhile nfl players continued protest national anthem 36 percent events recorded rallies supporting president policies either directly indirectly share events decembers total decreased november 66 percent events supported president policies example dec 5 supreme court supporters rallied around baker refused bake wedding cake gay couple dec 9 protesters spoke austin sanctuary cities antiabortion leaders rallied montgomery ala dec 15 counted several roy moore campaign rallies final 78 percent crowds involved actions directed politicians issues neither pro antitrump found broad range topics previous months one protest line 5 pipeline lansing mich horse even joined protest inside state capitol building regularly see protests proposed school closing month example protesters opposed closing pioneer school portland ore ps 92 bronx month saw protests about160international issues migration protests160objected to160slavery libya human rights violations philippines us involvement war yemen almost 30 protests rejected trumps new jerusalem policy protests places like bridgeport conn160 detroit160 kansas city kan160 norman okla sarasota fla demonstrators gathered new yorks times square dec 8 protest president trumps decision recognize jerusalem capital israel rob mcdonagh 777 events 976 percent160of total police made arrests slightly higher percentage arrestfree protests past months numbers protesters arrested increased 128 november 371 december least 360 97 percent coming 14 cases nonviolent civil disobedience example 84 people arrested us capitol protesting republican tax plan politics monkeycage orlando shooting updates news analysis deadliest mass shooting us history post_newsletter348 followorlando true endofarticle false please provide valid email address four arrests appeared connected violence destruction property number counted november download data160 well release data january 2018 soon meantime still counting click160 here160to submit information protest click160 here160to volunteer help us count160 jeremy pressman160is associate professor political science director middle east studies university connecticut find twitter djpressman
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<p>Editor's note:&#160;This article is part of a series profiling Syrians to mark the fourth anniversary of the country's civil war. A different person will be profiled every day for four days.</p>
<p>BEIRUT, Lebanon — Four years ago, a few hundred Syrians took to the streets in Damascus, Aleppo and Daraa in what was billed as a “Day of Rage” against Bashar al-Assad’s government.</p>
<p>Inspired by the Arab Spring protests that had erupted in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere, they marched peacefully, and cautiously, fully aware that they lived in a country where such actions were not tolerated.</p>
<p>Few could have predicted the scale of the tragedy that would follow. After protests were brutally suppressed by the government, a peaceful movement transformed into an armed revolution, then an all-consuming civil war.</p>
<p>Countless lives have been lost between then and now. Families have been torn apart. Communities broken. Ancient archeological treasures felled. And a country destroyed.</p>
<p>Every Syrian can tell a story of how the war has changed their life forever. This is Bayan Ali's.</p>
<p>The protester</p>
<p>It began with a message from a friend.</p>
<p>It was mid-March, 2011. Two months had passed since dictators in Tunisia and Egypt had fallen, and revolutions were underway in both countries. Many Syrians — Bayan Ali among them — were hopeful that the time had come for them to shake off their own ruler, an optometrist who inherited power from his father, and had done little of note with it.</p>
<p>It was against this backdrop of anticipation that a group of boys from the town of Daraa took a can of spray paint and wrote a message to their country’s president on a school wall: “Your turn is coming, doctor.”</p>
<p>Fifteen boys from the school were arrested. Rare protests erupted in the city calling for their release, but the calls were ignored.</p>
<p>Then came the message from Bayan’s friend, on the "Day of Rage" — March 15. She was from Daraa. She had seen what had happened and had decided to attend a protest in Martyrs Square in Damascus. She asked Bayan to come.</p>
<p>“When I tried to go my mum wouldn’t let me go,” says Bayan, who was 24 at the time, living in the capital with her sister. “She said: ‘This is dangerous. This is not like Egypt or Tunisia.’”</p>
<p>But Bayan went anyway. Like many of her friends, she had become restless watching protests across the Arab world. She thought she had just as much cause to make her voice heard.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/110423/syria-assad-protests-daraa" type="external">How it all began</a>&#160;</p>
<p>“We knew for a long time that we didn’t really have any kind of freedom of speech in our country. I remember at school we tried to form a small group to improve the environment in our school, and we tried to start a magazine. But very soon, someone came to us and said we don’t think you should be doing this.”</p>
<p>By the time she reached the protest, it had already been shut down.</p>
<p>“The police were beating everyone. I think they took like 15 girls and some boys.”</p>
<p>One of those arrested was the friend who had invited her. She was held for 15 days in Douma prison, Bayan says. A boy who was taken on the same day was held for 29 days, during which time he was tortured by the authorities.</p>
<p>But despite the repression, people began to organize.</p>
<p>“We started to hear about more protests. Then we started to have Facebook groups where we communicated,” she says. “At first it was very small; you could only join if you knew two other people who would refer you and could vouch for you. But it kept growing and growing.”&#160;</p>
<p>New freedoms</p>
<p>For Bayan and her friends, there was a sense that things were changing — and fast. The protesters were cautious not to let their hopes run away from them, but what they lacked in optimism they made up for in resolve.</p>
<p>“It started to feel like we could speak our mind, even though it was dangerous.”</p>
<p>What happened during these few short months, from the first protests of March 15, would set Syria on a spiral of destruction that shows no sign of slowing down.</p>
<p>As the protests grew, so did the ferocity of the government’s crackdown. An argument could be made that the first shots of the war were fired in Daraa on March 18, when four protesters were killed by security forces.</p>
<p>The demonstrations spread and the death tolls grew. On April 8, 22 people were killed in Daraa, according to rights groups. Two weeks later, on April 22, at least 100 protesters were gunned down.</p>
<p>Around this time, Bayan recalls the debate among protesters over the pros and cons of arming themselves. She saw a peaceful revolution being transformed into something else.</p>
<p>“There were fights in the organizing groups between people who say arming is the best solution and those who wanted to continue protest peacefully,” she says. “Some of them started to say ‘this is not working anymore. We should fight back. It’s about protecting ourselves.’”</p>
<p>“You could see the shift,” she says.</p>
<p>Bayan’s instincts told her that fighting violence with violence would not succeed. But in the face of growing oppression, she was conflicted.</p>
<p>“You see people being killed and cities invaded and these people have a right to defend themselves. At the same time, the people we were up against are more powerful than us and have so many weapons.”</p>
<p>Her instincts also told her to defend herself.</p>
<p>“We were in a demonstration and [the security forces] started to attack. I was running away to find a safe place. Eventually I ran into a mosque, and I found myself holding a stone. I didn't remember picking it up. It felt like I had this basic instinct to protect myself. It made me think about people in much worse situations,” who might decide to take up arms.&#160;</p>
<p>She kept the stone, and still has it today to remind her of what happened.&#160;</p>
<p>Arrest and flight</p>
<p>By January 2012, more than 3,000 protesters had been killed by security forces across Syria, according to the United Nations. Bayan continued to attend demonstrations despite the dangers. Then her luck ran out.</p>
<p>Bayan was arrested at a protest in the Al Baramkeh neighborhood of Damascus that same month. The protesters had devised a call, a slogan that one of them would shout to announce the beginning of a protest. That day, the police faked the start of the protest by shouting slogans, and a large number of people were arrested.</p>
<p>“They arrested 25 of us that day,” Bayan says. She was one of just three women detained.</p>
<p>On the way to the police station Bayan was hit repeatedly, she says. She was held for five days and interrogated.</p>
<p>“They mostly asked about who is organizing it. I kept denying that I knew anything, because my friend told me that once you say one thing they will keep pushing for more info. The less you say the better.”</p>
<p>“A lot of people were not released. You can hear all day and night the people screaming there. I couldn’t see anything because they blindfolded me when they moved me around the station. But you could hear, and those screams haunted me for months.”</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="" type="external">Surviving Aleppo</a></p>
<p>Bayan attended more protests after her release.</p>
<p>“I was at first more determined, because now I was really sure how bad they were. But at the same time, there was a lot of fear,” she says.</p>
<p>But things eventually got too dangerous. She left Syria, like so many others since, in September 2012.&#160;</p>
<p>“I left my country on a Friday. I remember because on the Thursday I went to my last protest.”</p>
<p>She traveled first to Saudi Arabia, where her father worked.</p>
<p>“At first it was hard to accept I was not in Syria. I felt like we started this and we should finish it. I felt I had betrayed the people I was encouraging to protest. I felt guilty every day. I couldn’t watch the news anymore.”&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Helping from afar</p>
<p>Bayan left Syria with a postgraduate degree in architecture, but she decided that her career would have to take a back seat. She began doing all she could to support the revolution from abroad.</p>
<p>She worked for a number of civil groups, keeping in touch with people still in the country online. One organization that she worked at with her two sisters, called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MissingAndMartyrs1" type="external">Missing Martyrs</a>, helped people find missing family members. They would trawl through pictures of dead bodies and attempt to match them with photographs of missing people.</p>
<p>“When things start to be armed we started to see how we could help. We thought: If we are not going to protest and we are not going to be armed, what can we do? We started to take courses in medical aid and things like that.”</p>
<p>“You also feel like you need new skills to handle the new situation. So you are not standing by and watching.”</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/syria/130530/syria-extremist-female-rebel-fighters-women-fsa-assad" type="external">Meet Syria's female rebel fighters&#160;</a></p>
<p>Bayan’s journey over the next few years mirrored that of many other educated Syrians who had fled their homes. She searched for ways to help her country from afar, looking for a job that might allow her to do so full time. She traveled to Washington, DC, and took part in a program on peace building and leadership.</p>
<p>“This program was so important for me. It helped me to accept that although I’m not in Syria anymore but still there is so much that I can do,” she says of her time there.</p>
<p>After that, she worked for the Syrian Emergency Task Force — a nonprofit that supports humanitarian groups on the ground.</p>
<p>At the end of 2014, she returned to the subject that she had studied for so many years. She traveled to Brussels, and then Vienna, where enrolled in a masters degree program in urban studies.</p>
<p>“My thesis is going to be about how to rebuild a country after a war. I’ll look at how other countries have dealt with it — what was done right, and wrong.”</p>
<p>“I hope to learn about this in order to rebuild Syria. Inshallah, one day soon.”&#160;</p>
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editors note160this article part series profiling syrians mark fourth anniversary countrys civil war different person profiled every day four days beirut lebanon four years ago hundred syrians took streets damascus aleppo daraa billed day rage bashar alassads government inspired arab spring protests erupted tunisia egypt elsewhere marched peacefully cautiously fully aware lived country actions tolerated could predicted scale tragedy would follow protests brutally suppressed government peaceful movement transformed armed revolution allconsuming civil war countless lives lost families torn apart communities broken ancient archeological treasures felled country destroyed every syrian tell story war changed life forever bayan alis protester began message friend midmarch 2011 two months passed since dictators tunisia egypt fallen revolutions underway countries many syrians bayan ali among hopeful time come shake ruler optometrist inherited power father done little note backdrop anticipation group boys town daraa took spray paint wrote message countrys president school wall turn coming doctor fifteen boys school arrested rare protests erupted city calling release calls ignored came message bayans friend day rage march 15 daraa seen happened decided attend protest martyrs square damascus asked bayan come tried go mum wouldnt let go says bayan 24 time living capital sister said dangerous like egypt tunisia bayan went anyway like many friends become restless watching protests across arab world thought much cause make voice heard globalpost began160 knew long time didnt really kind freedom speech country remember school tried form small group improve environment school tried start magazine soon someone came us said dont think time reached protest already shut police beating everyone think took like 15 girls boys one arrested friend invited held 15 days douma prison bayan says boy taken day held 29 days time tortured authorities despite repression people began organize started hear protests started facebook groups communicated says first small could join knew two people would refer could vouch kept growing growing160 new freedoms bayan friends sense things changing fast protesters cautious let hopes run away lacked optimism made resolve started feel like could speak mind even though dangerous happened short months first protests march 15 would set syria spiral destruction shows sign slowing protests grew ferocity governments crackdown argument could made first shots war fired daraa march 18 four protesters killed security forces demonstrations spread death tolls grew april 8 22 people killed daraa according rights groups two weeks later april 22 least 100 protesters gunned around time bayan recalls debate among protesters pros cons arming saw peaceful revolution transformed something else fights organizing groups people say arming best solution wanted continue protest peacefully says started say working anymore fight back protecting could see shift says bayans instincts told fighting violence violence would succeed face growing oppression conflicted see people killed cities invaded people right defend time people powerful us many weapons instincts also told defend demonstration security forces started attack running away find safe place eventually ran mosque found holding stone didnt remember picking felt like basic instinct protect made think people much worse situations might decide take arms160 kept stone still today remind happened160 arrest flight january 2012 3000 protesters killed security forces across syria according united nations bayan continued attend demonstrations despite dangers luck ran bayan arrested protest al baramkeh neighborhood damascus month protesters devised call slogan one would shout announce beginning protest day police faked start protest shouting slogans large number people arrested arrested 25 us day bayan says one three women detained way police station bayan hit repeatedly says held five days interrogated mostly asked organizing kept denying knew anything friend told say one thing keep pushing info less say better lot people released hear day night people screaming couldnt see anything blindfolded moved around station could hear screams haunted months globalpost surviving aleppo bayan attended protests release first determined really sure bad time lot fear says things eventually got dangerous left syria like many others since september 2012160 left country friday remember thursday went last protest traveled first saudi arabia father worked first hard accept syria felt like started finish felt betrayed people encouraging protest felt guilty every day couldnt watch news anymore160160 helping afar bayan left syria postgraduate degree architecture decided career would take back seat began could support revolution abroad worked number civil groups keeping touch people still country online one organization worked two sisters called missing martyrs helped people find missing family members would trawl pictures dead bodies attempt match photographs missing people things start armed started see could help thought going protest going armed started take courses medical aid things like also feel like need new skills handle new situation standing watching globalpost160 meet syrias female rebel fighters160 bayans journey next years mirrored many educated syrians fled homes searched ways help country afar looking job might allow full time traveled washington dc took part program peace building leadership program important helped accept although im syria anymore still much says time worked syrian emergency task force nonprofit supports humanitarian groups ground end 2014 returned subject studied many years traveled brussels vienna enrolled masters degree program urban studies thesis going rebuild country war ill look countries dealt done right wrong hope learn order rebuild syria inshallah one day soon160
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<p>UTTAR PRADESH, India - Sonam Kumari was petrified when she conducted her first solo birth. She had assisted in several deliveries, but never done one by herself.</p>
<p>Her eyes light up as she recounts that day. "I was trembling when I delivered the first child," she said in her make-shift clinic on a muddy side street in a remote village in the state of Jarkhand. "I couldn't believe I had done it. I cried, I screamed out: 'I did it, I did it!' The next day I gave out sweets to the entire village."</p>
<p>That was months ago, after Kumari completed an initial week-long training with Intrahealth International, a US nonprofit, to give community health workers the skills to assist women during childbirth. Since then, Kumari has delivered more than a hundred babies, each one free of complications.</p>
<p>As a frontline health worker, someone from the local community trained to provide immediate health services, Kumari is not a doctor or a nurse. But she is arguably doing something they can't in her village: helping the poorest of the poor gain access to health care.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/india/120703/india-drug-discovery" type="external">India crowdsources drug research</a></p>
<p>Frontline health workers have been around for a while. In the 1950s, for example, the Chinese government pioneered a "barefoot" doctors initiative to help disadvantaged and rural populations. But experts say they are now, more than ever, in a position to stave off a looming global health crisis.</p>
<p>Today, people who experience nearly a quarter of all global disease are treated by only 3 percent of the world's health workers, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Most of these patients are among the world's 3.5 billion rural poor.</p>
<p>Trained health professionals are rare in these vulnerable areas, and the practitioners that do exist are often lured to richer countries, like the US, which import legions of nurses from the developing world. WHO estimates that there is a global deficit of about 2.4 million doctors, nurses and midwives.</p>
<p>Frontline health workers help bridge the gap.</p>
<p>Intrahealth staff say they have trained more than 15,000 community health workers in Uttar Pradesh, home to 200 million. They also work in the neighboring state of Jharkhand.</p>
<p>Intrahealth <a href="http://www.searchgadchiroli.org" type="external">isn't the only NGO</a> advocating this approach, but what makes the program different is the depth of the training and the fact that each health worker gets a mentor that is a doctor or another skilled health worker. Ongoing relationships with their mentors allow Intrahealth's frontline health workers to constantly update their skills, and regular group visits to a central health facility allow them to draw support from one another.</p>
<p>Dr. Anupama Shandilya, a district program officer in Uttar Pradesh, has been an enthuiastic supporter of the program and says she has noticed a dramatic improvement in health indicators since the USAID-funded Intrahealth program was established three years ago. The number of malnourished children has dropped 25 percent, she says.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/india/100713/population-growth-sterilization-millennium-development-goals" type="external">Is sterilization the answer to India's population problem?</a></p>
<p>Health care in India can use all the help it can get. The sprawling health-care system in the world's largest democracy is notoriously inconsistent in the quality of care it provides.</p>
<p>Economists Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, co-authors of the book, "Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty," found that a low quality of care at Indian health facilities has deterred many rural poor from going to government hospitals. "Government health centers are often closed when they are supposed to be open. Furthermore, even when government doctors and nurses are around, they do not treat their patients particularly well," they wrote.</p>
<p>Instead, many poor prefer private clinics run by practitioners who aren't necessarily qualified. Moreover, poor Indian families almost exclusively reach out for health care during crises, as opposed to before a crisis hits when preventative care could make a difference.</p>
<p>Introducing concepts like preventative care is where frontline health workers can potentially be the most effective, says Tina Rosenberg, a New York Times journalist who covers global health issues.</p>
<p>Frontline health workers can serve as a connector between the past and the present, she says, helping communities warm up to foreign concepts in modern medicine while simultaneously preserving what is most effective about traditional approaches.</p>
<p>"There are many traditional beliefs and practices that are extremely harmful - for example, the idea that pregnant women should eat very little, that babies should not receive breast milk until they are a few days old, or that the proper way to deal with a cobra bite is to go to the temple. Having a village woman use and advocate more modern practices, and seeing the example of success is the most effective way to change these beliefs," she wrote by email.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/india/india-doctors-bond-us" type="external">Indian doctors heading abroad to study must promise to return</a></p>
<p>Of course, while clearly playing a vital role, frontline health workers are far from a panacea.</p>
<p>Kate Mitchell, who has done research on frontline health workers and currently works with the Harvard School of Public Health, warns that they can only be successful if part of a larger, functioning health system.</p>
<p>"Often times, community health workers serve less as a direct service provider and more as a link between the community and the health system," said Mitchell. "This role is also critical, especially when it comes to pregnancy and childbirth in settings where most women deliver at home without a skilled birth attendant."</p>
<p>Experts agree that long-term support for the programs is crucial if they are to become sustainable operations.</p>
<p>Dr. Shandilya says that in her district sustainability is likely two to three years away, and she isn't overly optimistic that they will continue to get the support they need. She blames a lack of political will and shrinking budgets across the board.</p>
<p>Funding is an issue, even in rosier economic times. Unlike many disease eradication targets, that are more easily measurable, the benefits of supporting community health workers is harder to quantify.</p>
<p>Rosenburg, the journalist, says it takes time for the programs to fully take root. "Time, of course, means there must be a structure supporting them, and that's not always the case," she says. "You can't just train a woman once and then leave her on her own.?</p>
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uttar pradesh india sonam kumari petrified conducted first solo birth assisted several deliveries never done one eyes light recounts day trembling delivered first child said makeshift clinic muddy side street remote village state jarkhand couldnt believe done cried screamed next day gave sweets entire village months ago kumari completed initial weeklong training intrahealth international us nonprofit give community health workers skills assist women childbirth since kumari delivered hundred babies one free complications frontline health worker someone local community trained provide immediate health services kumari doctor nurse arguably something cant village helping poorest poor gain access health care globalpost india crowdsources drug research frontline health workers around 1950s example chinese government pioneered barefoot doctors initiative help disadvantaged rural populations experts say ever position stave looming global health crisis today people experience nearly quarter global disease treated 3 percent worlds health workers according world health organization patients among worlds 35 billion rural poor trained health professionals rare vulnerable areas practitioners exist often lured richer countries like us import legions nurses developing world estimates global deficit 24 million doctors nurses midwives frontline health workers help bridge gap intrahealth staff say trained 15000 community health workers uttar pradesh home 200 million also work neighboring state jharkhand intrahealth isnt ngo advocating approach makes program different depth training fact health worker gets mentor doctor another skilled health worker ongoing relationships mentors allow intrahealths frontline health workers constantly update skills regular group visits central health facility allow draw support one another dr anupama shandilya district program officer uttar pradesh enthuiastic supporter program says noticed dramatic improvement health indicators since usaidfunded intrahealth program established three years ago number malnourished children dropped 25 percent says globalpost sterilization answer indias population problem health care india use help get sprawling healthcare system worlds largest democracy notoriously inconsistent quality care provides economists abhijit banerjee esther duflo coauthors book poor economics radical rethinking way fight global poverty found low quality care indian health facilities deterred many rural poor going government hospitals government health centers often closed supposed open furthermore even government doctors nurses around treat patients particularly well wrote instead many poor prefer private clinics run practitioners arent necessarily qualified moreover poor indian families almost exclusively reach health care crises opposed crisis hits preventative care could make difference introducing concepts like preventative care frontline health workers potentially effective says tina rosenberg new york times journalist covers global health issues frontline health workers serve connector past present says helping communities warm foreign concepts modern medicine simultaneously preserving effective traditional approaches many traditional beliefs practices extremely harmful example idea pregnant women eat little babies receive breast milk days old proper way deal cobra bite go temple village woman use advocate modern practices seeing example success effective way change beliefs wrote email globalpost indian doctors heading abroad study must promise return course clearly playing vital role frontline health workers far panacea kate mitchell done research frontline health workers currently works harvard school public health warns successful part larger functioning health system often times community health workers serve less direct service provider link community health system said mitchell role also critical especially comes pregnancy childbirth settings women deliver home without skilled birth attendant experts agree longterm support programs crucial become sustainable operations dr shandilya says district sustainability likely two three years away isnt overly optimistic continue get support need blames lack political shrinking budgets across board funding issue even rosier economic times unlike many disease eradication targets easily measurable benefits supporting community health workers harder quantify rosenburg journalist says takes time programs fully take root time course means must structure supporting thats always case says cant train woman leave
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<p>BOSTON — It was “the decade from hell,” as Time magazine dubbed it on its cover this week. Ten years of terror and war, of economic crisis and climate change. It’s not hard to say goodbye to this one.</p>
<p>The enormous burdens of this decade began in lower Manhattan on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 — unleashing a global struggle against terrorism and two wars. The closing act of the decade was set on that same scarred patch of earth in lower Manhattan where terror struck. It was the autumn of 2008 when we saw a very different kind of destruction, a different kind of peril down on Wall Street: The implosion of the global economy.</p>
<p>And these towering, twin events — the attacks of 9/11 and the global economic downturn — not only define the decade, but also shape the challenges ahead. Both events confirmed that this was a decade that tested the limits of American power militarily, politically and economically.</p>
<p>But 2009, the capstone to this dark first decade of the 21st century, was also a year that began with promises of hope and change, a transition to a new era. The <a href="" type="external">newly inaugurated President Barack Obama</a> announced a new approach to the world which stood in stark contrast to his predecessor. This president would engage with the world and vowed to work together with leaders to confront the extraordinary challenges that lie ahead.</p>
<p>It was just before the Obama inauguration that GlobalPost launched on Jan. 12 and set out with a stellar team of some 70 correspondents in 50 countries to cover the complex issues America faces in the world. Just as so many traditional news organizations were experiencing a dizzying collapse of their economic model, GlobalPost has raised a new voice for global news. And our journey has begun at a time when we all desperately need to be more informed about the world around us, and the challenges it presents. <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/mission-statement" type="external">It was a big first year for us at GlobalPost</a> filled with accomplishments and gratitude to those of you who have joined a rapidly growing community of engaged visitors to our site.</p>
<p>We began our coverage of this new era of the Obama presidency with a series of pieces titled “ <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/america-and-the-world/090428/for-which-it-stands" type="external">For Which It Stands</a>,” a set of 50 different stories and essays from around the world examining what America means to the world and what the world means to America. Looking back, “For Which It Stands” provides an interesting gauge by which we can measure just how much improved America’s image is in the world one year after saying goodbye to George W. Bush and what many historians agree was one of the most damaging and divisive presidencies in modern American history.</p>
<p>After he stumbled through his oath of office on the same bible used by Abraham Lincoln, the greatest challenge facing Obama was the global economic crisis. And GlobalPost believes the long, climb out of the crisis was the biggest story of 2009, and quite likely 2010 as well.</p>
<p>GlobalPost correspondents in 20 countries around the world covered the crisis throughout the year in a series of special reports titled “ <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/commerce/090212/special-report" type="external">World of Trouble</a>.” Our correspondents reported on the growing unrest among <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/commerce/090910/china-economy-migrant-workers-economic-crisis" type="external">migrant laborers in China</a> and “ <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/china-taiwan/091103/silicon-sweatshops-globalpost-investigation" type="external">Silicon Sweatshops</a>” and interesting angles on the economic downturn from the other so-called BRIC countries of <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/india/090813/indias-economy-grow-rich-think-poor" type="external">India</a>, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/russia-and-its-neighbors/090203/civil-unrest-russia-mounts" type="external">Russia</a> and <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/brazil/090530/brazilian-tax-holiday" type="external">Brazil</a>. We covered other corners of the crisis from <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/united-kingdom/090118/pound-collapses-london-feels-new-yorks-pain" type="external">London’s well-heeled financial district</a> and the more recent shattering of <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/node/4851268" type="external">Dubai’s gilded, fragile economy</a>.</p>
<p>Like an ocean, the global economic crisis can sometimes seem too deep to fathom and too wide to cover. But sometimes there are stories that are all about one person caught in the ocean; like <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/america-and-the-world/090410/where-strong-values-breed-heroes" type="external">the story of the sea captain, Richard Phillips</a>. His heroic surrendering of himself to save his crew from Somali pirates and his daring rescue by U.S. Navy Seals on Easter weekend was a tale straight out of a pirate book.</p>
<p>As spring turned to summer, the most unexpected story of the year suddenly erupted on the <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/middle-east/090614/more-street-protests-tehran" type="external">streets of Tehran</a> following the much-contested elections. Our correspondents covered every turn of the story and did so at great risk. The lowest, personal moment of the year for us at GlobalPost was when we learned that one of our correspondents had been arrested and detained in Iran’s notorious Evin prison. After three harrowing weeks of working with his family and colleagues to win his release, we finally had him out. We are thankful to have him <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/middle-east/091224/scope-protests-widens-iran" type="external">staying on top of the story</a> still from his sounding post in Istanbul.</p>
<p>There was also a very different kind of simmering violence on a very different set of streets. And that was the low boil and <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/mexico/090506/interview-hitman" type="external">deadly toll of the Mexican drug wars</a>, which have been covered with great commitment by our team. More people died in the drug-related violence south of the U.S. border than American soldiers were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.</p>
<p>But there was no foreign policy question more fateful and consequential in the first year of Obama’s presidency than the war in Afghanistan. In August of this year, GlobalPost published a special report titled <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/taliban" type="external">“Life, Death and the Taliban,”</a> which set out to provide the history and context of the struggle against the Taliban and Al Qaeda through writing, photography, video and an interactive timeline. The series also broke news that <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/afghanistan/090902/usaid-taliban-funding" type="external">the Taliban was funding its insurgency in part through a protection racket that involved subcontractors on USAID</a> projects and the article’s findings prompted a federal probe. As Obama announced earlier this month that he would go forward with an <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/worldview/091201/obama-troop-surge" type="external">escalation of the war with 30,000 more troops</a>, it is now more clear than ever that Afghanistan is Obama’s war. We hope “Life, Death and the Taliban” might stand as a resource as we all try to understand the events unfolding there.</p>
<p>In one of the most perplexing turn of events this year, President <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/europe/091210/obama-oslo-nobel-peace-prize" type="external">Obama was awarded the Nobel peace prize</a> just one week after he announced the troop surge in Afghanistan. So here was a president being recognized for peace while managing two wars. The irony hung in the room and echoed around the world, but then again Alfred Nobel, for whom the prize is named, was a 19th century industrialist and weapons manufacturer famous for inventing dynamite. In accepting the award, Obama delivered one of the most powerfully philosophical speeches of his presidency on the idea of “ <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/america-and-the-world/091210/obama-nobel-peace-prize" type="external">just war</a>” in the post 9/11 age.</p>
<p>There were so many stories that grabbed our attention from the <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/global-green/091215/copenhagen-2009-climate-change" type="external">climate change conference in Copenhagen</a>, which ended not with a bang but a whimper, to the dramatic <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/brazil/091224/sean-goldman-us-brazil" type="external">custody battle in Brazil</a> over nine-year-old Sean Goldman.</p>
<p>But we didn’t only cover the big stories.&#160; We have tried to make it our signature at GlobalPost to offer a wide array of coverage from the hidden corners of the countries where our correspondents live. We’ve told you about <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/video/general/091120/senegal-dakar-breakdancers" type="external">break dancing in Senegal</a> and written about <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/italy/091027/libera-terra-food" type="external">food</a> and <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/china/091012/chinese-wine-production" type="external">wine</a> around the world.</p>
<p>We’ve taken you to the under-reported conflicts, such as the <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/091204/congo-war-minerals" type="external">war in the Congo</a> and other struggles you may not know about, such as the effort to promote <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/kenya/091117/male-circumcision-kenya-AIDS" type="external">male circumcision</a> in the war against AIDS.</p>
<p>We covered the <a href="http://mobile.globalpost.com/dispatch/china-and-its-neighbors/091027/michael-jackson-lives-beijing" type="external">death of Michael Jackson</a> and the tarnishing of a brand that was always a global gold standard: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/sports/091212/tiger-woods-elin-nordegren-stockholm-sweden" type="external">Tiger Woods</a>.</p>
<p>We’ve covered <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/france/090817/paris-graffiti-exhibit" type="external">arts</a> and <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/video/general/090914/indonesia09-14-09-bakkalapulomajinalpunk" type="external">culture</a> in every corner of the world, but at GlobalPost we believe the biggest cultural story of the year for an American audience was born of the union between Bollywood and Hollywood: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/india/090223/bollywoods-big-night-at-oscars" type="external">Slumdog Millionaire</a>.</p>
<p>We covered the story not from the red carpet in Hollywood, where the the film won no less than eight Oscars, but from the <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/india/090211/the-real-slumdogs" type="external">slums of India,</a>like those in which the film was set.</p>
<p>The movie introduced a side of India that so many Americans had not seen. It was a chance to see the riot of color and chaos and, of course, capitalism and crude poverty that is India.</p>
<p>The theme song “Jai Ho” says it all about India, a song about destiny whose title translates as “victory” or perhaps overcoming odds. “Jai Ho” seems a fitting anthem for us all as we say goodbye to 2009 and greet a set of challenges that will require the kind of resiliency shown by the characters in Slumdog. The year 2009 ends a decade of destiny where America confronted many limits, but it also introduces a new era of hope and the idea that there is always a chance for overcoming the odds. Jai Ho!</p>
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boston decade hell time magazine dubbed cover week ten years terror war economic crisis climate change hard say goodbye one enormous burdens decade began lower manhattan morning sept 11 2001 unleashing global struggle terrorism two wars closing act decade set scarred patch earth lower manhattan terror struck autumn 2008 saw different kind destruction different kind peril wall street implosion global economy towering twin events attacks 911 global economic downturn define decade also shape challenges ahead events confirmed decade tested limits american power militarily politically economically 2009 capstone dark first decade 21st century also year began promises hope change transition new era newly inaugurated president barack obama announced new approach world stood stark contrast predecessor president would engage world vowed work together leaders confront extraordinary challenges lie ahead obama inauguration globalpost launched jan 12 set stellar team 70 correspondents 50 countries cover complex issues america faces world many traditional news organizations experiencing dizzying collapse economic model globalpost raised new voice global news journey begun time desperately need informed world around us challenges presents big first year us globalpost filled accomplishments gratitude joined rapidly growing community engaged visitors site began coverage new era obama presidency series pieces titled stands set 50 different stories essays around world examining america means world world means america looking back stands provides interesting gauge measure much improved americas image world one year saying goodbye george w bush many historians agree one damaging divisive presidencies modern american history stumbled oath office bible used abraham lincoln greatest challenge facing obama global economic crisis globalpost believes long climb crisis biggest story 2009 quite likely 2010 well globalpost correspondents 20 countries around world covered crisis throughout year series special reports titled world trouble correspondents reported growing unrest among migrant laborers china silicon sweatshops interesting angles economic downturn socalled bric countries india russia brazil covered corners crisis londons wellheeled financial district recent shattering dubais gilded fragile economy like ocean global economic crisis sometimes seem deep fathom wide cover sometimes stories one person caught ocean like story sea captain richard phillips heroic surrendering save crew somali pirates daring rescue us navy seals easter weekend tale straight pirate book spring turned summer unexpected story year suddenly erupted streets tehran following muchcontested elections correspondents covered every turn story great risk lowest personal moment year us globalpost learned one correspondents arrested detained irans notorious evin prison three harrowing weeks working family colleagues win release finally thankful staying top story still sounding post istanbul also different kind simmering violence different set streets low boil deadly toll mexican drug wars covered great commitment team people died drugrelated violence south us border american soldiers killed iraq afghanistan foreign policy question fateful consequential first year obamas presidency war afghanistan august year globalpost published special report titled life death taliban set provide history context struggle taliban al qaeda writing photography video interactive timeline series also broke news taliban funding insurgency part protection racket involved subcontractors usaid projects articles findings prompted federal probe obama announced earlier month would go forward escalation war 30000 troops clear ever afghanistan obamas war hope life death taliban might stand resource try understand events unfolding one perplexing turn events year president obama awarded nobel peace prize one week announced troop surge afghanistan president recognized peace managing two wars irony hung room echoed around world alfred nobel prize named 19th century industrialist weapons manufacturer famous inventing dynamite accepting award obama delivered one powerfully philosophical speeches presidency idea war post 911 age many stories grabbed attention climate change conference copenhagen ended bang whimper dramatic custody battle brazil nineyearold sean goldman didnt cover big stories160 tried make signature globalpost offer wide array coverage hidden corners countries correspondents live weve told break dancing senegal written food wine around world weve taken underreported conflicts war congo struggles may know effort promote male circumcision war aids covered death michael jackson tarnishing brand always global gold standard tiger woods weve covered arts culture every corner world globalpost believe biggest cultural story year american audience born union bollywood hollywood slumdog millionaire covered story red carpet hollywood film less eight oscars slums indialike film set movie introduced side india many americans seen chance see riot color chaos course capitalism crude poverty india theme song jai ho says india song destiny whose title translates victory perhaps overcoming odds jai ho seems fitting anthem us say goodbye 2009 greet set challenges require kind resiliency shown characters slumdog year 2009 ends decade destiny america confronted many limits also introduces new era hope idea always chance overcoming odds jai ho
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<p>Brockton, Massachusetts is a city of 100,000. Fully&#160;30,000 of them are Cape Verdean, from or descended from people on&#160;the small Portuguese-speaking island nation off&#160;West Africa.</p>
<p>Many of the kids go to the city's public schools,&#160;a struggling system that’s turned around recently — but not for everyone.</p>
<p>At a bowling alley, 20-year old Kevin, a tall lanky man, relaxes over a soda.&#160;He’s not here to knock down pins.</p>
<p>“I just chill with my friends. Be around girls and that’s it.”</p>
<p>Kevin's unemployed. But being at the bowling alley, he says,&#160;means he’s not on the streets of Brockton, where violent crime rates are among the highest in the state. Police&#160;say Cape Verdean gangs have taken root here, and it means a lot of these immigrants get arrested in disproportionately greater numbers.&#160;So this bowling alley is a&#160;haven of sorts.</p>
<p>“It might keep you out of trouble, unless you run into someone,” explains Kevin. &#160;</p>
<p>I asked him if he has enemies.</p>
<p>“Yeah, a lot of them, throughout the city.&#160;The city hates me.&#160;But, I love my city.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Global Nation Education's</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23DroppingIn&amp;src=typd" type="external">#DroppingIn</a>&#160;series explores some of the challenges immigrant students face in the United States — and why many drop out at high rates.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p>Kevin’s city is the third largest Cape Verdean community in the world and the largest in the US.&#160;He is second generation.&#160;His parents — now split up — settled in Brockton, the birthplace of boxers Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler.&#160;A lot of people here are fighters&#160;—&#160;fighting to get by in a working-class city and fighting to stay in school:</p>
<p>“I got kicked out for something that didn’t happen in school.&#160;Over stupidity,” says Kevin.</p>
<p>He is one of hundreds of Cape Verdean youth who saw high school cut short for one reason or another. About a year ago, though,&#160;he finally got his diploma:</p>
<p>“I went to Phoenix.&#160;It’s an alternative school.”</p>
<p>That’s the nickname for the school here called B.B. Russell, where kids like Kevin try to finish what they began.&#160;Street workers like Joey Gomes helped out there.</p>
<p>"We had an office at the school, which deals with kids who are being kicked out of high school," he explains.&#160;"They would come to us and it would be for little things —&#160;cigarettes, may smell like marijuana, or the kid came in late —&#160;they get demerits.”</p>
<p>Gomes,&#160;known as “Joey G,"&#160;says the kids he mentored were kicked out or dropped out of school.&#160;He tried to understand why that was happening. Despite his efforts though, some students turned to thug life. It is a life Joey G knows well.</p>
<p>“I was incarcerated for 17 years, 8 months and one hour.” &#160;</p>
<p>Gomes was locked up on attempted murder and bank robbery convictions.&#160;Gangs are the big attraction for some disenfranchised.&#160;Inside, Gomes says he saw a pipeline of young men from Cape Verde to prison.</p>
<p>“I seen a lot of brothers that came here and following the flow of whatever they seen, monkey see monkey do, monkey want to do just like you.&#160;Brothers that were trying to become Westernized, but in the process of trying to be Westernized they ended up with 15- to 20-year mandatory, and after they served that 15 to 20 years, they going to get deported back to Cape Verde with nothing, came here with nothing, tried to establish something and then get deported with nothing.”</p>
<p>Joey G says school officials need to work “a lot harder to find out what’s going on inside Cape Verdean households before expelling kids like Kevin.&#160;</p>
<p>Kathleen Smith, superintendent of Brockton Public Schools,&#160;agrees.</p>
<p>“We recently have a new system that came in place because of the pipeline to prison and students dropping out and not having that opportunity to get the high school credential, the diploma,” she says.</p>
<p>Smith says that the school system is looking at new ways of disciplining students and reassessing the reasons for such discipline.&#160;</p>
<p>“You have educators that are used to a code of conduct and some of it is zero tolerance to now looking at mitigating circumstances.”</p>
<p>Those circumstances include students living in substandard housing, joblessness and the loss of tight-knit communities that existed back in Cape Verde. Acknowledging this came too late for Kevin. And he says he knows other young Cape Verdeans who dropped out of school and made a bee-line for the streets:</p>
<p>“I knows peoples like going in today. Getting locked up today—gun charges, drug charges. Everyday there’s someone new and I know em’. It’s a small city.”</p>
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<p>And how do you turn that around?</p>
<p>At Brockton School headquarters, a framed 2010 New York Times article hangs on the lobby wall. It details how Brockton High&#160;—&#160;once regarded as a failure&#160;— is now considered a model of success,&#160;outperforming 90 percent of high schools in Massachusetts.&#160;The Gates Foundation cited it as one of the nation’s most successful high schools.</p>
<p>“We have a large a linguistic community made up of Cape Verdean students,” says Smith.&#160;“And the focus is on literacy needed for a high school diploma.” &#160;</p>
<p>But she&#160;says dropout and expulsion rates of more than 3 percent are still too high&#160;—&#160;a problem exacerbated by poverty. &#160;</p>
<p>“We have close to six or seven hundred students in our district at any time that are considered homeless. Sometimes we find some of these students are working at 5&#160;in the morning and coming to school at 7 a.m. When that comes into the schools and you talk about a pipeline to prisons, I think that has to do with what we're facing as a society.”</p>
<p>Smith says if she can keep addressing skills and basic needs, she can keep more students from dropping out.</p>
<p>At the bowling alley, Kevin admits that he’s had close calls on the streets since leaving school.</p>
<p>“I got shot in my car.&#160;Like a bullet went right past my head.&#160;They could have freakin’ ended me, but they never did.”</p>
<p>His mentor, Joey G, worries about Kevin.&#160;He’s seen it all before.</p>
<p>“At Norfolk State prison, I seen a lot of young Cape Verdean brothers coming through the penal system.”</p>
<p>Joey G is working to make sure that doesn’t happen to Kevin, especially now, with his diploma;&#160;they’re working together to get Kevin employed and off the streets.</p>
<p>Share your thoughts and ideas on Facebook at our&#160; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/globalnation/" type="external">Global Nation Exchange</a>, on Twitter&#160; <a href="https://twitter.com/globalnation" type="external">@globalnation</a>, or contact us&#160; <a href="" type="internal">here</a>. A version of this story was cross-posted at WGBH News.</p>
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brockton massachusetts city 100000 fully16030000 cape verdean descended people on160the small portuguesespeaking island nation off160west africa many kids go citys public schools160a struggling system thats turned around recently everyone bowling alley 20year old kevin tall lanky man relaxes soda160hes knock pins chill friends around girls thats kevins unemployed bowling alley says160means hes streets brockton violent crime rates among highest state police160say cape verdean gangs taken root means lot immigrants get arrested disproportionately greater numbers160so bowling alley a160haven sorts might keep trouble unless run someone explains kevin 160 asked enemies yeah lot throughout city160the city hates me160but love city global nation educations droppingin160series explores challenges immigrant students face united states many drop high rates kevins city third largest cape verdean community world largest us160he second generation160his parents split settled brockton birthplace boxers rocky marciano marvin hagler160a lot people fighters160160fighting get workingclass city fighting stay school got kicked something didnt happen school160over stupidity says kevin one hundreds cape verdean youth saw high school cut short one reason another year ago though160he finally got diploma went phoenix160its alternative school thats nickname school called bb russell kids like kevin try finish began160street workers like joey gomes helped office school deals kids kicked high school explains160they would come us would little things 160cigarettes may smell like marijuana kid came late 160they get demerits gomes160known joey g160says kids mentored kicked dropped school160he tried understand happening despite efforts though students turned thug life life joey g knows well incarcerated 17 years 8 months one hour 160 gomes locked attempted murder bank robbery convictions160gangs big attraction disenfranchised160inside gomes says saw pipeline young men cape verde prison seen lot brothers came following flow whatever seen monkey see monkey monkey want like you160brothers trying become westernized process trying westernized ended 15 20year mandatory served 15 20 years going get deported back cape verde nothing came nothing tried establish something get deported nothing joey g says school officials need work lot harder find whats going inside cape verdean households expelling kids like kevin160 kathleen smith superintendent brockton public schools160agrees recently new system came place pipeline prison students dropping opportunity get high school credential diploma says smith says school system looking new ways disciplining students reassessing reasons discipline160 educators used code conduct zero tolerance looking mitigating circumstances circumstances include students living substandard housing joblessness loss tightknit communities existed back cape verde acknowledging came late kevin says knows young cape verdeans dropped school made beeline streets knows peoples like going today getting locked todaygun charges drug charges everyday theres someone new know em small city turn around brockton school headquarters framed 2010 new york times article hangs lobby wall details brockton high160160once regarded failure160 considered model success160outperforming 90 percent high schools massachusetts160the gates foundation cited one nations successful high schools large linguistic community made cape verdean students says smith160and focus literacy needed high school diploma 160 she160says dropout expulsion rates 3 percent still high160160a problem exacerbated poverty 160 close six seven hundred students district time considered homeless sometimes find students working 5160in morning coming school 7 comes schools talk pipeline prisons think facing society smith says keep addressing skills basic needs keep students dropping bowling alley kevin admits hes close calls streets since leaving school got shot car160like bullet went right past head160they could freakin ended never mentor joey g worries kevin160hes seen norfolk state prison seen lot young cape verdean brothers coming penal system joey g working make sure doesnt happen kevin especially diploma160theyre working together get kevin employed streets share thoughts ideas facebook our160 global nation exchange twitter160 globalnation contact us160 version story crossposted wgbh news
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<p>To celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Virginia is for Lovers,” Virginia’s tourism department is sharing a list of free things to do on vacation. For more details click on <a href="http://www.virginia.org/" type="external">www.Virginia.org</a>. Activities include:</p>
<p>Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail. Virginia has some 400 species of birds, 250 species of fish and 150 species of terrestrial and marine animals. Most can be found along the 65 trail loops Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail, the first such in America.&#160; From Atlantic seashore to Appalachian mountains, and in urban and rural settings, the trail brings visitors up close and personal with Virginia’s abundant wildlife treasures.</p>
<p>Virginia’s Bicycling Trails. Virginia is home to 838 miles of the U.S. Bicycle Route System, more than any other state, and is the only state with stretches of both official U.S. Bicycle Routes. Bikers also find outstanding “Rail Trails” throughout the Commonwealth — former railroad beds turned into scenic biking trails.</p>
<p>Crabtree Falls. Called “Virginia’s Best Kept Secret,” Crabtree Falls in Nelson County features a series of five major cascades and a number of smaller ones that fall a total distance of 1,200 feet.</p>
<p>Pony Pasture Rapids. The breath-taking scenery along the James River in Richmond so enticing and the vast array of outdoor activities will addictive. The area is perfect for swimming, hiking, tubing, snorkeling, fishing, bird watching, biking and canoeing.</p>
<p>Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. More than 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh and maritime forest is a haven for nature enthusiasts. The wild herds of “Chincoteague Ponies” are a highlight&#160; of this refuge which also provides environmental education and recreational activities such as fishing, hunting, wildlife observation, interpretation, and wildlife photography. Free for those who walk or bicycle in. Small fee for cars.</p>
<p>Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Several poets and history writers have viewed this place near Suffolk as either a peaceful paradise or a strangely mysterious setting.</p>
<p>Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge. The Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge near Woodbridge was created to protect vital bald eagle nesting, feeding, and roosting habitats along the Potomac River. Along with active eagle nesting, the refuge is a breeding ground for great blue herons with more than 1,200 nests occupied there. Visitors also can view the refuge along two trails, one through woods and one in Great Marsh.</p>
<p>Virginia Beach and Boardwalk. America’s longest commercial beach is also one of America’s favorite. The three-mile concrete boardwalk is full of activity with bicyclists, strollers, roller bladers and people-watchers. During the summer three oceanfront stages offer nightly entertainment. This vibrant attraction features family activities, outdoor recreational facilities, year-round events and a diverse selection of restaurants and shopping opportunities.</p>
<p>Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. The 115,000 acre mountain recreation wonderland in Southwest Virginia includes hiking trails, lakes, streams, historic sites, wildlife viewing and the highest point in Virginia.</p>
<p>Virginia Civil War Trails. More Civil War battles were fought in Virginia than in any other state — by far. The Virginia Civil War Trails program marks more than 400 historic sites, telling the dramatic story of what happened on the sites where it happened.</p>
<p>Booker T. Washington National Monument. This is the Franklin County site of famed educator and presidential advisor Booker T. Washington's birth, early life, and emancipation.</p>
<p>Hollywood Cemetery. The beautiful, serene landscape makes this cemetery one of Richmond’s most visited places. An astounding 90 foot stone pyramid memorializes the more than 18,000 Confederate soldiers who were laid to rest here. Among famous Americans buried here are Presidents John Tyler and James Monroe as well as Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Gen. J.E.B. Stuart.&#160; &#160; Robert Russa Moton Museum. R.R. Moton High School in Farmville was the site of a walkout by African American students in 1951 to protest the separate but very unequal conditions in which they were forced to study. The resulting legal action became part of the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. Exhibits housed in the school building tell the story of the struggles of a community to overcome historical segregation.</p>
<p>Waterford. Founded in 1733, the entire village of Waterford is a National Historic Landmark. Many of its buildings still in use predate 1840. Self-guided walking tours indicate historic homes and storefronts and cottages.</p>
<p>National Museum of the Marine Corps. The heroic story of the United States Marine Corps is told here in Triangle through interactive displays, videos, realistic environments and priceless artifacts.</p>
<p>Abingdon Historic District. The town of Abingdon is located in Washington County in the Blue Ridge Highlands region of Virginia. The 20-square block Historic District includes historic sites, cultural activities and museums. Abingdon is also one of the towns along The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail.</p>
<p>Fort Monroe/Casemate Museum. Fort Monroe in Hampton was originally completed in 1834 and has served as an army base since then. During the Civil War escaped slaves flocked to the fort for protection. After the collapse of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis was confined as a prisoner in a damp cell within the casemate. The Casemate Museum tells the story of the fort and its historic occupants within the arched masonry now more than 150 years old.</p>
<p>Lexington’s historic campuses and museums. Lexington is a small town dream. Located in the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley, Lexington is home to Washington and Lee University and the Virginia Military Institute. Both campuses are littered with historic buildings and statues — and each has compelling museums. The VMI Museum tells the story of the institute dating back to 1839. Lee Chapel and Museum houses the final resting place of Robert E. Lee, president of the college following the Civil War.</p>
<p>Harry W. Meador Coal Museum. Mining equipment, tools, office equipment, coal company items and a small dentist office are part of this museum in Big Stone Gap, the heart of Virginia’s coal mining region. Coal mining was and is a critical part of the economy of Southwest Virginia and is reflected in the museum displays.</p>
<p>Virginia’s Parkways. Of Virginia’s legendary scenic parkways, the Blue Ridge Parkway is the longest and best-known and offers hiking, picnicking and scenic overlooks. Historic Mabry Mill is one of America’s most photographed roadside attractions. The 23-mile Colonial Parkway connects Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown while the George Washington Memorial Parkway follows the Southern bank of the Potomac River in the Metro DC area.</p>
<p>Burke’s Garden. Sometimes called “God’s Thumbprint,” this mountain-ringed bowl in Tazewell County is 10 miles in diameter and contains some of the Commonwealth’s most lush vegetation. Millions of flowers bloom in the spring and in the fall it is a heaven of colors.</p>
<p>University of Virginia Art Museum. Art from around the world dating from ancient times to the present day is on display at the University’s fine art museum in Charlottesville. The galleries exhibit American and European painting and sculpture of the 15th-19th centuries, including art from the “Age of Thomas Jefferson” (1775- 1825), art from the ancient Mediterranean, Asian art and 20th century art. &#160; Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. More than 20,000 works of art from nearly every major world culture are part of this expanding facility in Richmond. Art Nouveau, Art Deco and American Modern and Contemporary are leading components of the collection. Don’t miss the Faberge eggs!</p>
<p>Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History. Housed in the Sutherlin Mansion on Danville’s “Millionaires Row” the museum now houses art exhibits and historical displays. After fleeing Richmond at the end of the Civil War, Confederate president Jefferson Davis occupied the house until learning of Lee’s surrender. Accordingly, Danville is called the “Last Capital of the Confederacy.”</p>
<p>Rex Theater. The sounds of classic Virginia bluegrass, gospel and old time music echo through the streets of Galax on Friday nights when top performers take the stage at the 400-seat Rex Theater. Admission is free, but get there early for a good seat.</p>
<p>Mt. Pony Theater. Home to more than one million film, television and video recordings — some dating to the 1890s — the National Audio/Visual Conservation Center’s 200-seat theater shows classic films in a state-of-the-art setting. The theater hosts three shows per week. Free, but reservations are strongly recommended.</p>
<p>Maymont. Once a private 100-acre Victorian estate, Maymont was bestowed to Richmond in 1925 as a public park and museum. A true family attraction, Maymont offers tours of the Victorian mansion, exhibits of wildlife native to Virginia, themed gardens, Nature Center and Children’s Farm.</p>
<p>Richmond National Battlefield Park. As the seat of Confederate government Richmond was a special target of Union military strategy, and some of the fiercest battles of the war were fought around the city. The Visitor Center houses engaging exhibits and artifacts while protected and interpreted battlefields such as Cold Harbor and Malvern Hill let visitors walk where soldiers fought.</p>
<p>Arlington National Cemetery. Veterans of every American war from the Revolution to the country’s most recent conflicts are buried at Arlington. Among the more than 260,000 dead are three unidentified service members, buried at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and John F. Kennedy, whose gravesite is marked by an eternal flame.</p>
<p>Architectural Walking Tours. So many of Virginia’s cities and towns preserve the architecture of historic commercial and residential districts. Stop by a welcome center and ask for walking tour brochures. Ornate downtown facades and dramatic interiors are complemented by the grace and charm of Victorian, Queen Anne and Gothic Revival homes. Surprises abound when looking up from the sidewalk.</p>
<p>Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. This Smithsonian Air and Space Museum facility at Dulles includes the space shuttle Enterprise, Gemini VII space capsule and Boeing B-29 Enola Gay among its incredible collection of hundreds of air and space craft, missiles and equipment. Simulators and theaters provide breathtaking experiences without leaving the ground. Though there is a fee to park, admission to this magnificent facility is free.</p>
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celebrate 40th anniversary virginia lovers virginias tourism department sharing list free things vacation details click wwwvirginiaorg activities include virginia birding wildlife trail virginia 400 species birds 250 species fish 150 species terrestrial marine animals found along 65 trail loops virginia birding wildlife trail first america160 atlantic seashore appalachian mountains urban rural settings trail brings visitors close personal virginias abundant wildlife treasures virginias bicycling trails virginia home 838 miles us bicycle route system state state stretches official us bicycle routes bikers also find outstanding rail trails throughout commonwealth former railroad beds turned scenic biking trails crabtree falls called virginias best kept secret crabtree falls nelson county features series five major cascades number smaller ones fall total distance 1200 feet pony pasture rapids breathtaking scenery along james river richmond enticing vast array outdoor activities addictive area perfect swimming hiking tubing snorkeling fishing bird watching biking canoeing chincoteague national wildlife refuge 14000 acres beach dunes marsh maritime forest nature enthusiasts wild herds chincoteague ponies highlight160 refuge also provides environmental education recreational activities fishing hunting wildlife observation interpretation wildlife photography free walk bicycle small fee cars great dismal swamp national wildlife refuge several poets history writers viewed place near suffolk either peaceful paradise strangely mysterious setting mason neck national wildlife refuge mason neck national wildlife refuge near woodbridge created protect vital bald eagle nesting feeding roosting habitats along potomac river along active eagle nesting refuge breeding ground great blue herons 1200 nests occupied visitors also view refuge along two trails one woods one great marsh virginia beach boardwalk americas longest commercial beach also one americas favorite threemile concrete boardwalk full activity bicyclists strollers roller bladers peoplewatchers summer three oceanfront stages offer nightly entertainment vibrant attraction features family activities outdoor recreational facilities yearround events diverse selection restaurants shopping opportunities mount rogers national recreation area 115000 acre mountain recreation wonderland southwest virginia includes hiking trails lakes streams historic sites wildlife viewing highest point virginia virginia civil war trails civil war battles fought virginia state far virginia civil war trails program marks 400 historic sites telling dramatic story happened sites happened booker washington national monument franklin county site famed educator presidential advisor booker washingtons birth early life emancipation hollywood cemetery beautiful serene landscape makes cemetery one richmonds visited places astounding 90 foot stone pyramid memorializes 18000 confederate soldiers laid rest among famous americans buried presidents john tyler james monroe well confederate president jefferson davis gen jeb stuart160 160 robert russa moton museum rr moton high school farmville site walkout african american students 1951 protest separate unequal conditions forced study resulting legal action became part landmark brown vs board education supreme court decision exhibits housed school building tell story struggles community overcome historical segregation waterford founded 1733 entire village waterford national historic landmark many buildings still use predate 1840 selfguided walking tours indicate historic homes storefronts cottages national museum marine corps heroic story united states marine corps told triangle interactive displays videos realistic environments priceless artifacts abingdon historic district town abingdon located washington county blue ridge highlands region virginia 20square block historic district includes historic sites cultural activities museums abingdon also one towns along crooked road virginias heritage music trail fort monroecasemate museum fort monroe hampton originally completed 1834 served army base since civil war escaped slaves flocked fort protection collapse confederacy jefferson davis confined prisoner damp cell within casemate casemate museum tells story fort historic occupants within arched masonry 150 years old lexingtons historic campuses museums lexington small town dream located southern end shenandoah valley lexington home washington lee university virginia military institute campuses littered historic buildings statues compelling museums vmi museum tells story institute dating back 1839 lee chapel museum houses final resting place robert e lee president college following civil war harry w meador coal museum mining equipment tools office equipment coal company items small dentist office part museum big stone gap heart virginias coal mining region coal mining critical part economy southwest virginia reflected museum displays virginias parkways virginias legendary scenic parkways blue ridge parkway longest bestknown offers hiking picnicking scenic overlooks historic mabry mill one americas photographed roadside attractions 23mile colonial parkway connects williamsburg yorktown jamestown george washington memorial parkway follows southern bank potomac river metro dc area burkes garden sometimes called gods thumbprint mountainringed bowl tazewell county 10 miles diameter contains commonwealths lush vegetation millions flowers bloom spring fall heaven colors university virginia art museum art around world dating ancient times present day display universitys fine art museum charlottesville galleries exhibit american european painting sculpture 15th19th centuries including art age thomas jefferson 1775 1825 art ancient mediterranean asian art 20th century art 160 virginia museum fine arts 20000 works art nearly every major world culture part expanding facility richmond art nouveau art deco american modern contemporary leading components collection dont miss faberge eggs danville museum fine arts history housed sutherlin mansion danvilles millionaires row museum houses art exhibits historical displays fleeing richmond end civil war confederate president jefferson davis occupied house learning lees surrender accordingly danville called last capital confederacy rex theater sounds classic virginia bluegrass gospel old time music echo streets galax friday nights top performers take stage 400seat rex theater admission free get early good seat mt pony theater home one million film television video recordings dating 1890s national audiovisual conservation centers 200seat theater shows classic films stateoftheart setting theater hosts three shows per week free reservations strongly recommended maymont private 100acre victorian estate maymont bestowed richmond 1925 public park museum true family attraction maymont offers tours victorian mansion exhibits wildlife native virginia themed gardens nature center childrens farm richmond national battlefield park seat confederate government richmond special target union military strategy fiercest battles war fought around city visitor center houses engaging exhibits artifacts protected interpreted battlefields cold harbor malvern hill let visitors walk soldiers fought arlington national cemetery veterans every american war revolution countrys recent conflicts buried arlington among 260000 dead three unidentified service members buried tomb unknowns john f kennedy whose gravesite marked eternal flame architectural walking tours many virginias cities towns preserve architecture historic commercial residential districts stop welcome center ask walking tour brochures ornate downtown facades dramatic interiors complemented grace charm victorian queen anne gothic revival homes surprises abound looking sidewalk steven f udvarhazy center smithsonian air space museum facility dulles includes space shuttle enterprise gemini vii space capsule boeing b29 enola gay among incredible collection hundreds air space craft missiles equipment simulators theaters provide breathtaking experiences without leaving ground though fee park admission magnificent facility free
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<p>MEXICO CITY — It’s no secret: Mexican politicians have a reputation for being corrupt as hell.</p>
<p>One former Mexico City mayor with a suspicious fortune&#160;coined a phrase about it:&#160;“Un politico pobre es un pobre politico,” said the late Carlos Hank, meaning,&#160;“a politician who's poor is a poor politician.”</p>
<p>For decades, many Mexicans were resigned to that kind of attitude. But finally, public anger is forcing change.</p>
<p>Under pressure, Mexico’s congress has passed a law to create a so-called anti-corruption system. Activists have built a web platform to pressure&#160;political candidates to show&#160;their wealth. And journalists have exposed corrupt acts, resulting in&#160;resignations.</p>
<p>Mexico still has an uphill struggle.&#160;It’s tried&#160;to tackle corruption&#160;before.&#160;But some here are hopeful&#160;that this new momentum will&#160;lead to&#160;long-term improvements.</p>
<p>“It is like we are in the eye of the hurricane,” says Eduardo Bohorquez, head of the anti-graft group Mexican Transparency. “There is a crisis of confidence in politicians, which will rage for some time. But this is forcing some advances.”</p>
<p>Public anger&#160;has reached&#160;boiling point in recent months amid particularly outrageous scandals.</p>
<p>In November, the mayor of the town Iguala, Jose Luis Abarca, was arrested and charged with working with narco-traffickers in the disappearance of 43 students.&#160;He also reportedly had dozens of houses and jewelry stores that he may have bought with drug money.</p>
<p>While that was going on, a nasty scandal smacked President Enrique Peña Nieto. Investigative reporters revealed that his wife&#160;had a $7 million mansion in the name of a company rich off government contracts.</p>
<p>Hundreds of thousands marched in the following months to protest violence and corruption, some calling for Peña Nieto to resign.</p>
<p>Bohorquez, the anti-corruption campaigner, says the public outcry compelled him to action.</p>
<p>“I wanted to find a way to turn this anger into concrete change,” he says.</p>
<p>Bohorquez helped create the website <a href="https://candidatotransparente.mx/#/" type="external">Transparent Candidate</a>. Here’s how it works. Political hopefuls&#160;can&#160;upload information about their&#160;assets, interest&#160;income&#160;and taxes, making the data accessible for anyone with an internet connection. Twitter buttons feature&#160;right on&#160;each candidate's picture, baiting citizens to share it online.</p>
<p>As of Tuesday, a quarter of the more than&#160;800 candidates in&#160;June's midterm polls&#160;have&#160;signed up. They&#160;include&#160;prospective mayors, governors, and&#160;federal and local legislators.</p>
<p>Still, many&#160;are holding out, not surprisingly.&#160;Mexican officials&#160;are notorious&#160;for hiding&#160;mansions, apartments in Miami or luxury items.&#160;Bohorquez hopes that in future votes&#160;the platform will grow so&#160;large that all candidates&#160;eventually have to&#160;join it.</p>
<p>Excessive wealth has a particular sting in Mexico. The country’s wide gap between rich and poor means the population’s top 20 percent earns almost 13 times as much as the bottom 20 percent, according to the <a href="http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/mexico/" type="external">Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development</a>&#160;(OECD).</p>
<p>But politicos have another reason to dish about&#160;their fortunes. In April, the congress approved new rules that empower anti-graft investigators and obligate politicians to reveal any potential conflicts of interest.&#160;</p>
<p>Social media has also thrown some punches. When the head of the Water Commission, David Korenfeld, took his family&#160;to the airport for vacation via government helicopter, a neighbor took photos and posted them online. Korenfeld resigned on April 9. Mexico's&#160;Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=korenfeld%20helicoptero&amp;src=typd" type="external">exploded</a>.</p>
<p>“A few years ago, there would be no means to expose this type of corruption,” says political analyst Jorge Chabat. “But with the new technology and the current environment, he was forced to leave his post.”</p>
<p>But progress toward a scandal-free Mexico has hit some setbacks.</p>
<p>Carmen Aristegui&#160;knows this&#160;better than anyone. She’s&#160;the&#160;prominent journalist&#160;who led the&#160;team&#160;that exposed&#160;the first lady’s mansion.&#160;In March,&#160;she&#160;was fired from Mexican radio station MVS, where she hosted a morning news show. MVS&#160;claimed it was over internal disputes,&#160;but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPaHFU-CPCw" type="external">Aristegui accuses</a> the presidency of conspiring to silence her by pressuring the station’s owners to let her go.</p>
<p>“It’s clearly a form of censorship,” she <a href="http://elmanana.com.mx/opinion/65088" type="external">told Univision host Jorge Ramos</a>. “You have to see the hand that is rocking the cradle.”</p>
<p>Aristegui is fighting in court to get back on the radio. She continues to host a television&#160;show on CNN and run her own news website, but those don’t have as big an audience in Mexico as her MVS&#160;morning&#160;show.</p>
<p>The Aristegui case could&#160;send&#160;a message to other journalists to avoid exposing corruption at the highest level.</p>
<p>“The absence of Aristegui’s news show can be felt with a silence over some issues of fundamental public interest,” <a href="http://plumaslibres.com.mx/2015/04/29/la-ausencia-de-aristegui-y-la-ley-mordaza/" type="external">writes</a> journalist Jenaro Villamil.</p>
<p>That’s bad news in Mexico, where working in&#160;journalism can be&#160; <a href="https://cpj.org/killed/americas/mexico/" type="external">life-threatening</a>.</p>
<p>What also&#160;slows&#160;progress is that President Peña Nieto is criticized for&#160;lacking&#160;leadership to head&#160;up an&#160;anti-corruption drive.</p>
<p>While he may not have actually committed a crime in connection with his wife’s house, the scandal hurts him politically, says the analyst Chabat.</p>
<p>“It is difficult for the government to mend this damage and win back public confidence,” Chabat says. “We may see a lame duck president during the next three years.”</p>
<p>The size of the challenge is also daunting. Mexico ranked 103rd of 170 countries in a global corruption <a href="http://www.transparency.org/country#MEX" type="external">index</a>. The problem costs the economy <a href="http://mundo.sputniknews.com/americalatina/20150226/1034900857.html" type="external">$20 billion</a> a year, by one think tank's estimate.</p>
<p>The country’s corruption fighters hope&#160;these new mechanisms&#160;will&#160;cut a path for a more transparent&#160;congress elected&#160;on&#160;June 7, and will&#160;play&#160;big in the next presidential election three years from now.</p>
<p>“The public pressure over corruption is bigger than it has ever been before in Mexico,” Chabat says. “I don’t see this going away anytime soon.”</p>
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mexico city secret mexican politicians reputation corrupt hell one former mexico city mayor suspicious fortune160coined phrase it160un politico pobre es un pobre politico said late carlos hank meaning160a politician whos poor poor politician decades many mexicans resigned kind attitude finally public anger forcing change pressure mexicos congress passed law create socalled anticorruption system activists built web platform pressure160political candidates show160their wealth journalists exposed corrupt acts resulting in160resignations mexico still uphill struggle160its tried160to tackle corruption160before160but hopeful160that new momentum will160lead to160longterm improvements like eye hurricane says eduardo bohorquez head antigraft group mexican transparency crisis confidence politicians rage time forcing advances public anger160has reached160boiling point recent months amid particularly outrageous scandals november mayor town iguala jose luis abarca arrested charged working narcotraffickers disappearance 43 students160he also reportedly dozens houses jewelry stores may bought drug money going nasty scandal smacked president enrique peña nieto investigative reporters revealed wife160had 7 million mansion name company rich government contracts hundreds thousands marched following months protest violence corruption calling peña nieto resign bohorquez anticorruption campaigner says public outcry compelled action wanted find way turn anger concrete change says bohorquez helped create website transparent candidate heres works political hopefuls160can160upload information their160assets interest160income160and taxes making data accessible anyone internet connection twitter buttons feature160right on160each candidates picture baiting citizens share online tuesday quarter than160800 candidates in160junes midterm polls160have160signed they160include160prospective mayors governors and160federal local legislators still many160are holding surprisingly160mexican officials160are notorious160for hiding160mansions apartments miami luxury items160bohorquez hopes future votes160the platform grow so160large candidates160eventually to160join excessive wealth particular sting mexico countrys wide gap rich poor means populations top 20 percent earns almost 13 times much bottom 20 percent according organization economic cooperation development160oecd politicos another reason dish about160their fortunes april congress approved new rules empower antigraft investigators obligate politicians reveal potential conflicts interest160 social media also thrown punches head water commission david korenfeld took family160to airport vacation via government helicopter neighbor took photos posted online korenfeld resigned april 9 mexicos160twitter exploded years ago would means expose type corruption says political analyst jorge chabat new technology current environment forced leave post progress toward scandalfree mexico hit setbacks carmen aristegui160knows this160better anyone shes160the160prominent journalist160who led the160team160that exposed160the first ladys mansion160in march160she160was fired mexican radio station mvs hosted morning news show mvs160claimed internal disputes160but aristegui accuses presidency conspiring silence pressuring stations owners let go clearly form censorship told univision host jorge ramos see hand rocking cradle aristegui fighting court get back radio continues host television160show cnn run news website dont big audience mexico mvs160morning160show aristegui case could160send160a message journalists avoid exposing corruption highest level absence aristeguis news show felt silence issues fundamental public interest writes journalist jenaro villamil thats bad news mexico working in160journalism be160 lifethreatening also160slows160progress president peña nieto criticized for160lacking160leadership head160up an160anticorruption drive may actually committed crime connection wifes house scandal hurts politically says analyst chabat difficult government mend damage win back public confidence chabat says may see lame duck president next three years size challenge also daunting mexico ranked 103rd 170 countries global corruption index problem costs economy 20 billion year one think tanks estimate countrys corruption fighters hope160these new mechanisms160will160cut path transparent160congress elected160on160june 7 will160play160big next presidential election three years public pressure corruption bigger ever mexico chabat says dont see going away anytime soon
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<p>THE REAL O’NEALS – ABC’s “The Real O’Neals” stars Noah Galvin as Kenny. (ABC/Bob D’Amico)</p>
<p>Noah Galvin might be new on your television screen, but he’s no stranger to the entertainment business. Starting out as a child stage actor in New York, Galvin worked his way from Broadway to circus to eventually landing the lead role as Kenny on “The Real O’Neals.”</p>
<p>Kenny, loosely based on Dan Savage’s teen years, comes out to his conservative Catholic family in Chicago. After his big admission, he must learn how to navigate his sexuality and high school at the same time. The show, which airs Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. on ABC, shows his family is far from perfect themselves. His parents (Martha Plimpton and Jay Ferguson) are getting divorced, his older jock brother (Matt Shively) is anorexic and his little sister (Bebe Wood) has a case of sticky fingers while starting to question her own faith. A Blade interview with the show’s producer is <a href="" type="internal">here</a>.</p>
<p>Galvin says although he came out around high school like Kenny does, their experiences were hardly the same. The out actor spoke with the Blade about how shaving the side of his head was an integral part of his coming out and how Savage became a mentor for him in work and his personal life.</p>
<p>WASHINGTON BLADE: Kenny’s high school experience is kind of chaotic after he comes out. Was your high school experience similar to Kenny’s? When did you come out?</p>
<p>NOAH GALVIN: I came out when I was 14. I had been working for Cirque du Soleil the year before and had been homeschooling, and then decided I didn’t want to homeschool any more because it was so isolating. So I held myself back a year and went to this regular public school in Westchester, N.Y., that I had friends at. Before I went back to school I had my friends shave the side of my head and pierce my right ear in the bathroom so I could really just walk into the school a completely new, out, gay person. The chaos came from people around me, people who had to deal with this. Kenny’s struggles are different. They’re sort of internal. They’re sort of self-imposed. He’s creating this problem himself, and no one really has an issue with it at school. It’s just him freaking out about it and not wanting to face these things.</p>
<p>BLADE: What’s been the biggest challenge bringing Kenny to life?</p>
<p>GALVIN: I don’t know if I would call this a challenge, but Kenny’s very comfortable with himself. It was a cool thing to portray a different coming out experience.</p>
<p>BLADE: In the episode “The Real Spring Fever,” Kenny experiments with online dating. Do you have any online dating horror stories?</p>
<p>GALVIN: I have a couple dating apps. I have Tinder and what not. I don’t use them per se, but I have them. No horror stories to date, thank God. I’ll let you know when I do though.</p>
<p>BLADE: What’s been your favorite episode to film?</p>
<p>GALVIN: Honestly, I don’t know if I have one. I have favorite moments from all of them. They’re all so close to my heart. I really love this show and I think it’s really great, funny and important. We’ve gotten to work with awesome guest stars. Frances Conroy of “Six Feet Under” fame plays our grandmother, and “Six Feet Under” has been my favorite show forever. So getting to work with her is incredible. Tim Gunn is on an episode and he is just one of the most wonderful men in the world just so sweet, smart and supportive.</p>
<p>BLADE: What’s the atmosphere like on set?</p>
<p>GALVIN: Joyous. We have an amazing time together. Our cast gets along so freakishly well. None of us chemistry tested together and for some reason we just like magically melded together so perfectly. Something that Martha (Plimpton) and Jay (Ferguson) realized like two-thirds of the way into the process, maybe even later, was that we were all child actors. So I think that sort of lent itself to us getting to know each other and liking each other. We all have a similar level of professionalism. We’re all about do the work, leave it at work and then go on with our lives. On set it’s hard; you’re doing 14- and 16-hour days, and it’s a comedy so you’ve got to keep your energy up the whole time. Jay is a big proponent of game playing, so on set it’s mostly just us being told to quiet down because we’re yelling and screaming and playing Catch Phrase.</p>
<p>BLADE: You’re playing a young Dan Savage on the show. Did you get to meet him and what was your impression of him?</p>
<p>GALVIN: Dan is a good friend. We initially met during the filming of the pilot. At first he was sort of distancing himself from me and I didn’t know why. Eventually I sat down with him and was like, “What’s up, man?” And it came out that he thought I was like 15 years old. Upon realizing I was 21, he was like, “Oh thank god” and was able to really get into it with me, and talk about things which was really nice. He’s a very busy man so he wasn’t there for a lot of the filming of the whole series. He’s a non-creative executive producer, so he doesn’t write anything for the show. I was in touch with him and any time I had a question or a problem I would turn to him. Both professionally and unprofessionally he was a source of advice for me.</p>
<p>BLADE: Are you still in school or are you acting full time?</p>
<p>GALVIN: I am acting full time. The college application process was a big point of contention in my family. I’m an actor and I knew I was going to be an actor. I had been working professionally since I was 10. It was kind of a struggle for me to finish school just because I was working. My senior year of high school it came down to it, and I finally decided I wasn’t going to apply to colleges or conservatories. I was just going to start working and see what happens. And this (“The Real O’Neals”) came along months after which was great.</p>
<p>BLADE: Are you concerned about being typecast as the “gay guy” for future roles because of this show?</p>
<p>GALVIN: Definitely. It’s not a fear, but it’s something that’s on my mind and something I think about. It’s something I’ll have to learn how to navigate. I don’t have any interest in being a spokesperson or poster boy for any movement. But I would absolutely love to be an advocate and do advocacy work. But in that, I really just want to be able to do everything. I want to keep working. I want variety in my career. I’m hoping that we’re in a time where I’m not the Rupert Everett of our generation. I’m hoping that casting directors are open minded enough to see that I can do a lot of things.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">ABC</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dan Savage</a> <a href="" type="internal">Martha Plimpton</a> <a href="" type="internal">Noah Galvin</a> <a href="" type="internal">The Real O'Neals</a></p>
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real oneals abcs real oneals stars noah galvin kenny abcbob damico noah galvin might new television screen hes stranger entertainment business starting child stage actor new york galvin worked way broadway circus eventually landing lead role kenny real oneals kenny loosely based dan savages teen years comes conservative catholic family chicago big admission must learn navigate sexuality high school time show airs wednesdays 830 pm abc shows family far perfect parents martha plimpton jay ferguson getting divorced older jock brother matt shively anorexic little sister bebe wood case sticky fingers starting question faith blade interview shows producer galvin says although came around high school like kenny experiences hardly actor spoke blade shaving side head integral part coming savage became mentor work personal life washington blade kennys high school experience kind chaotic comes high school experience similar kennys come noah galvin came 14 working cirque du soleil year homeschooling decided didnt want homeschool isolating held back year went regular public school westchester ny friends went back school friends shave side head pierce right ear bathroom could really walk school completely new gay person chaos came people around people deal kennys struggles different theyre sort internal theyre sort selfimposed hes creating problem one really issue school freaking wanting face things blade whats biggest challenge bringing kenny life galvin dont know would call challenge kennys comfortable cool thing portray different coming experience blade episode real spring fever kenny experiments online dating online dating horror stories galvin couple dating apps tinder dont use per se horror stories date thank god ill let know though blade whats favorite episode film galvin honestly dont know one favorite moments theyre close heart really love show think really great funny important weve gotten work awesome guest stars frances conroy six feet fame plays grandmother six feet favorite show forever getting work incredible tim gunn episode one wonderful men world sweet smart supportive blade whats atmosphere like set galvin joyous amazing time together cast gets along freakishly well none us chemistry tested together reason like magically melded together perfectly something martha plimpton jay ferguson realized like twothirds way process maybe even later child actors think sort lent us getting know liking similar level professionalism work leave work go lives set hard youre 14 16hour days comedy youve got keep energy whole time jay big proponent game playing set mostly us told quiet yelling screaming playing catch phrase blade youre playing young dan savage show get meet impression galvin dan good friend initially met filming pilot first sort distancing didnt know eventually sat like whats man came thought like 15 years old upon realizing 21 like oh thank god able really get talk things really nice hes busy man wasnt lot filming whole series hes noncreative executive producer doesnt write anything show touch time question problem would turn professionally unprofessionally source advice blade still school acting full time galvin acting full time college application process big point contention family im actor knew going actor working professionally since 10 kind struggle finish school working senior year high school came finally decided wasnt going apply colleges conservatories going start working see happens real oneals came along months great blade concerned typecast gay guy future roles show galvin definitely fear something thats mind something think something ill learn navigate dont interest spokesperson poster boy movement would absolutely love advocate advocacy work really want able everything want keep working want variety career im hoping time im rupert everett generation im hoping casting directors open minded enough see lot things abc dan savage martha plimpton noah galvin real oneals
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<p>Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States. Each posting is for 30 days and is limited to 150 words. Businesses may purchase a post in the “And More” section for $1.20 per word (minimum of $50 for 30 days). To submit a ministry-related job or inquire about other advertising options on this page, contact Barbara Francis at 336-717-1135, ext. 8 or <a href="" type="internal">[email protected]</a>.</p>
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<p>FULL-TIME ASSOCIATE MINISTER OF MUSIC AND ORGANIST. First Baptist Church in Huntsville, Alabama, is seeking a full-time Associate Minister of Music and Organist. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.fbchsv.org/employment" type="external">www.fbchsv.org/employment</a>. Resumes and inquiries may be sent to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 04.17.17)</p>
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<p>PROGRAM DIRECTOR/EDUCATOR.&#160; Lake Nixon Outdoor Center, a ministry of Second Baptist Church Downtown Little Rock, is looking for staff candidates who have a strong love for God and service to families, students and children. The Program Director/Educator is a new position created to help expand the services of the Lake Nixon Outdoor Center. The successful candidate is responsible for maintaining the Lake Nixon Outdoor Center’s summer day camp programs, which have been in operation since 1969 and primarily serve kindergarteners through 5th graders. The day camp operates for nine weeks in the summer. The successful candidate will also work alongside staff to develop a new Outdoor Preschool Program for children age 3 to 5, based on the Nature Preschool/Forest Kindergarten model, to begin in the Fall of 2017 or Winter of 2018. Please visit <a href="http://www.2bclr.com/employment/" type="external">http://www.2bclr.com/employment/</a> &#160;for details on how to apply. (Posted 04.05.17)</p>
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<p>FULL-TIME CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PASTORAL RESIDENCY. First Baptist Church, Colorado Springs, CO. The Pastoral Resident of First Baptist Church, a seminary graduate, will function as an associate pastor with special responsibility for children and families ministries. The Church will provide the Resident with a wide range of pastoral opportunities, under the guidance and supervision of the Senior Pastor. These opportunities include caring for our church family (with emphasis on children and families), preparing and teaching spiritual formation series, preaching and leading in worship, and developing lay leadership. Interested applicants can feel free to contact the Pastor for more information and for a more detailed job description. <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 06.12.17)</p>
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<p>FULL-TIME PASTOR.&#160; Hammock Community Church, an interdenominational fellowship in a retirement area in Palm Coast, FL., seeks a Pastor who effectively preaches &amp; teaches the Bible.&#160; Biblical studies and pastoral experience are required.&#160; We prefer traditional music.&#160; Email: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.&#160;(Posted 05.08.17)</p>
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<p>ASSOCIATE PASTOR.&#160; Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta is looking to fill a newly created position of Associate Pastor. The Associate Pastor will have the primary responsibility of building a ministry designed for Young Adults. He/She will: Become the face of Wieuca in the community where young adults and their families live, study, work, exercise, dine, and play; &#160;Lead in the creation of a new “Expression of Worship” focused on reaching young adults;&#160; Design a small group strategy to reach young adults; Focus on un-churched individuals; Work collaboratively with current ministerial staff in creating ties between existing ministries and Young Adults. Interested candidates should have a Master’s Degree or higher from an accredited seminary or theological school and experience in nurturing and presiding over the growth of a church in a culturally relevant setting.&#160; Visit <a href="http://www.wieuca.org/apsearch" type="external">www.wieuca.org/apsearch</a> &#160;for a more detailed profile and application instructions. Applications accepted until June 15, 2017. (Posted 05.10.17)</p>
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<p>INTERIM PASTOR.&#160; First Congregational Methodist Church, Louisville, Ky., is seeking an interim pastor. FCMC is a Congregational Methodist Church with an average attendance of 50-65.&#160; The church has respectable facilities and room to expand; great location, and a desire for biblical spiritual growth. The Interim Pastor will lead the congregation, organizations, and the ministry staff to perform their tasks.&#160; He/she will work with the ministry staff to (1) lead the church in performing its tasks and (2) to lead the church to engage in a fellowship of worship, witness, education, and ministry among members and other persons in the community. The Interim Pastor will shepherd and guide the spiritual needs of the church. A bachelor degree is preferred.&#160; Please send letter of interest, resume, and references, CD or DVD (if available) to:&#160; First Congregational Methodist Church, Pastoral Selection Committee, c/o Ms. Marsha Anderson, 3810 Garland Avenue, Louisville, KY 40211. (Posted 05.23.17)</p>
<p>PASTOR.&#160; Small rural Southern Baptist church located in Central Kentucky is seeking a Pastor (due to our Pastor’s retirement). Send resume with photo and audio/video of two recent sermons to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 05.16.17)</p>
<p>FULL-TIME PASTOR.&#160; First Baptist Church, located in Winchester, Kentucky, (16 miles east of Lexington, Ky.) is seeking a full-time pastor. We are connected with both the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. We seek a pastor who will be able to affirm our dual alignment. For over 157 years we have been a congregation who is Christ-centered, Bible-based and mission-minded. We are looking for someone with good leadership skills who can work with church staff, laity and affirm women in leadership. Candidates should be willing to embrace our church history, as well as be supportive to the congregation and wider community. We desire a pastor who can lead the church in outreach and growth. Seminary graduates with some experience preferred. Interested candidates or referrals should submit a cover letter and resume to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. Deadline June 30, 2017. (Posted 04.26.17)</p>
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<p>SENIOR PASTOR.&#160; Grace Baptist Church, an IFB KJV church in Zachary, La., is seeking a qualified and God-called individual for the position of Senior Pastor. Grace is a church of approx. 75 members, and ministries include a Christian school (ACE) and others. Our music style is traditional and conservative. The successful applicant will have formal Bible training, significant experience as an associate or pastor or associate and a burden for Christian education. Interested applicants should submit their resumes to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 05.22.17)</p>
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<p>FULL-TIME SENIOR PASTOR.&#160; Salem Avenue Baptist Church in Rolla, Missouri, is seeking a full-time senior pastor.&#160; The primary duties of the senior pastor at SABC are to preach the word of God, minister to the congregation, and guide our staff.&#160; The staff includes two full-time ministers, one part-time minister, and support personnel. SABC has an average worship attendance of 250, an average Sunday School attendance of 180, and an annual budget of approximately $500k.&#160; The church is committed to local, state, and international missions and also has several programs designed to minister to the physical needs of the people in our community. The city of Rolla has a population of approximately 20,000 and is located in south-central Missouri.&#160; It is home to the Missouri University of Science and Technology, one of the leading science and engineering universities in the country.&#160; The presence of the university provides many opportunities to minister to students from the state, region, and around the world.&#160; SABC is a 1963 Baptist Faith and Message church. Please visit <a href="http://www.sabchurch.org/" type="external">www.sabchurch.org</a>&#160; for more details.&#160; Resumes may be submitted to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 04.21.17)</p>
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<p>DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRY.&#160; Greenwood Forest Baptist Church, an inclusive community of faith in Cary, NC, is seeking a part-time (15 hrs/week) Director of Children’s Ministry. This director will provide leadership for the faith formation program for children (ages birth through 5th grade) and their families. They will work with the ministerial team to form and shape the disciples of Christ at GFBC. They will be supervised by the Associate Pastor of Worship and Faith Formation. Theological training from an accredited theological seminary preferred. Must support and endorse GFBC’s core values, which can be found on our website ( <a href="http://www.gfbccary.org/" type="external">www.gfbccary.org</a>). GFBC is affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Send resume and cover letter to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. Applicant Review will begin July 1, 2017. (06.08.17)</p>
<p>MINISTER FOR LATINO MINISTRIES.&#160; The First Baptist Church of Huntersville, NC, is seeking a part-time Minister for Latino Ministries. FBCH is a moderate Baptist congregation located in Charlotte metro near Lake Norman, with about 450 active members, approximately 50 of whom worship in our Spanish-language service. We are seeking a candidate with strong preaching, pastoral care, and leadership skills who will also work with the staff team to strengthen the connection between the Anglo and Latino communities. Candidates must be bilingual. Bachelor’s degree is required; some seminary training from a recognized college or university is preferred. A detailed church profile and job description can be found at <a href="http://www.fbc-h.org/" type="external">www.fbc-h.org</a> &#160;under the “Link ‘n Learn” tab. Résumé and cover letter may be submitted to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> by August 31. &#160;(06.08.17)</p>
<p>MINISTRO A MEDIO TEMPO PARA LA CONGREGACIÒN LATINA.&#160; La Primera Iglesia Bautista de Huntersville, NC, está buscando un Ministro a medio tiempo para la Congregación Latina. La Primera Iglesia Bautista de Huntersville es una moderada congregación localizada en Charlotte area metropolitana cerca del Lago Norman, con cerca de 450 miembros activos,&#160; de los cuáles aproximadamente 50 quienes asisten al servicio en Español. Nosotros estamos buscando un candidato con grandes condiciones a la hora de predicar, cuidado pastoral, y un gran liderazgo,&#160; quién también trabaje con el personal de la iglesia y fortalezca la relación entre las comunidades angloamericanas y latinas. Los candidatos deberán ser bilingües. Un grado de Bachiller es requerido; algún&#160; entrenamiento de seminario de un reconocido colegio o universidad es preferible. Un detallado perfil de la iglesia y descripción del puesto puede se encontrado en la página web de nuestra iglesia&#160; <a href="http://www.fbc-h.org/" type="external">www.fbc-h.org</a>&#160;bajo el enlace “Link’n Learn” tab. Currìculum y hoja de portada puede ser enviada a&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>&#160;de 31 de agosto. &#160;(06.08.17)</p>
<p>PART-TIME CONSULTANT – LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. Woman’s Missionary Union of North Carolina is seeking a part-time consultant for leadership development. Work location: Raleigh, NC (exceptions considered). Please send resume and cover letter to: Judy Pettigrew at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.&#160; Application deadline: July 15. For job description: <a href="http://www.wmunc.org/now-hiring" type="external">www.wmunc.org/now-hiring</a>.&#160;(06.08.17)</p>
<p>PART-TIME MINISTER OF MUSIC.&#160; Wilmar Park Baptist Church in Concord, NC is seeking a part-time worship leader.&#160; We are a traditional Southern Gospel style congregation with an established music program.&#160; We need a spiritually minded leader, called by God to provide leadership for our worship services.&#160; Please direct all inquiries and questions to David Wilson at&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 05.16.17)</p>
<p>MINISTER OF MUSIC &amp; SENIOR ADULTS.&#160; First Baptist Church, Southern Pines, NC, is seeking a full-time Minister of Music &amp; Senior Adults.&#160;&#160; The ideal minister will be a person of deep faith in Christ and possess a desire to model a Christ-centered devotion in their personal and professional life.&#160; The ideal candidate will be a dynamic worship leader to direct a comprehensive music ministry for all ages. The successful leader will cast a broad vision of music excellence with a deep appreciation for diverse, eclectic, and traditional worship styles.&#160; The person will also have responsibilities to guide the Senior Adult ministry with a team of qualified lay leaders. First Baptist Church is located in a resort community with a vibrant and diverse population.&#160; This position requires an advanced music degree from an accredited theological or divinity school.&#160; All inquiries may be sent to John Kinney, 200 East New York Avenue, Southern Pines, NC 28387 or to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.&#160; &#160;The deadline for receiving applications is July 15, 2017. (Posted 05.11.17)</p>
<p>ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF MUSIC AND WORSHIP ARTS.&#160; The Memorial Baptist Church in Greenville, NC, is seeking a full-time Associate Pastor of Music and Worship Arts, called by God to provide leadership for the entire music program. Responsibilities include: planning, conducting and evaluating a comprehensive ministry of music and worship program for all music genres/age levels and providing pastoral care. A minimum of 3 years of experience in Christian music ministry and seminary or graduate study is preferred. The successful candidate must be a cooperative, enthusiastic, and conscientious team member, displaying authentic Christian conduct in both private and public life. Compensation will be commensurate with experience. Please submit all inquiries, recommendations, cover letter and resume to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.&#160;(Posted 05.11.17)</p>
<p>FULL-TIME CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR.&#160; Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC is seeking a full-time Church Administrator.&#160; We are affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists and are a Welcoming and Affirming Church.&#160; We are committed to diversity and inclusiveness; therefore, all are invited to apply.&#160; The Church Administrator reports to the Senior Minister and is responsible for the financial affairs, facilities operations, human resources and other administrative matters. The Church Administrator provides management, leadership and development to the Finance Manager, Property Manager, Director of Cornwell (Community Life) Center, Events Manager and Staff Administrative Assistants.&#160; We are looking for a Church Administrator who will help us as we embark on a new strategic plan and celebrate our 75th anniversary.&#160; Reference job description details at:&#160; <a href="https://mpbconline.org/employment-opportunity-church-administrator/" type="external">https://mpbconline.org/employment-opportunity-church-administrator/</a>. Visit our website at:&#160; <a href="http://www.myersparkbaptist.org/" type="external">www.myersparkbaptist.org</a>. Submit your attached cover letter and resume by email to:&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> by May 21, 2017. (Posted 04.06.17)</p>
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<p>YOUTH/ASSOCIATE PASTOR.&#160; First Baptist Church, Spiro, OK, is seeking a youth/associate pastor. Competitive salary and housing offered. Send resume to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 06.12.17)</p>
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<p>MINISTER TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.&#160; First Baptist Church, Austin, Texas, is an open, moderate to progressive, Baptist congregation located in the heart of Austin. We affiliate with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Alliance of Baptists. We are looking for a Minister to Students. This individual will be responsible for the creation and implementation for ministry to our students (6th-12th grade) and their families. This position will be 30 hours/week with great flexibility. The position will report to the Senior Pastor and is a member of the Ministerial Team. Job description: <a href="http://fbcaustin.org/jobs" type="external">http://fbcaustin.org/jobs</a>. Please email cover letters and resumes to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 04.10.16)</p>
<p>PASTOR. Lovera Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas, is seeking a Part-time/Bivocational Pastor. LBC is affiliated the San Antonio Baptist Association. LBC is seeking a Pastor who can lead the church in evangelism, discipleship, teaching, and missions to engage the community and the world with the Gospel.&#160; 10 years of ministerial experience and formal theological education preferred.&#160; Resumes and letters of reference should be sent to Pastor Search Committee at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> or mailed to Lovera Baptist Church, 333 Lovera Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78212.&#160; DVDs, CDs or links to online sermons are appreciated.&#160; The search committee is accepting applications and recommendations until the position is filled. Church phone 210-735-7837.&#160;(Posted 03.27.17)</p>
<p>MUSIC DIRECTOR. Lovera Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas, seeks a music leader for Sunday 11:00 a.m. worship service.&#160; Note:&#160; we do not have a choir or orchestra so we just need someone to lead music.&#160; Resumes and letters of reference can be sent to Administrative Committee Chairman at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> &#160;or mailed to Lovera Baptist Church, 333 Lovera Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78212.&#160; Church phone 210-735-7837.&#160;&#160;(Posted 03.27.17)</p>
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<p>CHORAL DIRECTOR.&#160; First Baptist Church (ABC-USA), Burlington, Vermont, is seeking a part-time choral director to conduct the 15-20 voice chancel choir on Sunday mornings and Thursday evening rehearsals.&#160; The choir sings for services beginning September through mid-June with summers off.&#160; Salary is competitive and negotiable based on experience.&#160; First Baptist Church supports an active music program including a children’s choir, instrumental ensemble, hand bells, annual guest organist recital and hosts outside musical groups.&#160; Submit resumes and inquiries to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 04.24.17)</p>
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<p>FULL-TIME SENIOR PASTOR. Clover Bottom Baptist Church, Nathalie, VA, is looking for a full-time pastor . Clover Bottom Baptist is a rural country church located in Halifax County Va. We are in the Dan River Baptist Association and the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Send resumes to&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. (Posted 06.14.17)</p>
<p>SENIOR PASTOR.&#160; Walnut Grove Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, Va., is seeking a Senior Pastor. We are seeking an energetic shepherd with strong pastoral skills, flexibility in leading various worship styles and an effective communicator. Specific skills in expanding the scope of our mission programs and directing the continued growth of our&#160;Sunday&#160;school, Youth, Children, and Music Ministries. Proven ability to develop, train, and work with Church Staff and lay leadership. 5 years of experience and a minimum of a Master’s Degree from an accredited Seminary, Divinity School or College or the equivalent experience is preferred. Please send resume, references and any electronic media to Pastor Search Committee, 7001 Cornfield Lane, Mechanicsville, VA 23111 or via email to&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>&#160;by7/31/2017. (Posted 06.13.17)</p>
<p>FULL-TIME ASSOCIATE PASTOR.&#160; The Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond, VA, is searching for a full-time Associate Pastor.&#160; The church desires a dynamic, Christ-centered individual to equip our community with a more effective framework and systems both for and within our ministries. The ideal candidate will have a passion for both people and process, an ability to thrive in a team environment, and expertise in building teams.&#160; This pastoral ministry architect/administrator will guide the identification of gifted laity and, with them, create and implement a church wide, intergenerational structure that will better equip, communicate, and mobilize our efforts to support and extend ongoing and new ministries.&#160; A full position description can be found at <a href="http://www.tbcrichmond.org/" type="external">www.tbcrichmond.org</a>.&#160; Candidates should respond by email only to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> with their expression of interest and resume no later than July 15, 2017. No phone calls please. (Posted 06.12.17)</p>
<p>TWO OPENINGS – FULL-TIME COLLEGIATE/YOUNG ADULT MINISTER.&#160; The Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) is seeking a Full-Time Collegiate/Young Adult Minister to lead the collegiate ministry (BCM) at Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, VA. The same position is also open at Radford University in Radford, Va. As a part of the statewide effort to develop collegiate ministries through the Kairos Initiative, the Collegiate/Young Adult minister will lead ministries on campus and in the surrounding community through the Baptist Collegiate Ministry and partnering local churches. We are seeking experienced and passionate ministers who can work well independently in their context while at the same time be a connected and contributing leader on our statewide team of Kairos ministries. Kairos ministers must possess a clear sense of call to collegiate and young adult ministry and love for the local congregation, with a desire to connect their ministries on campus with the ministries of the churches in their surrounding community. Collegiate/Young Adult Ministers engage young adults in Christian community through discipleship, worship, leadership development and mission service. At the same time they maintain meaningful relationships with BGAV churches in the surrounding area and help to advocate for young adult ministry in BGAV churches. Kairos ministers view their ministry efforts on campus and their relationships with the surrounding community of churches as both important expressions of their call to denominational collegiate/young adult ministry.&#160;Candidates should possess a Master’s degree or equivalent, from an accredited theological institution. They should have a strong record of ministry experience and demonstrate an ability to work independently, displaying high initiative and high quality ministry effort. Interested ministers can send his or her cover letter and resume to Welford Orrock, Kairos Team Coordinator,&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. For more information about the ministry position and/or the campus setting, please contact Welford Orrock. (Posted 04.20.17)</p>
<p>WORSHIP LEADER NEEDED. Part-time Contemporary Worship Leader needed for Render Church, which will be opening on Easter Sunday, 2017, at the Commodore Theatre, Portsmouth, VA. Render Church will feature a unique “Brand of Worship”. Rehearsals for band and vocalists take place on Thursday evenings at Alexander Baptist Church in Chesapeake. The Worship Leader will need to attend the weekly rehearsal and Sunday Worship Service, and work closely with the Pastor to develop the Sunday Order of Worship. Ability to play keyboard or guitar a plus. Position is paid. To inquire and/or schedule an interview/audition, or for more information, please reply to David Dilday via email at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>, or by phone at 757-677-6020. (Posted 04.03.17)</p>
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<p>ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS.&#160; The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, an education and advocacy organization in Washington, D.C., is seeking an Associate Director of Communications to expand the base of support for religious liberty, implementing the BJC’s strategic communications program to convey the importance of religious liberty for all people and the separation of church and state. To apply, send the following to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>: Resume, cover letter, and three samples of work. More details are available <a href="https://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit-job/6b37dbc721a84325b178061de0d113fa-associate-director-of-communications-baptist-joint-committee-for-religious-liberty-washington" type="external">here</a>. (Posted 05.23.17)</p>
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baptist news global provides free listing ministryrelated jobs baptist churches theological institutions organizations across united states posting 30 days limited 150 words businesses may purchase post section 120 per word minimum 50 30 days submit ministryrelated job inquire advertising options page contact barbara francis 3367171135 ext 8 barbarabaptistnewscom 160 fulltime associate minister music organist first baptist church huntsville alabama seeking fulltime associate minister music organist information please visit wwwfbchsvorgemployment resumes inquiries may sent searchfbchsvorg posted 041717 back top page 160 program directoreducator160 lake nixon outdoor center ministry second baptist church downtown little rock looking staff candidates strong love god service families students children program directoreducator new position created help expand services lake nixon outdoor center successful candidate responsible maintaining lake nixon outdoor centers summer day camp programs operation since 1969 primarily serve kindergarteners 5th graders day camp operates nine weeks summer successful candidate also work alongside staff develop new outdoor preschool program children age 3 5 based nature preschoolforest kindergarten model begin fall 2017 winter 2018 please visit httpwww2bclrcomemployment 160for details apply posted 040517 back top page 160 fulltime children families pastoral residency first baptist church colorado springs co pastoral resident first baptist church seminary graduate function associate pastor special responsibility children families ministries church provide resident wide range pastoral opportunities guidance supervision senior pastor opportunities include caring church family emphasis children families preparing teaching spiritual formation series preaching leading worship developing lay leadership interested applicants feel free contact pastor information detailed job description pastorfirstbaptistcsorg posted 061217 back top page 160 fulltime pastor160 hammock community church interdenominational fellowship retirement area palm coast fl seeks pastor effectively preaches amp teaches bible160 biblical studies pastoral experience required160 prefer traditional music160 email searchhammockcommunitychurch17gmailcom160posted 050817 back top page 160 associate pastor160 wieuca road baptist church atlanta looking fill newly created position associate pastor associate pastor primary responsibility building ministry designed young adults heshe become face wieuca community young adults families live study work exercise dine play 160lead creation new expression worship focused reaching young adults160 design small group strategy reach young adults focus unchurched individuals work collaboratively current ministerial staff creating ties existing ministries young adults interested candidates masters degree higher accredited seminary theological school experience nurturing presiding growth church culturally relevant setting160 visit wwwwieucaorgapsearch 160for detailed profile application instructions applications accepted june 15 2017 posted 051017 back top page interim pastor160 first congregational methodist church louisville ky seeking interim pastor fcmc congregational methodist church average attendance 5065160 church respectable facilities room expand great location desire biblical spiritual growth interim pastor lead congregation organizations ministry staff perform tasks160 heshe work ministry staff 1 lead church performing tasks 2 lead church engage fellowship worship witness education ministry among members persons community interim pastor shepherd guide spiritual needs church bachelor degree preferred160 please send letter interest resume references cd dvd available to160 first congregational methodist church pastoral selection committee co ms marsha anderson 3810 garland avenue louisville ky 40211 posted 052317 pastor160 small rural southern baptist church located central kentucky seeking pastor due pastors retirement send resume photo audiovideo two recent sermons pastorsearchpisgahoutlookcom posted 051617 fulltime pastor160 first baptist church located winchester kentucky 16 miles east lexington ky seeking fulltime pastor connected southern baptist convention cooperative baptist fellowship seek pastor able affirm dual alignment 157 years congregation christcentered biblebased missionminded looking someone good leadership skills work church staff laity affirm women leadership candidates willing embrace church history well supportive congregation wider community desire pastor lead church outreach growth seminary graduates experience preferred interested candidates referrals submit cover letter resume fbcwinchesterpastorsearchgmailcom deadline june 30 2017 posted 042617 back top page 160 senior pastor160 grace baptist church ifb kjv church zachary la seeking qualified godcalled individual position senior pastor grace church approx 75 members ministries include christian school ace others music style traditional conservative successful applicant formal bible training significant experience associate pastor associate burden christian education interested applicants submit resumes gbczacharygmailcom posted 052217 back top page 160 fulltime senior pastor160 salem avenue baptist church rolla missouri seeking fulltime senior pastor160 primary duties senior pastor sabc preach word god minister congregation guide staff160 staff includes two fulltime ministers one parttime minister support personnel sabc average worship attendance 250 average sunday school attendance 180 annual budget approximately 500k160 church committed local state international missions also several programs designed minister physical needs people community city rolla population approximately 20000 located southcentral missouri160 home missouri university science technology one leading science engineering universities country160 presence university provides many opportunities minister students state region around world160 sabc 1963 baptist faith message church please visit wwwsabchurchorg160 details160 resumes may submitted officesabchurchorg posted 042117 back top page 160 director childrens ministry160 greenwood forest baptist church inclusive community faith cary nc seeking parttime 15 hrsweek director childrens ministry director provide leadership faith formation program children ages birth 5th grade families work ministerial team form shape disciples christ gfbc supervised associate pastor worship faith formation theological training accredited theological seminary preferred must support endorse gfbcs core values found website wwwgfbccaryorg gfbc affiliated alliance baptists cooperative baptist fellowship send resume cover letter gfbcsearchgmailcom applicant review begin july 1 2017 060817 minister latino ministries160 first baptist church huntersville nc seeking parttime minister latino ministries fbch moderate baptist congregation located charlotte metro near lake norman 450 active members approximately 50 worship spanishlanguage service seeking candidate strong preaching pastoral care leadership skills also work staff team strengthen connection anglo latino communities candidates must bilingual bachelors degree required seminary training recognized college university preferred detailed church profile job description found wwwfbchorg 160under link n learn tab résumé cover letter may submitted btclaytonmecom august 31 160060817 ministro medio tempo para la congregaciÒn latina160 la primera iglesia bautista de huntersville nc está buscando un ministro medio tiempo para la congregación latina la primera iglesia bautista de huntersville es una moderada congregación localizada en charlotte area metropolitana cerca del lago norman con cerca de 450 miembros activos160 de los cuáles aproximadamente 50 quienes asisten al servicio en español nosotros estamos buscando un candidato con grandes condiciones la hora de predicar cuidado pastoral un gran liderazgo160 quién también trabaje con el personal de la iglesia fortalezca la relación entre las comunidades angloamericanas latinas los candidatos deberán ser bilingües un grado de bachiller es requerido algún160 entrenamiento de seminario de un reconocido colegio universidad es preferible un detallado perfil de la iglesia descripción del puesto puede se encontrado en la página web de nuestra iglesia160 wwwfbchorg160bajo el enlace linkn learn tab currìculum hoja de portada puede ser enviada a160 btclaytonmecom160de 31 de agosto 160060817 parttime consultant leadership development womans missionary union north carolina seeking parttime consultant leadership development work location raleigh nc exceptions considered please send resume cover letter judy pettigrew judyjohnbellsouthnet160 application deadline july 15 job description wwwwmuncorgnowhiring160060817 parttime minister music160 wilmar park baptist church concord nc seeking parttime worship leader160 traditional southern gospel style congregation established music program160 need spiritually minded leader called god provide leadership worship services160 please direct inquiries questions david wilson at160 wdwilsonnovanthealthorg posted 051617 minister music amp senior adults160 first baptist church southern pines nc seeking fulltime minister music amp senior adults160160 ideal minister person deep faith christ possess desire model christcentered devotion personal professional life160 ideal candidate dynamic worship leader direct comprehensive music ministry ages successful leader cast broad vision music excellence deep appreciation diverse eclectic traditional worship styles160 person also responsibilities guide senior adult ministry team qualified lay leaders first baptist church located resort community vibrant diverse population160 position requires advanced music degree accredited theological divinity school160 inquiries may sent john kinney 200 east new york avenue southern pines nc 28387 musicfbcsporg160 160the deadline receiving applications july 15 2017 posted 051117 associate pastor music worship arts160 memorial baptist church greenville nc seeking fulltime associate pastor music worship arts called god provide leadership entire music program responsibilities include planning conducting evaluating comprehensive ministry music worship program music genresage levels providing pastoral care minimum 3 years experience christian music ministry seminary graduate study preferred successful candidate must cooperative enthusiastic conscientious team member displaying authentic christian conduct private public life compensation commensurate experience please submit inquiries recommendations cover letter resume ministersearchtmbcorg160posted 051117 fulltime church administrator160 myers park baptist church charlotte nc seeking fulltime church administrator160 affiliated alliance baptists welcoming affirming church160 committed diversity inclusiveness therefore invited apply160 church administrator reports senior minister responsible financial affairs facilities operations human resources administrative matters church administrator provides management leadership development finance manager property manager director cornwell community life center events manager staff administrative assistants160 looking church administrator help us embark new strategic plan celebrate 75th anniversary160 reference job description details at160 httpsmpbconlineorgemploymentopportunitychurchadministrator visit website at160 wwwmyersparkbaptistorg submit attached cover letter resume email to160 careersmyersparkbaptistorg may 21 2017 posted 040617 back top page 160 youthassociate pastor160 first baptist church spiro ok seeking youthassociate pastor competitive salary housing offered send resume jamestsmithlivecom posted 061217 back top page 160 minister students families160 first baptist church austin texas open moderate progressive baptist congregation located heart austin affiliate cooperative baptist fellowship alliance baptists looking minister students individual responsible creation implementation ministry students 6th12th grade families position 30 hoursweek great flexibility position report senior pastor member ministerial team job description httpfbcaustinorgjobs please email cover letters resumes youthpastorsubmissionsfbcaustinorg posted 041016 pastor lovera baptist church san antonio texas seeking parttimebivocational pastor lbc affiliated san antonio baptist association lbc seeking pastor lead church evangelism discipleship teaching missions engage community world gospel160 10 years ministerial experience formal theological education preferred160 resumes letters reference sent pastor search committee loverabaptistchurchyahoocom mailed lovera baptist church 333 lovera blvd san antonio tx 78212160 dvds cds links online sermons appreciated160 search committee accepting applications recommendations position filled church phone 2107357837160posted 032717 music director lovera baptist church san antonio texas seeks music leader sunday 1100 worship service160 note160 choir orchestra need someone lead music160 resumes letters reference sent administrative committee chairman loverabaptistchurchyahoocom 160or mailed lovera baptist church 333 lovera blvd san antonio tx 78212160 church phone 2107357837160160posted 032717 back top page 160 choral director160 first baptist church abcusa burlington vermont seeking parttime choral director conduct 1520 voice chancel choir sunday mornings thursday evening rehearsals160 choir sings services beginning september midjune summers off160 salary competitive negotiable based experience160 first baptist church supports active music program including childrens choir instrumental ensemble hand bells annual guest organist recital hosts outside musical groups160 submit resumes inquiries fbcvtgmailcom posted 042417 back top page 160 fulltime senior pastor clover bottom baptist church nathalie va looking fulltime pastor clover bottom baptist rural country church located halifax county va dan river baptist association baptist general association virginia send resumes to160 micdocembarqmailcom posted 061417 senior pastor160 walnut grove baptist church mechanicsville va seeking senior pastor seeking energetic shepherd strong pastoral skills flexibility leading various worship styles effective communicator specific skills expanding scope mission programs directing continued growth our160sunday160school youth children music ministries proven ability develop train work church staff lay leadership 5 years experience minimum masters degree accredited seminary divinity school college equivalent experience preferred please send resume references electronic media pastor search committee 7001 cornfield lane mechanicsville va 23111 via email to160 pastorsearchwalnutgrovebaptistcom160by7312017 posted 061317 fulltime associate pastor160 tabernacle baptist church richmond va searching fulltime associate pastor160 church desires dynamic christcentered individual equip community effective framework systems within ministries ideal candidate passion people process ability thrive team environment expertise building teams160 pastoral ministry architectadministrator guide identification gifted laity create implement church wide intergenerational structure better equip communicate mobilize efforts support extend ongoing new ministries160 full position description found wwwtbcrichmondorg160 candidates respond email tbcrichassociatepastorgmailcom expression interest resume later july 15 2017 phone calls please posted 061217 two openings fulltime collegiateyoung adult minister160 baptist general association virginia bgav seeking fulltime collegiateyoung adult minister lead collegiate ministry bcm old dominion university odu norfolk va position also open radford university radford va part statewide effort develop collegiate ministries kairos initiative collegiateyoung adult minister lead ministries campus surrounding community baptist collegiate ministry partnering local churches seeking experienced passionate ministers work well independently context time connected contributing leader statewide team kairos ministries kairos ministers must possess clear sense call collegiate young adult ministry love local congregation desire connect ministries campus ministries churches surrounding community collegiateyoung adult ministers engage young adults christian community discipleship worship leadership development mission service time maintain meaningful relationships bgav churches surrounding area help advocate young adult ministry bgav churches kairos ministers view ministry efforts campus relationships surrounding community churches important expressions call denominational collegiateyoung adult ministry160candidates possess masters degree equivalent accredited theological institution strong record ministry experience demonstrate ability work independently displaying high initiative high quality ministry effort interested ministers send cover letter resume welford orrock kairos team coordinator160 welfordorrockbgavorg information ministry position andor campus setting please contact welford orrock posted 042017 worship leader needed parttime contemporary worship leader needed render church opening easter sunday 2017 commodore theatre portsmouth va render church feature unique brand worship rehearsals band vocalists take place thursday evenings alexander baptist church chesapeake worship leader need attend weekly rehearsal sunday worship service work closely pastor develop sunday order worship ability play keyboard guitar plus position paid inquire andor schedule interviewaudition information please reply david dilday via email dpdildayaolcom phone 7576776020 posted 040317 back top page 160 associate director communications160 baptist joint committee religious liberty education advocacy organization washington dc seeking associate director communications expand base support religious liberty implementing bjcs strategic communications program convey importance religious liberty people separation church state apply send following resumesbjconlineorg resume cover letter three samples work details available posted 052317 back top page 160 back top page
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<p>NEW DELHI, India - A 52-year-old handyman who has lived in New Delhi for 30 years, Ram Samujh has seen bad times before. But these days, as India faces an economic slowdown amid double-digit inflation, the future looks especially bleak.</p>
<p>"There's no more cutting back for me," says Samujh, a soft-spoken, gray-haired man who carefully takes out a pair of rimless reading glasses. "I'm already down to only the absolute necessities."</p>
<p>"I'm a daily worker," said Samujh, whose skills give him a leg up on most Indian laborers. "One day I might get three jobs. But then I might go a week without any."</p>
<p>Over the past three years, as prices for food and other essentials soared, Sadmujh was also able to charge more for odd jobs like installing new electrical outlets, repairing small appliances and fixing clogged drains. But with India's economic growth slowing to a nine-year low of 5.3 percent for the quarter ended March 31 and 6.5 percent for the fiscal year, Samujh's middle-class employers are also beginning to feel the pain - even as economists predict that prices will continue to skyrocket.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/india/120217/pramath-sinha-business-economy" type="external">Old problems plague new India</a></p>
<p>"Things are getting very expensive," said Bharat Singh, who, as a sub-inspector with the Delhi Police, falls smack in the middle of the $4,000-$10,000 income bracket that economists here define as the middle class.</p>
<p>"Vegetable prices have gone up 25 percent. They are going to increase school fees 20 percent next term. We're no longer able to save any money," Singh said.</p>
<p>"I'm afraid. I'm really afraid. How will I arrange all the things in the coming months, or coming years. I am afraid to see the future."</p>
<p>How bad is it?</p>
<p>Many middle-class Indians like Singh - who has three sons, two in private schools and one in college - have already eliminated luxuries like going to the movies and adopted simple economies like eating vegetarian five or six days a week. As car owners getting by on relatively modest salaries, the middle class was hit hardest by the government's move to hike petrol prices nearly 10 percent last month. And though India's labor laws protect them from layoffs, they now face ever greater competition for a stagnating number of jobs, hiring freezes and, possibly, wage cuts - prompting a <a href="http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?281109" type="external">leading national news weekly</a> to ask: "Was it just a mirage then?"</p>
<p>The short answer may well be yes. Or as Ruchir Sharma, head of emerging markets at Morgan Stanley in New York, puts it: <a href="http://forbesindia.com/article/boardroom/bric-countries-hit-a-wall/33030/1" type="external">India now has only a 50-50 chance</a> of making it to the ranks of developed nations by 2050.</p>
<p>Though 6.5 percent growth no doubt looks pretty good to countries where a full-on recession is looming, India's economy slowed steadily throughout the fiscal year. And the nature of the growth was not too encouraging, either.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/india/120507/american-cars-ford-general-motors-gm-economy" type="external">Can Ford and GM catch up in India?</a></p>
<p>"A lot of the income growth is coming from people selling their land," said Bibek Debroy, an economist at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research. "That's part of the India story, for better or for worse. Parts of India are getting urbanized. So I have a plot of land that is valuable, and I sell it off."</p>
<p>Real estate gains - which don't create jobs - accounted for an unhealthy part of India's economic growth in the fourth quarter, when it slipped to 5.3 percent. Worse still, India needs to grow at nearly twice that rate to keep its head above water. Because of its expanding population, it needs to create about 12 million new jobs a year to employ the young people entering the work force - which might just be possible at a 9 percent clip, according to Debroy.</p>
<p>But even that's only the tip of the iceberg. To lift some 600 million farm laborers out of poverty, or near to it, India needs more than simple industrialization, it needs a <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/india/111230/india-economy-wealth-gap-poverty-shivas-rules" type="external">complete metamorphosis</a>. And over the past three months, its nascent manufacturing sector contracted instead of growing.</p>
<p>"The question is not whether we're growing faster than the rest," said Dharmakirti Joshi, chief economist at Crisil, the India arm of the credit agency, Standard &amp; Poor's. "The question is whether we're growing fast enough to solve our problems. Clearly, we are not."</p>
<p>That means that the only thing trickling down these days is belt-tightening.</p>
<p>"The poor man's wages have risen quite swiftly until last year. That cushioned them against inflation," Joshi said. "The high growth we saw allowed people to pay more for household services, more for their drivers, more to farm laborers. But can wages keep rising at the same rate if the economy slows to 6 percent? I don't think so."</p>
<p>On Monday, Crisil lowered its growth forecast for this year to 6.5 percent from 7 percent. And that could well drop further, if the troubles in the euro zone get worse, oil prices climb back up, or India's government continues to falter.</p>
<p>And wages?</p>
<p>"There's no point in asking for more money now, because nobody will give it," Samujh said. "It's better to concentrate on keeping my clients happy."</p>
<p>What's next?</p>
<p>India's business leaders have called for stimulus measures, beginning with an interest-rate cut. And economists like Crisil's Joshi have predicted that some such moves are in the offing - such as fatter tax breaks for export- and labor-intensive industries, and a deep cut to interest rates if growth continues to lag below 6.5 percent.</p>
<p>But it will take more than rearranging the deck chairs to stop the ship from sinking.</p>
<p>"Reform is a generic word," said Joshi. "You can't ignore the governance and execution aspect of things, which has led to some pessimissm about India right now."</p>
<p>The conventional wisdom is that India's economic woes stem from "policy paralysis," a catchphrase that refers to the current government's failure to push through business-friendly economic reforms like loosening the rules on foreign investment for big retailers like Walmart. And, indeed, as the caretaker of a weak coalition government, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hasn't achieved any big bang reforms, like deregulating fuel prices or selling off beleaguered Air India to end a depressing cycle of multibillion dollar bailouts.</p>
<p>The recent move to <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/india/120523/india-stasis-or-crisis" type="external">hike petrol prices</a> may signal that the economist PM is now ready to rock. And Joshi points out that every Indian government has typically taken a "firefighting approach" to the business of running the country.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/india/120523/india-stasis-or-crisis" type="external">India, stasis or crisis?</a></p>
<p>"I would not lose hope completely," Joshi said. "Now there is enough fire, so I would expect some action."</p>
<p>But the paralysis runs much deeper than policy. And, ironically, the root of the problem may not lie with Singh's recalcitrant partners in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) - who stopped him from throwing open the doors to Walmart. It may have originated with the very same middle-class Indians who are now complaining the loudest about the slowdown.</p>
<p>The reason? It was the normally apathetic middle class that first fueled the anti-corruption campaign led by social activist Anna Hazare, which brought tens of thousands of Indians onto the streets last summer. Now, as the mass movement takes on the character of a witch hunt, the calls for blood just keep getting louder. And the fear of being targeted in a <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/india/india-probe-coal-corruption" type="external">Central Bureau of Investigation probe</a> has brought the already sluggish bureaucracy grinding to a halt.</p>
<p>Here's why.</p>
<p>Leaving corruption aside for a moment, India normally functions less by policy than by edict. Sure, there's a law at the root of every government activity. But it translates into action only when, say, the minister of education or rural development issues instructions to the secretaries and joint secretaries who actually make things happen.</p>
<p>By "moving a file," the bureaucrats clear the actual projects, choose the contractors, and so on. In the current climate of fear, however, these bureaucrats are demanding their instructions in writing, and their ministers are afraid to comply, say insiders.</p>
<p>"The damn problem is not coalition politics and FDI in retail and petroleum product prices," said Debroy. "The issue is that no one takes decisions, full stop."</p>
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new delhi india 52yearold handyman lived new delhi 30 years ram samujh seen bad times days india faces economic slowdown amid doubledigit inflation future looks especially bleak theres cutting back says samujh softspoken grayhaired man carefully takes pair rimless reading glasses im already absolute necessities im daily worker said samujh whose skills give leg indian laborers one day might get three jobs might go week without past three years prices food essentials soared sadmujh also able charge odd jobs like installing new electrical outlets repairing small appliances fixing clogged drains indias economic growth slowing nineyear low 53 percent quarter ended march 31 65 percent fiscal year samujhs middleclass employers also beginning feel pain even economists predict prices continue skyrocket globalpost old problems plague new india things getting expensive said bharat singh subinspector delhi police falls smack middle 400010000 income bracket economists define middle class vegetable prices gone 25 percent going increase school fees 20 percent next term longer able save money singh said im afraid im really afraid arrange things coming months coming years afraid see future bad many middleclass indians like singh three sons two private schools one college already eliminated luxuries like going movies adopted simple economies like eating vegetarian five six days week car owners getting relatively modest salaries middle class hit hardest governments move hike petrol prices nearly 10 percent last month though indias labor laws protect layoffs face ever greater competition stagnating number jobs hiring freezes possibly wage cuts prompting leading national news weekly ask mirage short answer may well yes ruchir sharma head emerging markets morgan stanley new york puts india 5050 chance making ranks developed nations 2050 though 65 percent growth doubt looks pretty good countries fullon recession looming indias economy slowed steadily throughout fiscal year nature growth encouraging either globalpost ford gm catch india lot income growth coming people selling land said bibek debroy economist new delhibased center policy research thats part india story better worse parts india getting urbanized plot land valuable sell real estate gains dont create jobs accounted unhealthy part indias economic growth fourth quarter slipped 53 percent worse still india needs grow nearly twice rate keep head water expanding population needs create 12 million new jobs year employ young people entering work force might possible 9 percent clip according debroy even thats tip iceberg lift 600 million farm laborers poverty near india needs simple industrialization needs complete metamorphosis past three months nascent manufacturing sector contracted instead growing question whether growing faster rest said dharmakirti joshi chief economist crisil india arm credit agency standard amp poors question whether growing fast enough solve problems clearly means thing trickling days belttightening poor mans wages risen quite swiftly last year cushioned inflation joshi said high growth saw allowed people pay household services drivers farm laborers wages keep rising rate economy slows 6 percent dont think monday crisil lowered growth forecast year 65 percent 7 percent could well drop troubles euro zone get worse oil prices climb back indias government continues falter wages theres point asking money nobody give samujh said better concentrate keeping clients happy whats next indias business leaders called stimulus measures beginning interestrate cut economists like crisils joshi predicted moves offing fatter tax breaks export laborintensive industries deep cut interest rates growth continues lag 65 percent take rearranging deck chairs stop ship sinking reform generic word said joshi cant ignore governance execution aspect things led pessimissm india right conventional wisdom indias economic woes stem policy paralysis catchphrase refers current governments failure push businessfriendly economic reforms like loosening rules foreign investment big retailers like walmart indeed caretaker weak coalition government prime minister manmohan singh hasnt achieved big bang reforms like deregulating fuel prices selling beleaguered air india end depressing cycle multibillion dollar bailouts recent move hike petrol prices may signal economist pm ready rock joshi points every indian government typically taken firefighting approach business running country globalpost india stasis crisis would lose hope completely joshi said enough fire would expect action paralysis runs much deeper policy ironically root problem may lie singhs recalcitrant partners united progressive alliance upa stopped throwing open doors walmart may originated middleclass indians complaining loudest slowdown reason normally apathetic middle class first fueled anticorruption campaign led social activist anna hazare brought tens thousands indians onto streets last summer mass movement takes character witch hunt calls blood keep getting louder fear targeted central bureau investigation probe brought already sluggish bureaucracy grinding halt heres leaving corruption aside moment india normally functions less policy edict sure theres law root every government activity translates action say minister education rural development issues instructions secretaries joint secretaries actually make things happen moving file bureaucrats clear actual projects choose contractors current climate fear however bureaucrats demanding instructions writing ministers afraid comply say insiders damn problem coalition politics fdi retail petroleum product prices said debroy issue one takes decisions full stop
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<p>Americans can no longer afford to get sick and there’s a reason why.</p>
<p>That’s because a growing number of Americans are struggling to stretch their dollars far enough to pay their bills, get out of debt and <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/06/medical-bills/530679/" type="external">ensure that if and when an illness arises, it doesn’t bankrupt them</a>.</p>
<p>This is a reality that no amount of partisan political bickering can deny.</p>
<p>Many Americans can no longer afford health insurance, drug costs or hospital bills. They can’t afford to pay rising healthcare premiums, out-of-pocket deductibles and prescription drug bills.</p>
<p>They can’t afford to live, and now <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/the-devastating-process-of-dying-in-america-without-insurance/" type="external">they can’t afford to get sick or die, either</a>.</p>
<p>It’s a gamble any way you look at it, and the medical community is not helping.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/10/us/health-insurance-affordable-care-act.html" type="external">Healthcare costs are rising</a>, driven by a medical, insurance and pharmaceutical industry that are getting rich off the sick and dying.</p>
<p>Appallingly, Americans <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/08/us-health-care-spending-is-high-results-arenot-so-good.html" type="external">spend more than any developed country on healthcare</a> and have less to show for it. While Obamacare (a.k.a. the Affordable Care Act) may have made health insurance more accessible to greater numbers of individuals, it has failed to make healthcare any more affordable.</p>
<p>Indeed, health care in America has become <a href="https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/wildly-overinflated-hospital-costs/" type="external">just another way of making corporations rich</a> at consumer expense.</p>
<p>This is how the middle classes, who fuel the nation’s economy and fund the government’s programs, get screwed repeatedly.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user3303/imageroot/2017/11/13/20171114_under.jpg" type="external">&lt;img src="https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user3303/imageroot/2017/11/13/20171114_under_0.jpg" width="600" height="317" /&gt;</a></p>
<p>We’re living a financial nightmare.</p>
<p>We have no real say in how the government runs, or how our taxpayer funds are used, but that doesn’t prevent the government from fleecing us at every turn and forcing us to pay for endless wars that do more to fund the military industrial complex than protect us, pork barrel projects that produce little to nothing, and a police state that serves only to imprison us within its walls.</p>
<p>If you have no choice, no voice, and no real options when it comes to the government’s claims on your property and your money, you’re not free.</p>
<p>Consider: The government can seize your home and your car (which you’ve bought and paid for) over nonpayment of taxes. Government agents can freeze and seize your bank accounts and other valuables if they merely “suspect” wrongdoing. And the IRS insists on getting the first cut of your salary to pay for government programs over which you have no say.</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, the government has used its tax powers under the 16th Amendment to the Constitution to advance its own imperialistic agendas and the courts have repeatedly <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/09/business/supreme-court-ruling-supports-tax-protester.html" type="external">upheld the government’s power to penalize</a> or jail those who refused to pay their taxes.</p>
<p>All the while the government continues to do whatever it likes—levy taxes, rack up debt, spend outrageously and irresponsibly—with little thought for the plight of its citizens.</p>
<p>If Americans managed their personal finances the way the government mismanages the nation’s finances, we’d all be in debtors’ prison by now.</p>
<p>Still, the government remains unrepentant, unfazed and undeterred in its money grabs.</p>
<p>While we’re struggling to get by, the police state is spending our hard-earned tax dollars to further entrench its powers and entrap its citizens.</p>
<p>For instance, <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/how-many-trillions-war-has-cost-us-taxpayer-911-attacks-705041" type="external">American taxpayers have been forced to shell out $5.6 trillion since 9/11</a> for the military industrial complex’s costly, endless so-called “war on terrorism.” The 16-year war in Afghanistan, which now stands as the <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/08/21/news/economy/war-costs-afghanistan/index.html" type="external">longest</a> and one of the most <a href="https://theconversation.com/iraq-and-afghanistan-the-us-6-trillion-bill-for-americas-longest-war-is-unpaid-78241" type="external">expensive</a> wars in U.S. history, is about to get even longer and more costly, thanks to President <a href="https://www.vox.com/world/2017/9/19/16227730/trump-afghanistan-3000-troops-mattis" type="external">Trump’s promise to send more troops over</a>.</p>
<p>In this way, the military industrial complex will get even richer, and the American taxpayer will be forced to shell out even more funds for programs that do little to enhance our lives, ensure our happiness and well-being, or secure our freedoms.</p>
<p>This is no way of life.</p>
<p>Yet it’s not just the government’s endless wars that are bleeding us dry.</p>
<p>We’re also being forced to shell out money for surveillance systems to track our movements, money to further militarize our already militarized police, money to allow the government to raid our homes and bank accounts, money to fund schools where our kids learn nothing about freedom and everything about how to comply, and on and on.</p>
<p>Are you getting the picture yet?</p>
<p>The government isn’t taking our money to make our lives better. Just take a look at the nation’s failing infrastructure, and you’ll see how little is being spent on programs that advance the common good.</p>
<p>We’re being robbed blind so the governmental elite can get richer.</p>
<p>This is nothing less than financial tyranny.</p>
<p>“We the people” have become the new, permanent underclass in America.</p>
<p>It’s tempting to say that there’s little we can do about it, except that’s not quite accurate.</p>
<p>There are a few things we can do (demand transparency, reject cronyism and graft, insist on fair pricing and honest accounting methods, call a halt to incentive-driven government programs that prioritize profits over people), but it will require that “we the people” stop playing politics and stand united against the politicians and corporate interests who have turned our government and economy into a pay-to-play exercise in fascism.</p>
<p>We’ve become so invested in identity politics that label us based on our political leanings that we’ve lost sight of the one label that unites us: we’re all Americans.</p>
<p>As I make clear in my book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Battlefield-America-War-American-People/dp/1590793099" type="external">Battlefield America: The War on the American People</a>, the powers-that-be want to pit us against one another. They want us to adopt an “us versus them” mindset that keeps us powerless and divided. Trust me, the only “us versus them” that matters anymore is “we the people” against the police state.</p>
<p>We’re all in the same boat, folks, and there’s only one real life preserver: that’s the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.</p>
<p>The Constitution starts with those three powerful words: “We the people.”</p>
<p>The message is this: there is power in our numbers.</p>
<p>That remains our greatest strength in the face of a governmental elite that continues to ride roughshod over the populace. It remains our greatest defense against a government that has claimed for itself unlimited power over the purse (taxpayer funds) and the sword (military might). As Patrick Henry declared in the last speech before his death, “United we stand, divided we fall.”</p>
<p>This holds true whether you’re talking about health care, war spending, or the American police state.</p>
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americans longer afford get sick theres reason thats growing number americans struggling stretch dollars far enough pay bills get debt ensure illness arises doesnt bankrupt reality amount partisan political bickering deny many americans longer afford health insurance drug costs hospital bills cant afford pay rising healthcare premiums outofpocket deductibles prescription drug bills cant afford live cant afford get sick die either gamble way look medical community helping healthcare costs rising driven medical insurance pharmaceutical industry getting rich sick dying appallingly americans spend developed country healthcare less show obamacare aka affordable care act may made health insurance accessible greater numbers individuals failed make healthcare affordable indeed health care america become another way making corporations rich consumer expense middle classes fuel nations economy fund governments programs get screwed repeatedly ltimg srchttpswwwzerohedgecomsitesdefaultfilesimagesuser3303imageroot2017111320171114_under_0jpg width600 height317 gt living financial nightmare real say government runs taxpayer funds used doesnt prevent government fleecing us every turn forcing us pay endless wars fund military industrial complex protect us pork barrel projects produce little nothing police state serves imprison us within walls choice voice real options comes governments claims property money youre free consider government seize home car youve bought paid nonpayment taxes government agents freeze seize bank accounts valuables merely suspect wrongdoing irs insists getting first cut salary pay government programs say unsurprisingly government used tax powers 16th amendment constitution advance imperialistic agendas courts repeatedly upheld governments power penalize jail refused pay taxes government continues whatever likeslevy taxes rack debt spend outrageously irresponsiblywith little thought plight citizens americans managed personal finances way government mismanages nations finances wed debtors prison still government remains unrepentant unfazed undeterred money grabs struggling get police state spending hardearned tax dollars entrench powers entrap citizens instance american taxpayers forced shell 56 trillion since 911 military industrial complexs costly endless socalled war terrorism 16year war afghanistan stands longest one expensive wars us history get even longer costly thanks president trumps promise send troops way military industrial complex get even richer american taxpayer forced shell even funds programs little enhance lives ensure happiness wellbeing secure freedoms way life yet governments endless wars bleeding us dry also forced shell money surveillance systems track movements money militarize already militarized police money allow government raid homes bank accounts money fund schools kids learn nothing freedom everything comply getting picture yet government isnt taking money make lives better take look nations failing infrastructure youll see little spent programs advance common good robbed blind governmental elite get richer nothing less financial tyranny people become new permanent underclass america tempting say theres little except thats quite accurate things demand transparency reject cronyism graft insist fair pricing honest accounting methods call halt incentivedriven government programs prioritize profits people require people stop playing politics stand united politicians corporate interests turned government economy paytoplay exercise fascism weve become invested identity politics label us based political leanings weve lost sight one label unites us americans make clear book battlefield america war american people powersthatbe want pit us one another want us adopt us versus mindset keeps us powerless divided trust us versus matters anymore people police state boat folks theres one real life preserver thats constitution bill rights constitution starts three powerful words people message power numbers remains greatest strength face governmental elite continues ride roughshod populace remains greatest defense government claimed unlimited power purse taxpayer funds sword military might patrick henry declared last speech death united stand divided fall holds true whether youre talking health care war spending american police state
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<p>More than 90 percent of Latinos support the so-called DREAM Act — a bill languishing in Congress that would provide a path to citizenship for young people who were brought to the US illegally as children by their parents.</p>
<p>Generally, Democrats favor the bill and Republicans oppose it.</p>
<p>Democrats want to make sure that Latino voters know this.</p>
<p>The passage of the DREAM Act would impact young people like Astrid Silva, a so-called "DREAMer." Silva moved from Mexico to Nevada when she was 4. She's now 23. She and her parents came here as undocumented immigrants. She was an honor roll student in high school. It wasn't until she was applying to college, that her parents told her about her immigration status.</p>
<p>"You know trying to do SAT's, they asked for a social (social security number), and I asked my parents. And they said, 'Well this is the deal, you don't have a status here in the United States,'" said Silva.</p>
<p>"It was definitely a very big punch in the stomach, just that wind taken out of you. My whole life I had been raised here, I feel more American than anything else. And, just all in one second, it was taken away because of that inability to pursue my dreams."</p>
<p>The DREAM Act — an acronym for Development, Relief, Education for Alien Minors — would allow those who came to the US as minors a chance to become citizens, but they would have to demonstrate "good moral character." They'd also need to serve in the military or attend college.</p>
<p>Many Republicans in Congress, as well as all the Republican presidential candidates, oppose it, arguing that people who entered the US illegally shouldn't be rewarded.</p>
<p>Silva says it's time for people like her to come out of the shadows and be heard.</p>
<p>"You can only expect voters to go so far without putting a face on this. You know, it's just another issue to everybody else. Even though to me it's my life, to somebody else it's just the DREAM Act. They don't know what it is."</p>
<p>Most Latinos do know what it is though.</p>
<p>"It is very important, and it's on the lips of every Latino that I know," said says Fernando Romero, president of the Nevada group Hispanics in Politics. "And sometimes as little as we may know about politics in general, we know what the DREAM Act is."</p>
<p>Romero stresses that the DREAM Act is not a general amnesty. The bill has strict parameters and would benefit an estimated 800,000 young people.</p>
<p>"And when so few people who would be the crème de la crème, children who every one of us as parents would want to have, and yet it still being fought against by the Republican Party. That is really drawing a lot of ire, it's really causing many Latinos, and immigrants in general to be against the Republican Party," said Romero. Playing Politics?</p>
<p>Republican political strategist Dan Burdish in Las Vegas says it's more complicated than that. He says Republican candidates don't have a blanket opposition to the DREAM Act. But he says the legislation, as it's currently written, is flawed.</p>
<p>"IE: You can't come in this country when you're 14 or 15-years-old, stay 15 years, and then become a citizen, there's something basically wrong with that."</p>
<p>Burdish ran the Newt Gingrich campaign in Nevada. Gingrich has said he'd support a DREAM Act, but only for young immigrants who join the military.</p>
<p>The issue isn't limited to presidential politics. Nevada Republican Senator Dean Heller is in a tight re-election race here and has taken a lot of heat for opposing the DREAM Act. Heller's office did not return repeated interview requests for this story.</p>
<p>But Burdish says Democrats are taking this issue and running with it.</p>
<p>"And it's very easy for them to say Dean Heller opposes the DREAM Act, because most Hispanics are going to know what the DREAM Act is. So if they know what the DREAM Act is and they're for it, then it's going to be a wedge issue. And I don't blame them. If I had a wedge issue, I'd be using it against them too."</p>
<p>Political scientist David Damore at UNLV also thinks the Democrats are playing politics here, but the strategy could work. He says Republican opposition to the DREAM Act may play well to the party base, but is politically short-sighted.</p>
<p>"You know in a Republican primary that may help you out, but if you do get through that Republican primary, you have to compete in the general election. And that's one of the reasons this time around the Democrats think they have a real good shot at Arizona."</p>
<p>That's up for debate. Arizona has voted for the Republican candidate in nine of the last 10 presidential elections. (Clinton vs. Dole in 1996 was the exception.) But, the state is now 30 percent Hispanic. And if Democrats can muster enough anger around Republican opposition to immigration reform, maybe Arizona can become a swing state. How All This Translates Come November</p>
<p>The question is though: Will Latinos in states like Arizona and Nevada show up en masse at the polls?</p>
<p>Fernando Romero isn't so sure. He says Hispanics may be disgusted with Republican rhetoric, but they're disappointed in President Obama.</p>
<p>"A person that they gave all their support to promised to do it for them, and didn't do it, at a moment the community feels that he could've."</p>
<p>Latinos also overwhelmingly disapprove of the record number of deportations under the Obama Administration.</p>
<p>Astrid Silva, the 23-year-old undocumented immigrant, doesn't blame President Obama for not passing immigration reform. She says he's facing a lot of opposition in Congress, and she hopes her fellow Latinos come out to re-elect the president.</p>
<p>"I do think that he's our only hope. Because I don't see any of the Republican candidates have any sort of path at all."</p>
<p>That's a point the President echoed at a press conference last week. When asked about stalled immigration reform, Obama shifted the blame to Republicans in Congress. And he said he hopes tackle the issue during his second term.</p>
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90 percent latinos support socalled dream act bill languishing congress would provide path citizenship young people brought us illegally children parents generally democrats favor bill republicans oppose democrats want make sure latino voters know passage dream act would impact young people like astrid silva socalled dreamer silva moved mexico nevada 4 shes 23 parents came undocumented immigrants honor roll student high school wasnt applying college parents told immigration status know trying sats asked social social security number asked parents said well deal dont status united states said silva definitely big punch stomach wind taken whole life raised feel american anything else one second taken away inability pursue dreams dream act acronym development relief education alien minors would allow came us minors chance become citizens would demonstrate good moral character theyd also need serve military attend college many republicans congress well republican presidential candidates oppose arguing people entered us illegally shouldnt rewarded silva says time people like come shadows heard expect voters go far without putting face know another issue everybody else even though life somebody else dream act dont know latinos know though important lips every latino know said says fernando romero president nevada group hispanics politics sometimes little may know politics general know dream act romero stresses dream act general amnesty bill strict parameters would benefit estimated 800000 young people people would crÃme de la crÃme children every one us parents would want yet still fought republican party really drawing lot ire really causing many latinos immigrants general republican party said romero playing politics republican political strategist dan burdish las vegas says complicated says republican candidates dont blanket opposition dream act says legislation currently written flawed ie cant come country youre 14 15yearsold stay 15 years become citizen theres something basically wrong burdish ran newt gingrich campaign nevada gingrich said hed support dream act young immigrants join military issue isnt limited presidential politics nevada republican senator dean heller tight reelection race taken lot heat opposing dream act hellers office return repeated interview requests story burdish says democrats taking issue running easy say dean heller opposes dream act hispanics going know dream act know dream act theyre going wedge issue dont blame wedge issue id using political scientist david damore unlv also thinks democrats playing politics strategy could work says republican opposition dream act may play well party base politically shortsighted know republican primary may help get republican primary compete general election thats one reasons time around democrats think real good shot arizona thats debate arizona voted republican candidate nine last 10 presidential elections clinton vs dole 1996 exception state 30 percent hispanic democrats muster enough anger around republican opposition immigration reform maybe arizona become swing state translates come november question though latinos states like arizona nevada show en masse polls fernando romero isnt sure says hispanics may disgusted republican rhetoric theyre disappointed president obama person gave support promised didnt moment community feels couldve latinos also overwhelmingly disapprove record number deportations obama administration astrid silva 23yearold undocumented immigrant doesnt blame president obama passing immigration reform says hes facing lot opposition congress hopes fellow latinos come reelect president think hes hope dont see republican candidates sort path thats point president echoed press conference last week asked stalled immigration reform obama shifted blame republicans congress said hopes tackle issue second term
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<p>By the time the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners finished its rulings last week, 63 aldermanic candidates had been removed from the ballot, according to <a href="http://www.aldertrack.com/" type="external">Aldertrack</a>.&#160; That left three more wards (in addition to four where no challengers filed) where incumbent aldermen face no opposition.</p>
<p>For the record, the three aldermen who used the electoral machinery to deny their constituents a choice in the election are George Cardenas (12th), Jason Ervin (28th), and Ariel Reboyras (30th).</p>
<p>In the 12th Ward, however, <a href="http://demayforthe12thward.nationbuilder.com/" type="external">Pete DeMay</a> has filed a Circuit Court petition challenging the Election Board’s decision, charging among other things that the signature requirement in this election violates the Voting Rights Act.</p>
<p>DeMay, a longtime union organizer, cast himself as a progressive alternative, calling for a $15 minimum wage, an elected school board, elimination of TIFs and a moratorium on new charter schools.&#160; He’s supporting Jesus Garcia’s mayoral bid.</p>
<p>Cardenas has been a dependable City Council vote for Mayor Emanuel and has backed charter schools moving into the ward, including the scandal-plagued UNO and Concept charter chains.&#160; He is remembered by some for <a href="http://www.newstips.org/2012/03/charge-city-dumping-mental-health/" type="external">turning out the lights of his ward office</a> and hiding when a group came to talk to him about closing the city’s mental health clinic in Back of the Yards.</p>
<p>DeMay filed more than 2,100 signatures in December, more than four times the requirement of 473.&#160; In its initial review, the board threw out two-thirds of his signatures as invalid.</p>
<p>The signature check is a wildly arbitrary process where any signature can be tossed if it isn’t identical to what’s on a voter’s registration card.&#160; It’s an easy way to clear the path for incumbents — especially since one’s signature can vary significantly.</p>
<p>You’d think the burden of proof should be on the party disqualifying a signature, particularly since the act effectively disenfranchises a citizen. Instead it’s up to the candidate to prove his signatures are valid. &#160;With enough signature challenges, <a href="http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/petition-challenge-disqualifications-deb-mell-joe-laiacona-al-hofeld-jr-kwame-raoul/Content?oid=1291103" type="external">that’s virtually impossible</a>.</p>
<p>“The process is like a game,” said Frank Avila Jr., DeMay’s attorney.&#160; “It doesn’t get to the truth of the matter.”</p>
<p>But at that point, DeMay still had 719 signatures, well within the requirement.&#160; Then Cardenas’ objectors produced three witnesses and 34 affidavits by signers of petitions that DeMay himself had circulated.&#160; They said they’d signed the petition, but DeMay wasn’t the person passing it.&#160; The objectors said this constituted a “pattern of fraud” and that all the petitions DeMay had circulated should be tossed.</p>
<p>DeMay submitted 57 affidavits from voters who said they’d signed the petition and that Pete DeMay was the circulator.</p>
<p>A hearing officer ruled there was fraud and tossed 312 remaining signatures that DeMay had collected.</p>
<p>Avila said case law doesn’t support the ruling of fraud.&#160; He says the witnesses had serious credibility issues, he believes “the witnesses and affidavits [offered by the objectors] were fraudulent.”&#160; But even if petition sheets got mixed up and DeMay signed some that had been passed by someone else, the practice in other cases has been to disqualify the individual sheets that were challenged, not the entire batch.</p>
<p>Avila also noted that more than half the signers of the objectors’ affidavits had been ruled invalid in the Election Board’s first review.&#160; He argued that meant their affidavits should be tossed.&#160; But it also highlights the inaccuracy of the signature review process — 18 people whose signatures were ruled invalid signed affidavits saying that yes, they’d signed the petition, just not in front of DeMay.</p>
<p>In any case, the ruling was a problem because DeMay — who as an organizer is well accustomed to knocking on doors — collected about half the signatures he turned in.</p>
<p>“It was so easy to get signatures,” he said.&#160; “Just go stand in front of Walgreens or walk down the block.&#160; No one really likes this guy.&#160; You can get legitimate signatures more easily than you can forge them. Why would I do that?”</p>
<p>The ruling meant he was left with 407 valid signatures — and was off the ballot.&#160; In an appeal to the Election Board itself, Avila also complained about 129 petition signers who had been ruled “out of district.”&#160; That number alone would have been enough to get DeMay reinstated.</p>
<p>Checking later, the DeMay campaign found that signers ruled out of district in fact lived inside the ward,&#160; though generally outside the pre-2012 remap lines. They surmised that the board’s database was based on the old boundaries.&#160; The Election Board refused to consider the issue on procedural grounds.</p>
<p>DeMay’s court petition challenges the “pattern of fraud” ruling and also challenges the requirement of 473 signatures in the 12th Ward.&#160; State election law requires signatures amounting to 4 percent of voters in the previous aldermanic election.&#160; But because there was a remap in 2012, the signature requirement was based the citywide vote, averaged out for 50 Wards.</p>
<p>The 12th Ward is a low turnout ward — in part because ward boundaries are based on population, not voting rolls, and many immigrants in the ward can’t vote.&#160; According to Avila, the 473 number amounts to 13 percent of the turnout in the ward in 2011 — and that’s far above anything the courts have held to be reasonable.&#160; He says it’s a violation of the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act.</p>
<p>What chances does DeMay have?&#160; Avila points out he was Manny Flores’&#160; attorney in 2003 when the Illinois Supreme Court overruled the Election Board and put Flores back on the ballot in the 1st Ward aldermanic race; Flores went on to win.</p>
<p>“People want a choice,” DeMay said.&#160; “People want to change what’s going on in the ward.&#160; Crime is high, unemployment and poverty are high, schools are underfunded.&#160; This is not a dictatorship, this is a democracy, and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure people have a choice on election day.”</p>
<p>That’s true in the other two wards where incumbents swept the opposition off the ballot.</p>
<p>In the 30th, where 2,000 signatures for 19-year-old <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Edgar-Esparza-for-Alderman-of-the-30th-Ward/287319951461295" type="external">Edgar Esparza</a> were disqualified because they weren’t bound according to regulation, Esparza has filed as a write-in candidate.</p>
<p>In the 28th Ward, opposition candidates are considering mounting a write-in campaign, said <a href="http://www.tammie28.org/" type="external">Tammy Vinson</a>, a special-education teacher who was the last of seven challengers to be disqualified.</p>
<p>“I think the process is flawed,” said Vinson.&#160; “The Election Board seems to consistently rule for the incumbent.”</p>
<p>She said Ervin “is absolutely beatable,” especially as a loyalist to the unpopular mayor.</p>
<p>“Big areas of the ward are being hurt by their policies.&#160; School closing hit this community hard.&#160; There’s such a need for housing and jobs.&#160; And [Ervin] is consistently voting against the best interests of the ward.”</p>
<p>But thanks to the Chicago Election Board, he’s the only name on the ballot.</p>
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time chicago board election commissioners finished rulings last week 63 aldermanic candidates removed ballot according aldertrack160 left three wards addition four challengers filed incumbent aldermen face opposition record three aldermen used electoral machinery deny constituents choice election george cardenas 12th jason ervin 28th ariel reboyras 30th 12th ward however pete demay filed circuit court petition challenging election boards decision charging among things signature requirement election violates voting rights act demay longtime union organizer cast progressive alternative calling 15 minimum wage elected school board elimination tifs moratorium new charter schools160 hes supporting jesus garcias mayoral bid cardenas dependable city council vote mayor emanuel backed charter schools moving ward including scandalplagued uno concept charter chains160 remembered turning lights ward office hiding group came talk closing citys mental health clinic back yards demay filed 2100 signatures december four times requirement 473160 initial review board threw twothirds signatures invalid signature check wildly arbitrary process signature tossed isnt identical whats voters registration card160 easy way clear path incumbents especially since ones signature vary significantly youd think burden proof party disqualifying signature particularly since act effectively disenfranchises citizen instead candidate prove signatures valid 160with enough signature challenges thats virtually impossible process like game said frank avila jr demays attorney160 doesnt get truth matter point demay still 719 signatures well within requirement160 cardenas objectors produced three witnesses 34 affidavits signers petitions demay circulated160 said theyd signed petition demay wasnt person passing it160 objectors said constituted pattern fraud petitions demay circulated tossed demay submitted 57 affidavits voters said theyd signed petition pete demay circulator hearing officer ruled fraud tossed 312 remaining signatures demay collected avila said case law doesnt support ruling fraud160 says witnesses serious credibility issues believes witnesses affidavits offered objectors fraudulent160 even petition sheets got mixed demay signed passed someone else practice cases disqualify individual sheets challenged entire batch avila also noted half signers objectors affidavits ruled invalid election boards first review160 argued meant affidavits tossed160 also highlights inaccuracy signature review process 18 people whose signatures ruled invalid signed affidavits saying yes theyd signed petition front demay case ruling problem demay organizer well accustomed knocking doors collected half signatures turned easy get signatures said160 go stand front walgreens walk block160 one really likes guy160 get legitimate signatures easily forge would ruling meant left 407 valid signatures ballot160 appeal election board avila also complained 129 petition signers ruled district160 number alone would enough get demay reinstated checking later demay campaign found signers ruled district fact lived inside ward160 though generally outside pre2012 remap lines surmised boards database based old boundaries160 election board refused consider issue procedural grounds demays court petition challenges pattern fraud ruling also challenges requirement 473 signatures 12th ward160 state election law requires signatures amounting 4 percent voters previous aldermanic election160 remap 2012 signature requirement based citywide vote averaged 50 wards 12th ward low turnout ward part ward boundaries based population voting rolls many immigrants ward cant vote160 according avila 473 number amounts 13 percent turnout ward 2011 thats far anything courts held reasonable160 says violation constitution voting rights act chances demay have160 avila points manny flores160 attorney 2003 illinois supreme court overruled election board put flores back ballot 1st ward aldermanic race flores went win people want choice demay said160 people want change whats going ward160 crime high unemployment poverty high schools underfunded160 dictatorship democracy going everything make sure people choice election day thats true two wards incumbents swept opposition ballot 30th 2000 signatures 19yearold edgar esparza disqualified werent bound according regulation esparza filed writein candidate 28th ward opposition candidates considering mounting writein campaign said tammy vinson specialeducation teacher last seven challengers disqualified think process flawed said vinson160 election board seems consistently rule incumbent said ervin absolutely beatable especially loyalist unpopular mayor big areas ward hurt policies160 school closing hit community hard160 theres need housing jobs160 ervin consistently voting best interests ward thanks chicago election board hes name ballot
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<p><a href="" type="internal" />APRIL 12, 2011</p>
<p>By KATY GRIMES</p>
<p>Another attempt to stop the unchecked spending on high-speed rail was killed in committee on Monday on a party-line vote. That happened despite research proving that taxpayers cannot sustain the inevitable subsidy the project will require, &#160;and claims that voters were misrepresented in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_1A_(2008)" type="external">2008 ballot initiative</a>.</p>
<p>Dana Point Republican Assemblywoman Diane Harkey faced a full committee room and even some heckling as she spoke Monday to the Assembly Committee on Transportation. <a href="http://leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/ab_76_bill_20101222_introduced.pdf" type="external">AB 76</a> would have reduced the amount of general obligation debt for the High-Speed Rail, starting in January 1, 2012.</p>
<p>In 2008, voters approved $10 billion in bonds for the “ <a href="http://www.catc.ca.gov/programs/hsptbp.htm" type="external">High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21</a> <a href="http://www.catc.ca.gov/programs/hsptbp.htm" type="external">st</a> <a href="http://www.catc.ca.gov/programs/hsptbp.htm" type="external">Century</a> under Proposition 1A.&#160;But to date, very little has been built, and already millions of dollars have been spent. One <a href="http://www.cc-hsr.org/assets/pdf/middleclass.pdf" type="external">study</a> reported ($1M means $1 million):</p>
<p>By July this year, the State will have spent about&#160;$500Million on studies and public relations. The present CHSRA budget for&#160;July 31, 2010 to June 30, 2011 is $231 million, over $1M/working day. That&#160;supports about 30 staff and 600 full time equivalent (FTE) consultants. These&#160;planners, engineers and managers each cost an average of $355,385 this&#160;fiscal year. For that price the project could have given jobs to seven of your&#160;colleagues or neighbors.</p>
<p>The rail project was awarded $3.6 billion by the federal government, and the High-Speed Rail Authority applied recently for even more money from the feds. But more federal funding is not a sure thing. According to the <a href="http://leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/ab_76_bill_20101222_introduced.pdf" type="external">AB 76</a>fact sheet, $9 – $10 billion is only the startup cost for the rail project. The High-Speed Rail Authority estimates the costs in excess of $40 – $60 billion.</p>
<p>However, several rail <a href="http://www.cc-hsr.org/assets/pdf/CHSR-Financial_Risks-101210-D.pdf" type="external">experts</a> put the actual cost estimates of the rail project somewhere between $60 billion and $116 billion (that’s $60,000,000,000 to $116,000,000,000 — nine zeros).</p>
<p>In 2009, the Legislature approved $139 million to fund the preliminary planning of the rail system. But since then, according to a high-speed rail <a href="http://www.cc-hsr.org/assets/pdf/CHSR-Financial_Risks-101210-D.pdf" type="external">briefing paper</a> done in January:</p>
<p>[B]y the close of 2010, 25 months after Prop 1A, no private investor has come forward with any of the $10-12 billion required for the project’s capital development. Unless the State and/or Federal governments build or guarantee Phase One’s capital construction costs, there will be no project; a fact the Authority knew in mid-2008.</p>
<p>“What are the risks of the project? We don’t even know,” Harkey said, critical of the large, as-yet-unknown debt California will be taking on. “It could be $66 to $100 billion, and that’s without the train sets and without the operating expenses.”</p>
<p>Harkey was also critical of the 120 miles of prime farmland that will be dissected in order to lay tracks for the rail. “Farming is our largest employer in the state,” she said.</p>
<p>And Harkey said that the system is estimated at $677 million per year to operate, once the construction has been completed.</p>
<p>Another bill has been introduced by Harkey&#160;that would require an “Investment Grade Analysis” by the state auditor of California’s High-Speed Rail Authority to provide a timeline and benchmark of the costs, duration, risks and ridership.</p>
<p>Ridership has been an issue with the project as well. The <a href="http://www.cc-hsr.org/assets/pdf/CHSR-Financial_Risks-101210-D.pdf" type="external">study</a> reported:</p>
<p>The 2008 proposition reported that more than 100 million riders annually would use the train by its tenth operating year (2030). By 2009, CHSRA was claiming only 39 million riders by 2030 for its LA/Anaheim to San Francisco Phase One. But even that claim doesn’t withstand scrutiny.&#160;&#160; One notable bias is the claim that 96 percent of the Californians surveyed expressed an interest in taking High-Speed Rail. But contrary to best practices and known to produce bias, the sample was a survey of train-based commuters.</p>
<p>But for all of Harkey’s facts, challenges to the ridership figures, and concern for the lost farmland and agriculture jobs, the chairwoman of the transportation committee, Long Beach Democrat Bonnie Lowenthal, told Harkey that she would vote against the bill. “I think you and I are going to disagree about the merits of high-speed rail because I believe there is a possible success story out there,” Lowenthal said. “So for that reason I am going to oppose your bill.”</p>
<p>As expected, pushback came from the High-Speed Rail Authority. “Put really simply, this bill would kill high-speed rail in California. We believe that’s against the will of the people who voted for the project,” said Jeff Barker, deputy executive director of the High-Speed Rail Authority.</p>
<p>Support for Harkey’s bill came from agricultural and farming groups in the state, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and even from some supporters of high-speed rail. Rich Tolmach, one of the state’s leading rail experts, said he is a big supporter of high-speed rail, “But sanity and accurate data need to be applied to the bill.”</p>
<p>Opposition came from numerous college students, the Building and Trades Council, the California Labor Federation, the Operating Engineers, teamsters, machinists and other labor groups.</p>
<p>The 14-member committee voted the bill down along party lines. “You’ll be hearing from me again,” Harkey said after the vote.</p>
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april 12 2011 katy grimes another attempt stop unchecked spending highspeed rail killed committee monday partyline vote happened despite research proving taxpayers sustain inevitable subsidy project require 160and claims voters misrepresented 2008 ballot initiative dana point republican assemblywoman diane harkey faced full committee room even heckling spoke monday assembly committee transportation ab 76 would reduced amount general obligation debt highspeed rail starting january 1 2012 2008 voters approved 10 billion bonds highspeed passenger train bond act 21 st century proposition 1a160but date little built already millions dollars spent one study reported 1m means 1 million july year state spent about160500million studies public relations present chsra budget for160july 31 2010 june 30 2011 231 million 1mworking day that160supports 30 staff 600 full time equivalent fte consultants these160planners engineers managers cost average 355385 this160fiscal year price project could given jobs seven your160colleagues neighbors rail project awarded 36 billion federal government highspeed rail authority applied recently even money feds federal funding sure thing according ab 76fact sheet 9 10 billion startup cost rail project highspeed rail authority estimates costs excess 40 60 billion however several rail experts put actual cost estimates rail project somewhere 60 billion 116 billion thats 60000000000 116000000000 nine zeros 2009 legislature approved 139 million fund preliminary planning rail system since according highspeed rail briefing paper done january close 2010 25 months prop 1a private investor come forward 1012 billion required projects capital development unless state andor federal governments build guarantee phase ones capital construction costs project fact authority knew mid2008 risks project dont even know harkey said critical large asyetunknown debt california taking could 66 100 billion thats without train sets without operating expenses harkey also critical 120 miles prime farmland dissected order lay tracks rail farming largest employer state said harkey said system estimated 677 million per year operate construction completed another bill introduced harkey160that would require investment grade analysis state auditor californias highspeed rail authority provide timeline benchmark costs duration risks ridership ridership issue project well study reported 2008 proposition reported 100 million riders annually would use train tenth operating year 2030 2009 chsra claiming 39 million riders 2030 laanaheim san francisco phase one even claim doesnt withstand scrutiny160160 one notable bias claim 96 percent californians surveyed expressed interest taking highspeed rail contrary best practices known produce bias sample survey trainbased commuters harkeys facts challenges ridership figures concern lost farmland agriculture jobs chairwoman transportation committee long beach democrat bonnie lowenthal told harkey would vote bill think going disagree merits highspeed rail believe possible success story lowenthal said reason going oppose bill expected pushback came highspeed rail authority put really simply bill would kill highspeed rail california believe thats people voted project said jeff barker deputy executive director highspeed rail authority support harkeys bill came agricultural farming groups state howard jarvis taxpayers association even supporters highspeed rail rich tolmach one states leading rail experts said big supporter highspeed rail sanity accurate data need applied bill opposition came numerous college students building trades council california labor federation operating engineers teamsters machinists labor groups 14member committee voted bill along party lines youll hearing harkey said vote
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<p>By Alan Bean</p>
<p>Dietrich Bonhoeffer was the only prominent Christian in Germany to grasp the hideous spiritual implications of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis from the outset. Martin Niemoller’s famous ”first they came for” litany sketched out a typical pattern in Third Reich Germany:</p>
<p>First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.</p>
<p>Bonhoeffer realized from the beginning that Jesus stood on the side of the socialists, the trade unionists, the Jews, the Roma, the homosexuals, the intellectually challenged and every other substratum of society targeted by the Nazis. Karl Barth, the primary author of the famed <a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/barmen.htm" type="external">Barmen Declaration</a>, took a bold stand against the Nazis, and he was not alone. But as Niemoller’s mea culpa suggests, “the Confessing Church” was primarily concerned with the Nazis’ re-writing of Christian theology; the plight of Hitler’s non-Christian victims was strictly secondary.</p>
<p>Reggie Williams, assistant professor of Christian ethics at McCormick Theological Seminary, argues in his recent book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bonhoeffers-Black-Jesus-Renaissance-Resistance/dp/1602588058" type="external">Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus</a>, that Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood the Nazi soul because he viewed German reality through the lens of American black theology as mediated through the preaching of Adam Clayton Powell Sr., pastor of Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church.</p>
<p />
<p>Reggie Williams</p>
<p>This is not a book about Bonhoeffer’s theology, per se. Too much theology betrays the assumption that human thought is abstracted from the rough and tumble of experience. Blessedly, Williams doesn’t make that mistake.</p>
<p>Williams started ruminating on the black roots of Bonhoeffer’s Christianity during a course taught by Dr. J. Alfred Smith, senior pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, Calif. “African-American spirituality is a spirituality that was born and shaped in the heat of oppression and suffering,” Smith told his students. “Blackness is a metaphor for suffering. To know blackness is to be connected to the suffering, hope and purpose of black people.”</p>
<p>Bonhoeffer came “to know blackness” as a Sloane Fellow at Union Theological Seminary in New York during the 1930-1931 academic year. Williams argues, persuasively, that the gifted theological wunderkind held a typically German worldview when he arrived at Union.</p>
<p>Germany had been humiliated by the Treaty of Versailles that held the German people responsible for the carnage of the First World War. Germany entered the great worldwide depression of 1929 already staggering under the crippling economic reparations imposed at Versailles.</p>
<p>Moreover, the victors in the First World War deprived Germany of her colonial possessions. Coming of age during this painful period, Bonhoeffer’s early theology stressed the necessity of solidarity with the German Volk, a people which, for all its misfortune, represented the pinnacle of human evolution. Religion was blended with everyday life, and the primary business of everyday life was about restoring German national pride.</p>
<p>The predominant expression of Christianity in postwar Germany was a malaise of Lutheranism, social Darwinism, and nationalism fused in a triumphalist view of history described as God’s order of creation. … The concept of orders became theological support for the Nazi language of blood and soil, or racial superiority, and a pure Volk.</p>
<p>Taking his cue from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Christian-Imagination-Theology-Origins/dp/0300171366" type="external">Willie Jennings</a>, Williams characterizes the European theological academy as the product of “a diseased social imagination.”</p>
<p>The infection occurred when theology was merged with the colonial system to provide religious authority for centering the world on a European imagination, making Christ a white European man, and to offer an apologetics for domination and authoritarianism.</p>
<p>What W.E.B. Du Bois calls “the color line” was a direct result of the European allegiance to a white Christ. Williams argues that:</p>
<p>The project of theology in colonialism was split in this [European] assembly; it was primarily doctrinal and conceptual, lacking content for Christian conduct. That split was necessary to justify the domination of foreign bodies that accompanied classifying human beings by race, securing the advantages of whiteness, and accommodating the practices of colonialism.</p>
<p>Nazi ideology, in other words, was an egregious expression of the imperialistic, Eurocentric theology dominating the white world. “The white Christ was the theological muscle of the power structure of the the color line and its global manifestations,” Williams says. “Colonization, imperialism, nationalism, and white terrorism in America” were all part of the mix.</p>
<p>The book is titled Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus because, Williams believes, the white Jesus of European theology failed to grasp the spiritual significance of racism, imperialism or, most significantly, the Nazi challenge to Christianity.</p>
<p>Only the black Church, Williams asserts, could bear witness to a black Jesus. Bonhoeffer, as any student of his life knows, was distressed by the brand of spirituality on offer at Union Seminary and the white churches he encountered while in America. Immersed in what many consider the high-water mark of American liberal religion Bonhoeffer was underwhelmed.</p>
<p>In New York, they preach about virtually everything; only one thing is not addressed, or is addressed so rarely that I have as yet been unable to hear it, namely, the gospel of Jesus Christ. … So what stands in place of the Christian message? An ethical and social idealism borne by a faith in progress that — who knows how? — claims the right to call itself “Christian.”</p>
<p>Conservative Christians have used comments of this sort to claim Bonhoeffer as one of their own; but Williams calls this a mistake. There was nothing more typically “conservative” in America than the Jim Crow Christianity that flourished in the South. Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus argues that Bonhoeffer understood Nazi religion by viewing it through the lens of the American color line and his travels in the American South were particularly instructive in this regard. The German theologian didn’t take his cue from white American Christians, liberal or conservative.</p>
<p>Williams isn’t suggesting that all black churches were equally adept at discerning and proclaiming the black Jesus, but (following J. Alfred Smith) he does argue that the distinctive suffering of black America, poignantly reflected in what were then called “Negro spirituals,” implied a critique of Europe’s White Jesus.</p>
<p>The white theological imagination of the period was captured by the tension between fundamentalist and liberal versions of Christianity. Eight years before Bonhoeffer arrived in America, Harry Emerson Fosdick had preached “Shall the Fundamentalists Win,” a sermon that, through the ministrations of John D. Rockefeller Jr., would eventually make Fosdick the founding pastor of Manhattan’s Riverside Church located just down the street from Union Seminary. Black Christian concern transcended this liberal-conservative tension because it had more immediate concerns.</p>
<p>Most liberal whites failed to see white supremacy as a matter for Christian attention, and as a consequence they ignored the constant dangers of daily life in America for black people. But avoiding racism was not a choice for African American Christians; it was a matter of life or death in a society organized by race and enforced by violence.</p>
<p>Bonhoeffer’s guide to the world of black Harlem Christianity was Albert Fisher, the son of Charles Fisher, pastor of Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church and, like Bonhoeffer, a Sloan Fellow at Union. The young German could amble down the street to Fosdick’s splendid Riverside Church on his own initiative; but he needed the friendship of Albert Fisher to cross the color line.</p>
<p>Williams isn’t suggesting that Bonhoeffer’s brief time of study in America was the only significant influence on his later thinking. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Attacks-Christendom-World-Come-Age/dp/160899550X" type="external">Matthew Kirkpatrick has recently argued</a> that the “religionless Christianity” Bonhoeffer developed in a Nazi prison was inspired by Soren Kierkegaard’s radical critique of Christendom and I doubt Williams would disagree. The argument is that Bonhoeffer’s encounter with the black Jesus in Harlem allowed him to empathize with the suffering of marginalized people so deeply that, on his return to Germany, the devilish spirit of Hitler’s National Socialism was readily apparent.</p>
<p>The full title of Williams’s 140-page book is Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance. The author takes us on a whirlwind tour of mid-1930s black Harlem, introducing us to the work of W.E.B Du Bois, Alain Locke, Claude McKay, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen.</p>
<p>As these often discordant voices debated, argued, sermonized, anathematized and baptized, a unique perspective emerged that transcended the confines of white American theology. Some in Harlem argued that Christianity was too indelibly associated with white supremacy to be of use to African Americans.</p>
<p>But there was another option. Maybe the white Christians who introduced black Africans to the Christ didn’t know their Savior very well. Maybe the horror of the black experience in America could shed light on this man of sorrows. Often, the poems and essays emerging from the Harlem Renaissance find room for all sides of this debate.</p>
<p>Countee Cullen’s The Black Christ explains</p>
<p>How Calvary in Palestine, Extending down to me and mine, Was but the first leaf in a line, Of trees on which a Man should swing World without end, in suffering.</p>
<p>Bonhoeffer referenced The Black Christ in his writing and followed the leading figures in the Harlem Renaissance in the pages of the NAACP’s Crisis and the National Urban League’s Opportunity. Reinhold Niebuhr, one of Bonhoeffer’s professors at Union, sometimes alluded to black writers in his lectures. In a letter to Niebuhr in 1933, Bonhoeffer alluded to a (now lost) essay on “Negro literature” he had written during his year in America.</p>
<p>“The practice of joining in with African Americans in Harlem,” Williams says, “gave Bonhoeffer the ability to see more clearly the distinction between a damaging theology of glory, represented by a white Christ who refuses incarnation and empathy, and the healthier theology of the cross that reveals the presence of God hidden in suffering.”</p>
<p>Williams suggests that Bonhoeffer learned as much from the disdainful young voices who rejected the white Jesus as a hopeless cause as he learned from those, like Georgia Douglas Johnson, who embraced a black Jesus.</p>
<p>Come brothers, lift on high your voice, The Christ is born, let us rejoice! And for all mankind let us pray, Forgetting wrongs upon this day. He was despised, and so are we, Like Him we go to Calvary; He leads us by his bleeding hand, Through ways we do not understand. Come brothers, lift on high your voice, The Christ is born, let us rejoice! Shall we not to the whole world say — God bless you! It is Christmas day!</p>
<p>Bonhoeffer’s association with Abyssinian Baptist Church allowed him to move beyond the literary expressions of black America to the lived experience of an exceptional congregation living through hard times. Bonhoeffer’s letters reveal the depth of his involvement at Abyssinian:</p>
<p>Every Sunday at 2:30 in the afternoon and together with my friend [Albert Fisher], and often as his substitute, [I] had a group of young Negroes in the Sunday school; I conducted Bible study for some Negro women and once a week helped out in a weekday church school. Hence not only did I become well acquainted with several young Negroes; I also visited their homes several times. This personal acquaintance with Negroes was one of the most important and gratifying events of my stay in America.</p>
<p>Abyssinian was a foreign world to the aristocratic German, but that was a large part of its charm. Bonhoeffer had found a new way to look at the world. Williams calls the Harlem Renaissance a “communal transformation of consciousness.” Many of the new ideas and experimental theologies were new to Adam Clayton Powell Sr. too, and Bonhoeffer’s pastor was hammering out the contours of a new theology on the fly on Sunday mornings.</p>
<p>Powell had been heavily influenced by the social gospel movement with its emphasis on creative engagement with human suffering, institutional injustice and solidarity with the poor. But social gospel icons like Washington Gladden, Josiah Strong, Theodore Munger and Walter Rauschenbusch were too captive to an optimistic Darwinian model of cultural evolution to pay much attention to the losers in America’s racial competition. Human society was evolving in a glorious direction, the thinking went, and the white race stood at the forefront of the revolution. Men like Josiah Strong chastised the “white race” for its callous exploitation of “the lesser races,” but <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=WUucYTW6ug0C&amp;pg=PA176&amp;lpg=PA176&amp;dq=social+gospel+and+race&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=JeFNbSY-gM&amp;sig=p3JR8QZPFmCL96TS3Noj8h2M-hQ&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0CB4Q6AEwAGoVChMI8-a2ubL0xwIVyJqACh0IWwBA#v=onepage&amp;q=social%20gospel%20and%20race&amp;f=false" type="external">white supremacy was simply assumed</a>.</p>
<p>Adam Clayton Powell</p>
<p>Powell inherited the basic structure of his theology from white social gospel theologians, but in the hands of white thinkers that tradition was stunted by the optimistic racial chauvinism Williams dissects in the early pages of this book. Powell understood that he was pushing social gospel logic into virgin territory:</p>
<p>The Negro church is the only church that has persistently opposed lynching and the Negro pulpit is the only pulpit that has unceasingly preached the brotherhood of man.</p>
<p>The Harlem Renaissance unfolded during the worst economic depression in American history and a “Great Migration” that drew hundreds of thousands of African Americans from the severe racial oppression of the American South to northern cities like Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and, of course, Harlem.</p>
<p>The Great Migration brought blacks to Harlem, hopeful and dreaming of a promised land, to meet disappointment and despair. In their despair, they collectively turned to the black church as their help and familiar center of community.</p>
<p>Powell was creating “a black experience of the church that is empowered by a black interpretation of Christ in the context of African American survival.” Powell admitted the reality of “opiate Christianity” but located the root of the problem in what Williams calls “the compartmentalizing of Christianity rather than Christianity encompassing all of life.”</p>
<p>The social turmoil surrounding Abyssinian Baptist Church left Powell unsatisfied with the breezy tenets of optimistic white liberalism. “Man needs to be done over,” he said, “but he cannot be done over until he is undone.” Intellectual ascent to theological propositions meant nothing, Powell taught, if what we believe is disconnected from a suffering world. The desperately poor migrants streaming into Harlem at the height of the Great Depression called for the conversion of the Church.</p>
<p>It is just as much our duty to get men and women positions during this unemployment depression, as it is to get them into church. … A man hungry and cold will not have much patience with a lecture on spirituality.</p>
<p>It was this emphasis on lived faith, Williams believes, that shaped how Bonhoeffer “understood what the church should be doing when the church struggle began in 1933. … The tradition of Jesus the cosufferer hidden in suffering and shame that Bonhoeffer encountered within Powell’s ministry and within the Harlem Renaissance literary movement remained with him when he returned home.”</p>
<p>The Bonhoeffer who returned to Germany following a tumultuous year in America surprised, delighted and often bewildered sophisticated Lutherans. While in Harlem, he purchased dozens of recordings of African-American spirituals and played them incessantly to the classes and youth groups he was involved with. The typically African-American combination of academic rigor and evangelical simplicity Bonhoeffer discovered in America frequently caught his audience off guard.</p>
<p>One of Bonhoeffer’s Berlin students recalled the directness and “simplicity” with which Bonhoeffer “asked us whether we loved Jesus.” That different Bonhoeffer was the one who would later speak out against Nazi racism and become the celebrated author of Creation and Fall, Life Together, Discipleship, and Ethics.</p>
<p>If the basic thesis Williams lays out in Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus stands up to scrutiny, American Christians must wrestle with a close spiritual parallel between the “Volkish racial purity” of the Nazis and our (usually unspoken) obsession with white supremacy. Williams throws down the gauntlet with startling force (startling for white readers, that is):</p>
<p>The Volkish devotion to pure German blood, with its ethnic, nationalist, imperialist longings, was the German equivalent of normalized humanity from the American version of white supremacy. … Seeing society from the hidden perspective of Harlem helped Bonhoeffer to recognize white supremacy in Germany and to see it as a Christian problem that might demand Christian political action. … Because he was exposed to American racism from the perspective of Christians who were subjected to it, Bonhoeffer was equipped with prophetic insight that his white German colleagues in the church and the academy did not have.</p>
<p>And that, in a nutshell, is why Bonhoeffer was able to empathize with the Jews, the trade unionists, the Roma and the rest of Hitler’s victims: he had seen this move before.</p>
<p>Could Bonhoeffer have entered the soulful suffering of Abyssinian Baptist Church and the Harlem Renaissance if he had come to New York from Birmingham instead of Bonn? Probably not. And that’s why Williams’s book should shake us up. If he is right (and he is) white American Christians (and the white American Church) in all its theological and ideological manifestations has missed something critical. We can’t capture the powerful simplicity of Jesus unless we repent our addiction to white supremacy in sackcloth and ashes.</p>
<p>Is such a thing possible? On a massive scale, likely not. But little by little, here and there, now and then, the black Jesus is insinuating his way into our white souls. And if that is true, there is hope.</p>
<p>Image: Dietrich Bonhoeffer working with disadvantaged German youth after his return from America.</p>
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alan bean dietrich bonhoeffer prominent christian germany grasp hideous spiritual implications adolf hitler nazis outset martin niemollers famous first came litany sketched typical pattern third reich germany first came socialists speak socialist came trade unionists speak trade unionist came jews speak jew came one left speak bonhoeffer realized beginning jesus stood side socialists trade unionists jews roma homosexuals intellectually challenged every substratum society targeted nazis karl barth primary author famed barmen declaration took bold stand nazis alone niemollers mea culpa suggests confessing church primarily concerned nazis rewriting christian theology plight hitlers nonchristian victims strictly secondary reggie williams assistant professor christian ethics mccormick theological seminary argues recent book bonhoeffers black jesus dietrich bonhoeffer understood nazi soul viewed german reality lens american black theology mediated preaching adam clayton powell sr pastor harlems abyssinian baptist church reggie williams book bonhoeffers theology per se much theology betrays assumption human thought abstracted rough tumble experience blessedly williams doesnt make mistake williams started ruminating black roots bonhoeffers christianity course taught dr j alfred smith senior pastor allen temple baptist church oakland calif africanamerican spirituality spirituality born shaped heat oppression suffering smith told students blackness metaphor suffering know blackness connected suffering hope purpose black people bonhoeffer came know blackness sloane fellow union theological seminary new york 19301931 academic year williams argues persuasively gifted theological wunderkind held typically german worldview arrived union germany humiliated treaty versailles held german people responsible carnage first world war germany entered great worldwide depression 1929 already staggering crippling economic reparations imposed versailles moreover victors first world war deprived germany colonial possessions coming age painful period bonhoeffers early theology stressed necessity solidarity german volk people misfortune represented pinnacle human evolution religion blended everyday life primary business everyday life restoring german national pride predominant expression christianity postwar germany malaise lutheranism social darwinism nationalism fused triumphalist view history described gods order creation concept orders became theological support nazi language blood soil racial superiority pure volk taking cue willie jennings williams characterizes european theological academy product diseased social imagination infection occurred theology merged colonial system provide religious authority centering world european imagination making christ white european man offer apologetics domination authoritarianism web du bois calls color line direct result european allegiance white christ williams argues project theology colonialism split european assembly primarily doctrinal conceptual lacking content christian conduct split necessary justify domination foreign bodies accompanied classifying human beings race securing advantages whiteness accommodating practices colonialism nazi ideology words egregious expression imperialistic eurocentric theology dominating white world white christ theological muscle power structure color line global manifestations williams says colonization imperialism nationalism white terrorism america part mix book titled bonhoeffers black jesus williams believes white jesus european theology failed grasp spiritual significance racism imperialism significantly nazi challenge christianity black church williams asserts could bear witness black jesus bonhoeffer student life knows distressed brand spirituality offer union seminary white churches encountered america immersed many consider highwater mark american liberal religion bonhoeffer underwhelmed new york preach virtually everything one thing addressed addressed rarely yet unable hear namely gospel jesus christ stands place christian message ethical social idealism borne faith progress knows claims right call christian conservative christians used comments sort claim bonhoeffer one williams calls mistake nothing typically conservative america jim crow christianity flourished south bonhoeffers black jesus argues bonhoeffer understood nazi religion viewing lens american color line travels american south particularly instructive regard german theologian didnt take cue white american christians liberal conservative williams isnt suggesting black churches equally adept discerning proclaiming black jesus following j alfred smith argue distinctive suffering black america poignantly reflected called negro spirituals implied critique europes white jesus white theological imagination period captured tension fundamentalist liberal versions christianity eight years bonhoeffer arrived america harry emerson fosdick preached shall fundamentalists win sermon ministrations john rockefeller jr would eventually make fosdick founding pastor manhattans riverside church located street union seminary black christian concern transcended liberalconservative tension immediate concerns liberal whites failed see white supremacy matter christian attention consequence ignored constant dangers daily life america black people avoiding racism choice african american christians matter life death society organized race enforced violence bonhoeffers guide world black harlem christianity albert fisher son charles fisher pastor birminghams 16th street baptist church like bonhoeffer sloan fellow union young german could amble street fosdicks splendid riverside church initiative needed friendship albert fisher cross color line williams isnt suggesting bonhoeffers brief time study america significant influence later thinking matthew kirkpatrick recently argued religionless christianity bonhoeffer developed nazi prison inspired soren kierkegaards radical critique christendom doubt williams would disagree argument bonhoeffers encounter black jesus harlem allowed empathize suffering marginalized people deeply return germany devilish spirit hitlers national socialism readily apparent full title williamss 140page book bonhoeffers black jesus harlem renaissance theology ethic resistance author takes us whirlwind tour mid1930s black harlem introducing us work web du bois alain locke claude mckay georgia douglas johnson langston hughes countee cullen often discordant voices debated argued sermonized anathematized baptized unique perspective emerged transcended confines white american theology harlem argued christianity indelibly associated white supremacy use african americans another option maybe white christians introduced black africans christ didnt know savior well maybe horror black experience america could shed light man sorrows often poems essays emerging harlem renaissance find room sides debate countee cullens black christ explains calvary palestine extending mine first leaf line trees man swing world without end suffering bonhoeffer referenced black christ writing followed leading figures harlem renaissance pages naacps crisis national urban leagues opportunity reinhold niebuhr one bonhoeffers professors union sometimes alluded black writers lectures letter niebuhr 1933 bonhoeffer alluded lost essay negro literature written year america practice joining african americans harlem williams says gave bonhoeffer ability see clearly distinction damaging theology glory represented white christ refuses incarnation empathy healthier theology cross reveals presence god hidden suffering williams suggests bonhoeffer learned much disdainful young voices rejected white jesus hopeless cause learned like georgia douglas johnson embraced black jesus come brothers lift high voice christ born let us rejoice mankind let us pray forgetting wrongs upon day despised like go calvary leads us bleeding hand ways understand come brothers lift high voice christ born let us rejoice shall whole world say god bless christmas day bonhoeffers association abyssinian baptist church allowed move beyond literary expressions black america lived experience exceptional congregation living hard times bonhoeffers letters reveal depth involvement abyssinian every sunday 230 afternoon together friend albert fisher often substitute group young negroes sunday school conducted bible study negro women week helped weekday church school hence become well acquainted several young negroes also visited homes several times personal acquaintance negroes one important gratifying events stay america abyssinian foreign world aristocratic german large part charm bonhoeffer found new way look world williams calls harlem renaissance communal transformation consciousness many new ideas experimental theologies new adam clayton powell sr bonhoeffers pastor hammering contours new theology fly sunday mornings powell heavily influenced social gospel movement emphasis creative engagement human suffering institutional injustice solidarity poor social gospel icons like washington gladden josiah strong theodore munger walter rauschenbusch captive optimistic darwinian model cultural evolution pay much attention losers americas racial competition human society evolving glorious direction thinking went white race stood forefront revolution men like josiah strong chastised white race callous exploitation lesser races white supremacy simply assumed adam clayton powell powell inherited basic structure theology white social gospel theologians hands white thinkers tradition stunted optimistic racial chauvinism williams dissects early pages book powell understood pushing social gospel logic virgin territory negro church church persistently opposed lynching negro pulpit pulpit unceasingly preached brotherhood man harlem renaissance unfolded worst economic depression american history great migration drew hundreds thousands african americans severe racial oppression american south northern cities like chicago detroit cleveland course harlem great migration brought blacks harlem hopeful dreaming promised land meet disappointment despair despair collectively turned black church help familiar center community powell creating black experience church empowered black interpretation christ context african american survival powell admitted reality opiate christianity located root problem williams calls compartmentalizing christianity rather christianity encompassing life social turmoil surrounding abyssinian baptist church left powell unsatisfied breezy tenets optimistic white liberalism man needs done said done undone intellectual ascent theological propositions meant nothing powell taught believe disconnected suffering world desperately poor migrants streaming harlem height great depression called conversion church much duty get men women positions unemployment depression get church man hungry cold much patience lecture spirituality emphasis lived faith williams believes shaped bonhoeffer understood church church struggle began 1933 tradition jesus cosufferer hidden suffering shame bonhoeffer encountered within powells ministry within harlem renaissance literary movement remained returned home bonhoeffer returned germany following tumultuous year america surprised delighted often bewildered sophisticated lutherans harlem purchased dozens recordings africanamerican spirituals played incessantly classes youth groups involved typically africanamerican combination academic rigor evangelical simplicity bonhoeffer discovered america frequently caught audience guard one bonhoeffers berlin students recalled directness simplicity bonhoeffer asked us whether loved jesus different bonhoeffer one would later speak nazi racism become celebrated author creation fall life together discipleship ethics basic thesis williams lays bonhoeffers black jesus stands scrutiny american christians must wrestle close spiritual parallel volkish racial purity nazis usually unspoken obsession white supremacy williams throws gauntlet startling force startling white readers volkish devotion pure german blood ethnic nationalist imperialist longings german equivalent normalized humanity american version white supremacy seeing society hidden perspective harlem helped bonhoeffer recognize white supremacy germany see christian problem might demand christian political action exposed american racism perspective christians subjected bonhoeffer equipped prophetic insight white german colleagues church academy nutshell bonhoeffer able empathize jews trade unionists roma rest hitlers victims seen move could bonhoeffer entered soulful suffering abyssinian baptist church harlem renaissance come new york birmingham instead bonn probably thats williamss book shake us right white american christians white american church theological ideological manifestations missed something critical cant capture powerful simplicity jesus unless repent addiction white supremacy sackcloth ashes thing possible massive scale likely little little black jesus insinuating way white souls true hope image dietrich bonhoeffer working disadvantaged german youth return america
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<p>This article is part of a GlobalPost 'Special Report' titled "The Drone Age," which in the coming weeks will offer a series of reports from around the world examining the proliferation of drones and what it means for the future of warfare. The project was funded in part by the Galloway Family Foundation which supports GlobalPost in investigative and in-depth reporting projects.</p>
<p>BEIRUT, Lebanon - Syria isn't the first country alleged to receive drones from Iran.</p>
<p>Spotting an Iranian Ilyushin 76 transport aircraft on the tarmac at Khartoum Airport in Sudan might give a clue to how Tehran could be supplying its UAVs to the Assad regime, said Hugh Griffiths of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.</p>
<p>"UAVs are easy to transport via air. And Iranian Ilyushin 76s have been flying to Syria on a regular basis, transporting military equipment, according to US officials. So this is one supply option common to both Sudan and Syria," said Griffiths.</p>
<p>In March, rebels fighting for what would soon become&#160; <a href="http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2012/03/14/Iranian-made-drone-downed-in-South-Sudan/UPI-50521331734721/" type="external">South Sudan</a> reported shooting down an Iranian-made drone in a disputed border area. The Sudanese army acknowledged losing one of its drones but said it had crashed after a technical failure.</p>
<p>The reported use of Iranian drones in Syria came as US, British and French diplomats accused Iran at the UN Security Council of violating sanctions by supplying the Assad regime with weapons used against the Syrian people.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/photo-galleries/planet-pic/5718451/life-and-death-aleppo-photos" type="external">Life and death in Aleppo (Photos)</a></p>
<p>"We are alarmed that a majority of the violations - involved illicit transfer of arms and related material from Iran to Syria, where the Assad regime is using them to violently repress the Syrian people," US Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Rosemary DiCarlo, told the Council on March 21.</p>
<p>Iranian officials have repeatedly spoken out against any foreign interference in Syria's internal affairs, insisting the Syrian people should be given the chance to determine their own future.</p>
<p>In late January, Iran's <a href="http://worldnews.about.com/od/syria/qt/What-The-World-Is-Saying-About-Syria-Uprising.htm" type="external">Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said</a> Iran's stance towards Syria "is to support any reforms that benefit the people of this country and oppose the interference of America and its allies in Syrian domestic issues."</p>
<p>The Islamic Republic's actions on the ground, however, belied the mullah's rhetoric.</p>
<p>Syrian activists, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704547804576261222747330438.html" type="external">US officials</a> and security contacts said Syria's security forces were supplied by Iran with specialist mobile tracking equipment able to intercept satellite phones and other satellite broadcasting equipment within the first three months of the uprising.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/lebanon/120914/pope-lebanon-providing-weapons-syria-grave-sin" type="external">Pope in Lebanon: providing weapons to Syria a 'grave sin'</a></p>
<p>The Iranian regime made use of such tracking equipment in their successful repression of the Green Revolution in Tehran in 2009, according to US officials.</p>
<p>Documents sent to GlobalPost by a Western anti-proliferation official detail two interceptions by Turkey of Iranian weapons being transported to Syria early last year. Both documents are faxes sent to the UN Security Council committee tasked with reporting on the implementation of Resolution 1737.</p>
<p>The first outlines how on February 15, 2011 - a month before the uprising began - Turkish customs authorities stopped and searched a Turkish-registered truck at the Oncupinar border gate with Syria. The truck had entered Turkey a week earlier from Iran, destined for a construction factory in Aleppo, Syria.</p>
<p>Unusually for illicit weapons transfers, the carnet for the truck - also seen by GlobalPost - stated openly that it was carrying over 6,600 kg of rocket fuel and propellant charge, including M9 and RDX.</p>
<p>Edin Omanovic, an illicit trafficking researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), said such military explosives are usually used in mortars and grenade launchers. The <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/International/italian-police-seize-explosives-bound-syria/story?id=11697541#.T6U8Hp8tiyc" type="external">same material was seized</a> in September 2010 by Italian authorities on board the vessel Finland, which Italian prosecutors said was on route from Iran to Syria.</p>
<p>In May 2011, <a href="http://af.reuters.com/article/nigeriaNews/idAFN1124196820110511" type="external">a report by the UN's Panel of Experts</a>, who report on Iran's compliance with UN sanctions, found Syria was the top destination for illegal shipments of Iranian arms, which diplomats said were to be passed onto Hezbollah and Palestinian militant groups.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/egypt/120910/iran-says-it-joining-syria-crisis-meeting-cairo-calle" type="external">&#160;Iran says it is joining Syria crisis meeting in Cairo</a></p>
<p>Though Turkish authorities seized the Syria-bound Iranian weapons in February 2011, they did not report it to the Security Council committee until January 2012, a significant delay.</p>
<p>During that same period, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, once a supporter and personal friend of Assad, shifted to become one of his most outspoken critics.</p>
<p>The second memo, from Turkey to the 1737 committee, is dated July 7, 2011 and details Turkey's interception on March 19 last year of an Iranian cargo plane bound for Aleppo found to be carrying nearly 2,000 mortar shells, 8,000 rounds of ammunition and 74 assault rifles.</p>
<p>One year later, on March 27, 2012, the US Treasury imposed sanctions against the Iranian cargo company, YasAir, which it said worked with Iran's Quds force (the Islamic Republic's elite overseas military unit), Hezbollah and Syrian officials to deliver the weapons from Iran to Syria under the guise of auto parts.</p>
<p>While both the Turkish intercepts occurred before or soon after the uprising began, Iranian military assistance to Syria continues.&#160;In July,&#160; <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/05/world/middleeast/iran-supplying-syrian-military-via-iraq-airspace.html?_r=1&amp;pagewanted=all" type="external">Iran resumed flying cargo planes</a> full of military equipment through Iraqi airspace and into Syria, despite American pressure on Baghdad to abide by international law and crack down on the illegal shipments.</p>
<p>On February 20 this year,&#160; <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/02/20122197221461654.html" type="external">Iranian state media reported</a> two Iranian warships had crossed Egypt's Suez Canal and docked in Syria's Tartous port, coinciding with a rare public trip to Damascus by the head of the Quds Force, General Qassem Suleimani, a move US officials said was the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/17/us-strong-signs-iran-giving-syria-weapons/" type="external">"strongest sign yet"</a>&#160;that Iran was supplying weapons to aid Assad's crackdown.</p>
<p>According to a member of the Revolutionary Guard in Tehran quoted in <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444230504577615393756632230.html" type="external">a recent Wall Street Journal piece</a>, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed Suleimani to spearhead military cooperation with Assad. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/05/world/middleeast/iran-supplying-syrian-military-via-iraq-airspace.html?pagewanted=all" type="external">US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said</a> last month he had indications Iran was "trying to train a militia within Syria to fight on behalf of the regime."</p>
<p>Neither Western diplomats covering Syria nor defense analysts questioned by GlobalPost were able to detail what the Iranian warships might have been carrying as they sailed past the coast of Israel and Lebanon, where a UN maritime task force is deployed to prevent weapons smuggling to Hezbollah, and docked in Syria's Lattakia port.</p>
<p>"My sense at the time was the Iranians were delivering something to Syria and used warships to stop a challenge," said White. "The FSA was surging in January and the regime was trying to mount a counter offensive. It wouldn't have been something routine like ammunition. Maybe intelligence equipment or air defense equipment. Drones are also a reasonable possibility."&#160;</p>
<p>This story is presented by <a href="http://thegroundtruthproject.org/" type="external">The GroundTruth&#160;Project.</a></p>
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article part globalpost special report titled drone age coming weeks offer series reports around world examining proliferation drones means future warfare project funded part galloway family foundation supports globalpost investigative indepth reporting projects beirut lebanon syria isnt first country alleged receive drones iran spotting iranian ilyushin 76 transport aircraft tarmac khartoum airport sudan might give clue tehran could supplying uavs assad regime said hugh griffiths stockholm international peace research institute uavs easy transport via air iranian ilyushin 76s flying syria regular basis transporting military equipment according us officials one supply option common sudan syria said griffiths march rebels fighting would soon become160 south sudan reported shooting iranianmade drone disputed border area sudanese army acknowledged losing one drones said crashed technical failure reported use iranian drones syria came us british french diplomats accused iran un security council violating sanctions supplying assad regime weapons used syrian people globalpost life death aleppo photos alarmed majority violations involved illicit transfer arms related material iran syria assad regime using violently repress syrian people us deputy ambassador un rosemary dicarlo told council march 21 iranian officials repeatedly spoken foreign interference syrias internal affairs insisting syrian people given chance determine future late january irans supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei said irans stance towards syria support reforms benefit people country oppose interference america allies syrian domestic issues islamic republics actions ground however belied mullahs rhetoric syrian activists us officials security contacts said syrias security forces supplied iran specialist mobile tracking equipment able intercept satellite phones satellite broadcasting equipment within first three months uprising globalpost160 pope lebanon providing weapons syria grave sin iranian regime made use tracking equipment successful repression green revolution tehran 2009 according us officials documents sent globalpost western antiproliferation official detail two interceptions turkey iranian weapons transported syria early last year documents faxes sent un security council committee tasked reporting implementation resolution 1737 first outlines february 15 2011 month uprising began turkish customs authorities stopped searched turkishregistered truck oncupinar border gate syria truck entered turkey week earlier iran destined construction factory aleppo syria unusually illicit weapons transfers carnet truck also seen globalpost stated openly carrying 6600 kg rocket fuel propellant charge including m9 rdx edin omanovic illicit trafficking researcher stockholm international peace research institute sipri said military explosives usually used mortars grenade launchers material seized september 2010 italian authorities board vessel finland italian prosecutors said route iran syria may 2011 report uns panel experts report irans compliance un sanctions found syria top destination illegal shipments iranian arms diplomats said passed onto hezbollah palestinian militant groups globalpost 160iran says joining syria crisis meeting cairo though turkish authorities seized syriabound iranian weapons february 2011 report security council committee january 2012 significant delay period turkish prime minister recep tayyip erdogan supporter personal friend assad shifted become one outspoken critics second memo turkey 1737 committee dated july 7 2011 details turkeys interception march 19 last year iranian cargo plane bound aleppo found carrying nearly 2000 mortar shells 8000 rounds ammunition 74 assault rifles one year later march 27 2012 us treasury imposed sanctions iranian cargo company yasair said worked irans quds force islamic republics elite overseas military unit hezbollah syrian officials deliver weapons iran syria guise auto parts turkish intercepts occurred soon uprising began iranian military assistance syria continues160in july160 iran resumed flying cargo planes full military equipment iraqi airspace syria despite american pressure baghdad abide international law crack illegal shipments february 20 year160 iranian state media reported two iranian warships crossed egypts suez canal docked syrias tartous port coinciding rare public trip damascus head quds force general qassem suleimani move us officials said strongest sign yet160that iran supplying weapons aid assads crackdown according member revolutionary guard tehran quoted recent wall street journal piece irans supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei appointed suleimani spearhead military cooperation assad us defense secretary leon panetta said last month indications iran trying train militia within syria fight behalf regime neither western diplomats covering syria defense analysts questioned globalpost able detail iranian warships might carrying sailed past coast israel lebanon un maritime task force deployed prevent weapons smuggling hezbollah docked syrias lattakia port sense time iranians delivering something syria used warships stop challenge said white fsa surging january regime trying mount counter offensive wouldnt something routine like ammunition maybe intelligence equipment air defense equipment drones also reasonable possibility160 story presented groundtruth160project
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<p>PINE BLUFF, Ark. (BP)—Harold Chandler ain't half the preacher he once was.</p>
<p>Last year, at 349 pounds, he was two cheeseburgers short of 350. Today he is under 190 pounds, well on his way to his goal of 170. He has already lost 160-plus pounds. When he reaches his goal, he'll be almost half the preacher he used to be.</p>
<p>Chandler, 58, pastor of Shepherd Hill Baptist Church of Pine Bluff, Ark., had not seen 200 pounds or less since he was 16 years old.</p>
<p>No, he was not a contestant on “The Biggest Loser” TV show. So what motivated him to lose all that weight? Several factors.</p>
<p>He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He was impressed when his daughter Wendy lost a lot of weight. His wife, Betty, prayed for him and encouraged him to lose weight.</p>
<p />
<p>Baptist Press photo</p>
<p>Harold Chandler, before …</p>
<p />
<p>Baptist Press photo</p>
<p>… and after</p>
<p>But what really got to him was his granddaughter Jessica.</p>
<p>Last summer when Chandler and his wife went to San Antonio to attend the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, they took Jessica and spent a day at Sea World.</p>
<p>Chandler became winded and couldn't keep up the pace. He kept getting hot and tired and had to sit and rest while his wife and granddaughter were enjoying themselves.</p>
<p>That evening at the motel, his granddaughter said, “Papaw, I'm worried about you. You were having trouble breathing today. I think you are too fat.”</p>
<p>With strong support and encouragement from his wife, daughter and granddaughter, Chandler decided to do something about his weight.</p>
<p>He went to a new doctor. His blood sugar was ranging between 350-400. His blood pressure was running 190/ 100. He was on three medications to bring his blood sugar and blood pressure down.</p>
<p>The doctor suggested a 600-1,200 calorie a day diet. Chandler opted to try for 700 calories a day and stuck with it. He kept daily records of everything he ate or drank.</p>
<p>He lost 41 pounds the first 30 days, then upped the calorie count to 800-850 a day.</p>
<p>“Those first three months were tough,” he admitted. “I was weak. I didn't have a lot of energy to do anything. Your whole system is changing. Everything in your body has to readjust.”</p>
<p>Chandler was aware of his wife's prayers. “I've learned through the 39 years we've been married that when she starts praying for something, it's inevitability going to happen.”</p>
<p>She started buying healthy food and even started eating what he was eating.</p>
<p>Members of Shepherd Hill Baptist Church, where he has completed two years as pastor, also encouraged him.</p>
<p>“The church has helped me get through it,” he said. “They didn't realize they were helping, but their encouragement has been tremendous …. It's the little things, like when they run up to me and say, ‘How much have you lost today?' They've been a real support. It makes you want to try harder.”</p>
<p>Chandler also was motivated spiritually.</p>
<p>“It was something I needed to do to fulfill the calling God gave me,” he said. “You are supposed to give God the best you can, and when you allow yourself to get in the shape I was in, I couldn't give God the best. I gave him everything I had, but it wasn't near what I should have been doing.</p>
<p>“I made a commitment to do it and the good Lord's given me the strength to do it, and I hope it continues until I reach 170. Then I hope and pray I can stay there,” he said.</p>
<p>“God does not want us to be in a situation where we can't do our job because of our physical condition …. I couldn't get around well,” he admitted. “I was tired all the time. It was hard to get up in the morning and go do things, because I just didn't feel like I had the energy to do it.”</p>
<p>His weight loss was not without some difficult days.</p>
<p>At the end of the first week, he finished preaching his Sunday morning sermon, but when the invitation was over, he almost didn't make it to the back of the church.</p>
<p>“Everything was swimming and I couldn't see well.”</p>
<p>His wife and the music minister got him to the car and she took him home. His blood pressure was 88/52 and his blood sugar was 47. He ate something and began to feel better.</p>
<p>He called his doctor, who explained he was taking all the sugar out of his system, which allowed the medications to work efficiently. He suggested cutting the dosages in half.</p>
<p>The next Sunday in the pulpit, the same thing happened. Then on Monday, Chandler decided to cut grass.</p>
<p>“I cut two strips and barely crawled back into the house,” he said. “I was exhausted.”</p>
<p>Again, his blood sugar was in the mid-40s, so the doctor took him totally off medications.</p>
<p>“Since that day, I have never had any trouble with it [blood sugar] and I've never taken another pill. My sugar level now stays between 85 to 100.” Anything under 115 is acceptable.</p>
<p>His blood pressure is 125-135 over 70-75. His energy level is higher than he ever remembers, allowing him to function better as a pastor.</p>
<p>“I'm able to put more into it—more energy, strength, time and I'm able to go longer,” he said. “When you get as large as I was, you don't get around well. My legs hurt. My feet hurt. When I would go to the hospital or do work of any kind, it would just take a short distance before I was pretty tired. Now I'm able to keep going and to go longer.”</p>
<p>Recently, Chandler worked in his yard all day. “That never would have happened before,” he said. “I can breathe better. I have more energy and more strength.”</p>
<p>He has some words of wisdom for others who want to lose weight.</p>
<p>“Don't try to quit eating. Just keep a record for about a week of everything that goes in your mouth,” Chandler advised. “Don't try to decide what's good or bad, just keep a record. You will be surprised. Most people take in 2,500 to 3,000 calories a day. I was taking in at least that many or more because I love to eat.”</p>
<p>He said once you become conscious of what you are eating and the calories and fat grams, you can decide how to change your eating habits.</p>
<p>“There are things you like that satisfy your hunger and give you energy, without having the calories and fats,” he said. “That's really the key to it …. We need to learn we are what we eat.”</p>
<p>Chandler had tried many diets, only to lose some weight, then put it right back on.</p>
<p>“It takes an eating habit change, really,” he said. “You've got to start becoming aware of what goes in and how much goes in and what is the purpose of it going in. It's not just a matter of being hungry. … I think eating becomes a habit.”</p>
<p>He said after he began losing weight, he was traveling one day and stopped for gas. He thought a snack wouldn't hurt much. He picked up a honey bun. On the way to pay for it, he glanced at the calorie count on the package—800 calories—his calorie intake limit for the day.</p>
<p>“You've got to look at every little thing,” he warned. “It's not so much the volume, it's what you eat. You're bored. You are not really hungry, but you get in the habit of doing it. Those little things I was picking up were high in calories.”</p>
<p>Chandler noted there is a spiritual lesson in this for every church member. He compared his weight loss to a lost person needing Christ.</p>
<p>“There has to come a desire in the seekers' hearts to do something,” he explained. “I'm not convinced just telling someone is the answer. You can say until you are blue in the face that Jesus died on the cross and can save you. You can say to a person with health problems and weight problems that there are things you can do, and saying is important, but … something has to hit a person's life. Something has to happen to make you seek what you need. The average person has to hear the plan of salvation seven times before they respond. It's sort of that way with my diet. I knew a lot of the things the new doctor told me, but … it took that awakening one day to make me do something about it.</p>
<p>“My church being so supportive by their comments was just such a tremendous encouragement to me,” he continued. “I hope someday we can recognize that encouragement to lost people and to visitors is what they need to come back and find out what God can do. … Many times we are afraid to encourage people because we're afraid they will be offended. But every word of encouragement is helpful.”</p>
<p>Charlie Warren is editor of the Arkansas Baptist News.</p>
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pine bluff ark bpharold chandler aint half preacher last year 349 pounds two cheeseburgers short 350 today 190 pounds well way goal 170 already lost 160plus pounds reaches goal hell almost half preacher used chandler 58 pastor shepherd hill baptist church pine bluff ark seen 200 pounds less since 16 years old contestant biggest loser tv show motivated lose weight several factors diagnosed type 2 diabetes impressed daughter wendy lost lot weight wife betty prayed encouraged lose weight baptist press photo harold chandler baptist press photo really got granddaughter jessica last summer chandler wife went san antonio attend southern baptist convention annual meeting took jessica spent day sea world chandler became winded couldnt keep pace kept getting hot tired sit rest wife granddaughter enjoying evening motel granddaughter said papaw im worried trouble breathing today think fat strong support encouragement wife daughter granddaughter chandler decided something weight went new doctor blood sugar ranging 350400 blood pressure running 190 100 three medications bring blood sugar blood pressure doctor suggested 6001200 calorie day diet chandler opted try 700 calories day stuck kept daily records everything ate drank lost 41 pounds first 30 days upped calorie count 800850 day first three months tough admitted weak didnt lot energy anything whole system changing everything body readjust chandler aware wifes prayers ive learned 39 years weve married starts praying something inevitability going happen started buying healthy food even started eating eating members shepherd hill baptist church completed two years pastor also encouraged church helped get said didnt realize helping encouragement tremendous little things like run say much lost today theyve real support makes want try harder chandler also motivated spiritually something needed fulfill calling god gave said supposed give god best allow get shape couldnt give god best gave everything wasnt near made commitment good lords given strength hope continues reach 170 hope pray stay said god want us situation cant job physical condition couldnt get around well admitted tired time hard get morning go things didnt feel like energy weight loss without difficult days end first week finished preaching sunday morning sermon invitation almost didnt make back church everything swimming couldnt see well wife music minister got car took home blood pressure 8852 blood sugar 47 ate something began feel better called doctor explained taking sugar system allowed medications work efficiently suggested cutting dosages half next sunday pulpit thing happened monday chandler decided cut grass cut two strips barely crawled back house said exhausted blood sugar mid40s doctor took totally medications since day never trouble blood sugar ive never taken another pill sugar level stays 85 100 anything 115 acceptable blood pressure 125135 7075 energy level higher ever remembers allowing function better pastor im able put itmore energy strength time im able go longer said get large dont get around well legs hurt feet hurt would go hospital work kind would take short distance pretty tired im able keep going go longer recently chandler worked yard day never would happened said breathe better energy strength words wisdom others want lose weight dont try quit eating keep record week everything goes mouth chandler advised dont try decide whats good bad keep record surprised people take 2500 3000 calories day taking least many love eat said become conscious eating calories fat grams decide change eating habits things like satisfy hunger give energy without calories fats said thats really key need learn eat chandler tried many diets lose weight put right back takes eating habit change really said youve got start becoming aware goes much goes purpose going matter hungry think eating becomes habit said began losing weight traveling one day stopped gas thought snack wouldnt hurt much picked honey bun way pay glanced calorie count package800 calorieshis calorie intake limit day youve got look every little thing warned much volume eat youre bored really hungry get habit little things picking high calories chandler noted spiritual lesson every church member compared weight loss lost person needing christ come desire seekers hearts something explained im convinced telling someone answer say blue face jesus died cross save say person health problems weight problems things saying important something hit persons life something happen make seek need average person hear plan salvation seven times respond sort way diet knew lot things new doctor told took awakening one day make something church supportive comments tremendous encouragement continued hope someday recognize encouragement lost people visitors need come back find god many times afraid encourage people afraid offended every word encouragement helpful charlie warren editor arkansas baptist news
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<p>STAFF CHANGES</p>
<p>• Sean Roberds, to First Church, Herndon, as senior pastor.</p>
<p>• Casey Stark, to Vansant Church, Vansant, as pastor.</p>
<p>• Larry Grizzard, to Zion Church, Skippers, as full-time pastor.</p>
<p>• Kerim Meono, to Columbia Hispanic congregation at Crossroads, Falls Church, as pastor.</p>
<p>• N. Keith Smith, concluding his ministry as pastor of Derbyshire Church, Richmond.</p>
<p>• Tom Childrey, to Bethesda Church, Boydton, as interim pastor.</p>
<p>• Phillip Higgins, to First Church, West Point, as minister of music.</p>
<p>• Norina Treanor, to First Church, Springfield, as director of children’s ministries.</p>
<p>• Tom Baynham Jr., concluding his ministry as pastor of worship and senior adults at Ridge Church, Richmond.</p>
<p>• Carla Dillard, to Parham Road Church, Richmond, as minister of children, youth and families.</p>
<p>• Craig Secor, to Black Creek Church, Mechanicsville, as part-time youth minister.</p>
<p>• Eric Reiser and Kris Clifford, to Columbia Church, Falls Church, as pastor of adult discipleship and minister to students, respectively.</p>
<p>• Emily Swartz, to New Bethesda Church, Mechanicsville, as full-time minister of youth and education.</p>
<p>• Alison Marks, to Oakland Church, Gum Spring, as youth minister.</p>
<p>• Kimberly Jeter, to Sharon Church, King William, as director of youth ministry.</p>
<p>• Johnathan Woodham, concluding his ministry as minister of youth and children at Fort Lee Church, Richmond.</p>
<p>ORDINATIONS</p>
<p>• Daniel C. Reed Jr., associate pastor of children and youth at Fort Trial Church, Stanleytown, was ordained to the gospel ministry by the church on Sept. 26.</p>
<p>• Erin Rourke Collier will be ordained to the gospel ministry by Central Church, Richmond, on Oct. 3.</p>
<p>CHURCH NEWS</p>
<p>• A free concert and cookout featuring the Henrico Concert Band is being sponsored by Lakeside Church and Day Care, Richmond, on Oct. 10 from 4-6 p.m.</p>
<p>• “Immersed,” featuring the vocals and compositions of Lee Catherine Clayton and Cammie Shelatz, will lead in contemporary worship at Monument Heights Church, Richmond, on Sept. 26 at 11 a.m.</p>
<p>HOMECOMINGS &amp; REVIVALS</p>
<p>• Abingdon Church, Abingdon; 100th anniversary Oct. 16; 10:30 a.m worship and 5 p.m. celebration with dinner held at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center; reservations needed.</p>
<p>• Antioch Church, Red Oak; 175th anniversary; homecoming Oct. 10; Fred Anderson, speaker; revival Oct. 17-20; Jim White, Darrell Wise, Brandon Ives and Joe Don and Lynn Cooper, evangelists.</p>
<p>• Ash Avenue Church, South Boston; revival Oct. 17-21; Joel Perry, evangelist.</p>
<p>• Bethel Church, Chase City; 238th anniversary; homecoming Oct. 17; M.D. Guthrie, speaker; covered-dish luncheon.</p>
<p>• Central Hill Church, Windsor; 125th anniversary Oct. 3; Jim Ailor, guest speaker; lunch on the grounds.</p>
<p>• Childrey Church, Nathalie; homecoming Oct. 24; Fred Anderson will portray William E. Hatcher, prominent 19th century Baptist minister.</p>
<p>• Clover Bottom Church, Nathalie; homecoming Oct. 24; former pastor Malcolm Cadd, speaker; luncheon to follow the worship service.</p>
<p>• Groveton Church, Alexandria; revival Oct. 3-6; Roger McGee, leading music.</p>
<p>• Hermitage Church, Church View; revival Oct. 24-27; Roger Roller, evangelist.</p>
<p>• Jeffress Church, Clarksville; homecoming Oct. 17; concert by One More Time at 10 a.m. followed by worship and lunch.</p>
<p>• Mechanicsville Church, Louisa; homecoming Oct. 3; revival Oct. 3-6; Roger Roller, evangelist.</p>
<p>• Mt. Zion Church, Chase City; homecoming Oct. 3; Wiley Wallace, guest speaker; lunch will follow with music program at 2 p.m.</p>
<p>• Parham Road Church, Richmond; 50th anniversary; covered-dish lunch following service.</p>
<p>• Pioneer Church, Richmond; 167th anniversary; homecoming Oct. 10; Randy Rains, speaker; lunch on lawn following service.</p>
<p>• Reedy Creek Church, Freeman; homecoming Oct. 3; Pastor Dennis Joyner, preaching; revival Oct. 3-6; Darrell Wise, evangelist.</p>
<p>• Scottsville Church, Scottsville; 170th anniversary celebration Oct. 3; guest speakers; dedications and release of a new edition of its history.</p>
<p>• St. Stephens Church, Saint Stephens Church; 168th anniversary; homecoming Oct. 10; John Upton, guest speaker; lunch at 12:30 followed by concert by Clayton Custalow and Kirby and Laura Smith.</p>
<p>• Union Chapel Church, Clarksville; homecoming Oct. 3; Jim Payne, guest speaker.</p>
<p>OTHER</p>
<p>• The Virginia Baptist Male Chorale will present a concert of sacred choral music on Tues., Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. at Bonsack Church, Roanoke.&#160;</p>
<p>• The Virginia Baptist Library Association will hold its Fall Conference Oct. 15-16 at Temple Baptist in Newport News. There will be a Friday evening dinner and workshops on Saturday. For more information on www. VAchurchlibrary. org.</p>
<p>• Charles B. Nunn Jr., executive director of missions for the Richmond Baptist Association from 1977-1997, has written an autobiography, The Life and Times of a Baptist Nunn. The book is 363 pages and includes 42 photographs. Copies are available for $17.95 plus $3 in shipping. Signed copies of the books may be ordered by contacting Nunn, who now lives in Pawleys Island, S.C., at cbnunnjr@ aol.com or at 843.235.8794.</p>
<p>CORRECTION</p>
<p>The association of a scholarship recipent’s church was identified incorrectly in the listing of Virginia Baptist scholarships in the Sept. 16 issue. The home church of Spenser Blanton, who is attending Fork Union Military Academy, is Salem in Hermon Association.</p>
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staff changes sean roberds first church herndon senior pastor casey stark vansant church vansant pastor larry grizzard zion church skippers fulltime pastor kerim meono columbia hispanic congregation crossroads falls church pastor n keith smith concluding ministry pastor derbyshire church richmond tom childrey bethesda church boydton interim pastor phillip higgins first church west point minister music norina treanor first church springfield director childrens ministries tom baynham jr concluding ministry pastor worship senior adults ridge church richmond carla dillard parham road church richmond minister children youth families craig secor black creek church mechanicsville parttime youth minister eric reiser kris clifford columbia church falls church pastor adult discipleship minister students respectively emily swartz new bethesda church mechanicsville fulltime minister youth education alison marks oakland church gum spring youth minister kimberly jeter sharon church king william director youth ministry johnathan woodham concluding ministry minister youth children fort lee church richmond ordinations daniel c reed jr associate pastor children youth fort trial church stanleytown ordained gospel ministry church sept 26 erin rourke collier ordained gospel ministry central church richmond oct 3 church news free concert cookout featuring henrico concert band sponsored lakeside church day care richmond oct 10 46 pm immersed featuring vocals compositions lee catherine clayton cammie shelatz lead contemporary worship monument heights church richmond sept 26 11 homecomings amp revivals abingdon church abingdon 100th anniversary oct 16 1030 worship 5 pm celebration dinner held southwest virginia higher education center reservations needed antioch church red oak 175th anniversary homecoming oct 10 fred anderson speaker revival oct 1720 jim white darrell wise brandon ives joe lynn cooper evangelists ash avenue church south boston revival oct 1721 joel perry evangelist bethel church chase city 238th anniversary homecoming oct 17 md guthrie speaker covereddish luncheon central hill church windsor 125th anniversary oct 3 jim ailor guest speaker lunch grounds childrey church nathalie homecoming oct 24 fred anderson portray william e hatcher prominent 19th century baptist minister clover bottom church nathalie homecoming oct 24 former pastor malcolm cadd speaker luncheon follow worship service groveton church alexandria revival oct 36 roger mcgee leading music hermitage church church view revival oct 2427 roger roller evangelist jeffress church clarksville homecoming oct 17 concert one time 10 followed worship lunch mechanicsville church louisa homecoming oct 3 revival oct 36 roger roller evangelist mt zion church chase city homecoming oct 3 wiley wallace guest speaker lunch follow music program 2 pm parham road church richmond 50th anniversary covereddish lunch following service pioneer church richmond 167th anniversary homecoming oct 10 randy rains speaker lunch lawn following service reedy creek church freeman homecoming oct 3 pastor dennis joyner preaching revival oct 36 darrell wise evangelist scottsville church scottsville 170th anniversary celebration oct 3 guest speakers dedications release new edition history st stephens church saint stephens church 168th anniversary homecoming oct 10 john upton guest speaker lunch 1230 followed concert clayton custalow kirby laura smith union chapel church clarksville homecoming oct 3 jim payne guest speaker virginia baptist male chorale present concert sacred choral music tues oct 19 7 pm bonsack church roanoke160 virginia baptist library association hold fall conference oct 1516 temple baptist newport news friday evening dinner workshops saturday information www vachurchlibrary org charles b nunn jr executive director missions richmond baptist association 19771997 written autobiography life times baptist nunn book 363 pages includes 42 photographs copies available 1795 plus 3 shipping signed copies books may ordered contacting nunn lives pawleys island sc cbnunnjr aolcom 8432358794 correction association scholarship recipents church identified incorrectly listing virginia baptist scholarships sept 16 issue home church spenser blanton attending fork union military academy salem hermon association
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<p>Just as CEO Jean-Claude Brizard took to the podium to start a presentation at the December School Board meeting, in a booming voice, activist Adourthus McDowell tore into the proposed closure and turnaround of 14 schools, ending with the chant of “those are our children, not corporate products.”</p>
<p>Once it died down, Board President David Vitale turned his attention to Brizard, saying “let’s hope they have gotten it out of their system.”</p>
<p>But before Brizard could introduce his PowerPoint, another woman stood up and launched into the same statement with the crowd repeating each sentence in unison. She was escorted out of the board chambers. But, like a whack-a-mole arcade game in which one mole gets hit on the head and one pops up, another protester, statement in hand, stood up and led a chorus.</p>
<p>Amid the ruckus, board members approved a motion to go into closed session, quietly stood up and walked out of the room. It would be more than two hours before their return.</p>
<p>In their absence, Chicago Teachers Union leaders held a mock public comment session, creating a surreal atmosphere in which parents and teachers stood behind a podium and talked to empty leather chairs.</p>
<p>Ever since CPS began its policy of closing and turning around schools, the actions have caused a fair amount of rancor and some protest. But Wednesday’s board meeting was the first time that protesters effectively shut down a meeting.</p>
<p>When board members came back, they listened to some public testimony and then held a quick business meeting. At the meeting, they approved 12 new charter schools.</p>
<p>The December board meeting was the first one since CPS leaders announced their proposals to close two schools and phase out two others. In addition, they want to turn around 10 schools, a process that entails replacing most of the staff and administration of a school.</p>
<p>McDowell is aligned with the Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization. KOCO has traditionally opposed such actions, but this year is even more entrenched as one of their education organizers, Jitu Brown, serves on the LSC at Dyett High in Washington Park, which is slated to be phased out.</p>
<p>Like many speakers, Brown made his case three times Wednesday. First, he spoke at a press conference in the lobby of the central administration building. Then, he spoke during the CTU public comment session in the absence of board members. And once again he spoke when board members returned.</p>
<p>“The gig is up. The shell game is over. You are not getting Dyett. You are not getting Fuller,” Brown said, Fuller is slated for turnaround. &#160; &#160;</p>
<p>Getting support from Occupy, relying on research</p>
<p>While many in attendance were parents and teachers of targeted schools, the protest is gaining steam from Occupy Chicago, part of a national movement with a broad agenda, mostly against the concentration of wealth, that has drawn support from a number of unions. Ashley Bohrer, who is part of the Occupy movement, says her organization and those protesting against school actions have similar goals: They both oppose corporate takeover or privatization of public entities, a charge critics make against charter schools.</p>
<p>Also, the activists are bolstered by a growing body of research that calls into question whether the policy of closing schools and turning around other ones has sparked any overall, dramatic improvement in the school system. In their statement, the protesters noted that research from the University of Chicago and Stanford University has concluded that the policy has not led to academic gains.</p>
<p>They also quoted <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2011/12/school-actions-could-top-100/" type="external">an analysis</a> done by Chicago Public Media and Catalyst Chicago that showed that about a fifth of schools replaced or turned around over the past decade are high-performing, but that about 40 percent are Performance Level 3, the lowest rating given by CPS. Performance Level 3 schools are eligible for closing, according to CPS criteria.</p>
<p>Besides Vitale looking annoyed and Brizard looking tired, board members and leaders said little when the meeting finally reconvened at about 1:25 p.m.</p>
<p>Though many had left, one group of parents and teachers from the Belmont-Craigin neighborhood stayed. Northwest Middle School parent Julio Clinton told the board that they had gathered 700 signatures opposing Christopher House Charter School, which is to be built on the same campus as Northwest Middle School.</p>
<p>“We lost six teachers this year and now you are giving money to build a charter school 16 inches from our school,” he said.</p>
<p>Though they didn’t say it, Northwest Middle School parents most likely understand that a new charter school could make their school obsolete. In just four years, Northwest Middle School’s student population has dropped by 240 students and they are Performance Level 3.</p>
<p>“Students deserve some educational choice,” said Lori Baas, CEO of Christopher House, a 100-plus-year-old social service organization. Baas notes that the organization has brought out supporters to various public meetings on the charter.</p>
<p>By the time it came to this meeting, Christopher House and the other charters seemed to be a done deal. When the charter school supporters came up to speak, board members were complimentary, thanking them for their hard work. Board member Mahalia Hines said she has visited Noble Street Charter School numerous times and liked what she saw.</p>
<p>During the business section of the meeting, board members approved the charter schools through a motion by Vitale to apply the last unanimous vote. That means that the items are approved without discussion or a roll call. &#160;</p>
<p>In addition to the Christopher House Charter, over the next two years, Noble Street will open four new high schools, LEARN will open three new elementary schools, the United Neighborhood Organization will open three new elementary schools and Catalyst will open one more elementary school. (Catalyst Charter is not connected to Catalyst Chicago.)</p>
<p>Brizard also never got to give his presentation on how he plans to dole out capital improvement money. In addition to $391 million of CPS funds already approved to spend on capital improvements, the district is seeking $269 million in external funding, most of it from the city.</p>
<p>Among the projects that CPS officials plan are four new schools, four new early childhood centers, four major renovations and 32 smaller renovation projects.</p>
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ceo jeanclaude brizard took podium start presentation december school board meeting booming voice activist adourthus mcdowell tore proposed closure turnaround 14 schools ending chant children corporate products died board president david vitale turned attention brizard saying lets hope gotten system brizard could introduce powerpoint another woman stood launched statement crowd repeating sentence unison escorted board chambers like whackamole arcade game one mole gets hit head one pops another protester statement hand stood led chorus amid ruckus board members approved motion go closed session quietly stood walked room would two hours return absence chicago teachers union leaders held mock public comment session creating surreal atmosphere parents teachers stood behind podium talked empty leather chairs ever since cps began policy closing turning around schools actions caused fair amount rancor protest wednesdays board meeting first time protesters effectively shut meeting board members came back listened public testimony held quick business meeting meeting approved 12 new charter schools december board meeting first one since cps leaders announced proposals close two schools phase two others addition want turn around 10 schools process entails replacing staff administration school mcdowell aligned kenwoodoakland community organization koco traditionally opposed actions year even entrenched one education organizers jitu brown serves lsc dyett high washington park slated phased like many speakers brown made case three times wednesday first spoke press conference lobby central administration building spoke ctu public comment session absence board members spoke board members returned gig shell game getting dyett getting fuller brown said fuller slated turnaround 160 160 getting support occupy relying research many attendance parents teachers targeted schools protest gaining steam occupy chicago part national movement broad agenda mostly concentration wealth drawn support number unions ashley bohrer part occupy movement says organization protesting school actions similar goals oppose corporate takeover privatization public entities charge critics make charter schools also activists bolstered growing body research calls question whether policy closing schools turning around ones sparked overall dramatic improvement school system statement protesters noted research university chicago stanford university concluded policy led academic gains also quoted analysis done chicago public media catalyst chicago showed fifth schools replaced turned around past decade highperforming 40 percent performance level 3 lowest rating given cps performance level 3 schools eligible closing according cps criteria besides vitale looking annoyed brizard looking tired board members leaders said little meeting finally reconvened 125 pm though many left one group parents teachers belmontcraigin neighborhood stayed northwest middle school parent julio clinton told board gathered 700 signatures opposing christopher house charter school built campus northwest middle school lost six teachers year giving money build charter school 16 inches school said though didnt say northwest middle school parents likely understand new charter school could make school obsolete four years northwest middle schools student population dropped 240 students performance level 3 students deserve educational choice said lori baas ceo christopher house 100plusyearold social service organization baas notes organization brought supporters various public meetings charter time came meeting christopher house charters seemed done deal charter school supporters came speak board members complimentary thanking hard work board member mahalia hines said visited noble street charter school numerous times liked saw business section meeting board members approved charter schools motion vitale apply last unanimous vote means items approved without discussion roll call 160 addition christopher house charter next two years noble street open four new high schools learn open three new elementary schools united neighborhood organization open three new elementary schools catalyst open one elementary school catalyst charter connected catalyst chicago brizard also never got give presentation plans dole capital improvement money addition 391 million cps funds already approved spend capital improvements district seeking 269 million external funding city among projects cps officials plan four new schools four new early childhood centers four major renovations 32 smaller renovation projects
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<p>The guys in the band are in black, with shaggy hair, and attitudes. They do a sound check in their rehearsal room, and then let it rip.</p>
<p>Guitars shriek through a familiar opening, and then move into a hyper-paced riff on the Pachelbel Canon. This might not be the usual punk rock fare — but then, not all self-proclaimed punk rockers are polite, well-spoken Bhutanese college students.</p>
<p>"Most of our audience is not into hard music, like what we like to play," says 19-year-old guitarist Ughyen Phuntso, a communications major. "So mostly, we end up playing in my garage."</p>
<p>Or they play here, at the Youth Development Fund's youth center in Thimpu, where rehearsal space and instruments are offered free, as an attempt to keep young people off the streets and out of trouble.</p>
<p>"We had noticed there were very few places where the youths could engage productively," says Dorji Ohm, the center's program director. "They'd go to the movies or to the bars. In fact, we did a survey and found 500 bars and one library, which was shocking."</p>
<p>Perhaps it wouldn't be so shocking in many places, but Bhutan is experiencing growing pains. It has long been a mostly rural, deeply Buddhist, largely isolated mountain kingdom. But in the dozen years since it decided to modernize, and opened up to television, internet and other outside influences, cities have grown and, some Bhutanese fear, mores have changed.</p>
<p>"People are becoming more self-centered, less considerate of society and less sensitive," says Lungten Gyatso, a Buddhist monk and director of Bhutan's Institute of Language and Cultural Studies. "And this is because of the global culture, modernization and development whatever you call it — internet, television, and all kinds of media."</p>
<p>As part of the effort to modernize Bhutan, villages that were once days' walk to the nearest road are getting connected, with roads, electricity, television and mobile phones. That has opened up new worlds to Bhutanese villagers, and has attracted ever more young Bhutanese to cities and towns — but the economy can't yet provide jobs for them all. Youth center director Dorji Ohm says some unemployed young people have taken up disturbing new habits — like smoking marijuana and taking ecstasy.</p>
<p>"I remember when I was a child, we never had drugs," she says. "We saw the marijuana growing — lots of it — but we didn't know what it was for. We saw our grandparents feed it to the pigs, so we looked at it more as fodder for animals.</p>
<p>I observe that they must have been very happy pigs. "Very happy pigs," she agrees.</p>
<p>Drug use is still not all that common in Bhutan. But as a younger generation grows up with internet and satellite TV, and other influences from the outside world, older Burmese wonder what will become of Bhutan's spiritually-based identity.</p>
<p>Buddhist monk Lungten Gyatso believes modernization has shifted Bhutan's moral center off-balance. He refers to Bhutan's Gross National Happiness index — the government's effort to measure well-being — and says, the very definition of happiness seems to be changing.</p>
<p>"If you are to consider, in terms of good feeling, or a feel good factor…modern amenities can give you happiness, because you have a good place to sit, a good bed to rest, and good food to eat" he says. "But I think that's not the definition of happiness. Happiness is the peace of mind deep down even beyond the couch, cars, and buildings, even beyond the sense of relaxation you have…is happiness. So it is totally upside down."</p>
<p>Gyatso would like to see Bhutan find a better balance, as it modernizes. Radio personality and film star Phubgyel Tshen says, he already has.</p>
<p>"I would say I'm balanced, and I'm happy in the present situation," he says.</p>
<p>Tshen works at the radio station Kuzoo FM — which tries to draw young listeners with — among other things — Western pop music. It broadcasts both in English and in the Bhutanese language, Dzonka, encouraging young people to stay grounded in their own culture as they navigate a rapidly changing society It also offers talk shows, call-in advice shows, and public service announcements — including frequent ones on sexually transmitted diseases, which are on the rise.</p>
<p>"We let the student speak their own view on radio, like what are their concerns and responsibilities," Tshen says. "Some have family problems. Dad and Mom are divorced. And there's no one to sponsor their education. So they really lag behind, compared to other students."</p>
<p>Divorce is becoming increasingly common in Bhutan, but Dorji Ohm thinks that's not necessarily all bad.</p>
<p>"When I look at my parents' generation, it was the wife who stayed at home," she says. "And divorce was something the Bhutanese didn't really see as a choice. If there were some extramarital affairs, or some abuse, the wife would take it. I think with education, you have more of a sense of independence. You realize your rights. You are more economically independent. So you aren't as dependent on your husband."</p>
<p>Ohm sees the higher divorce rate as yet another sign of a society trying to find its balance. Not all Bhutanese feel it's all that hard.</p>
<p>On a mountain's edge, where pilgrims pause to turn a Buddhist prayer wheel, carpenter Norbu Torsha still seems quite grounded in the Buddhist culture he grew up with. He says his Buddhist beliefs tell him the cutting of trees is sinful, so he's come here to the Tiger's Nest temple, to light a butter lamp as an offering, to at least slightly make up what he has to do to make a living. On balance, though, he says he sees Bhutan's development as a good thing.</p>
<p>"In our village, we used to have to walk days to get a message out," he says. "Now we can just use our mobile phones. Our country is developing fast, and I'm happy with it. I'm happy to have been born here."</p>
<p>Back in Thimpu, high school students Sonam and Nanjita feel the same. Stopping to chat on their way home from school, they say they like listening to Usher and Justin Bieber on Kuzoo FM, and playing around on the internet. But Sonam says it doesn't change who they are as Bhutanese:</p>
<p>"We can listen to the songs, but (inside) we have the sense of (being) Bhutanese," she says. "So we won't forget our culture and tradition."</p>
<p>Nanjita chimes in. "We still like Bhutanese culture and tradition, more than Western things."</p>
<p>The girls say they like the fact that, at school, there are lessons in Buddhist mindfulness, with time given for silent meditation. They're glad the government actively thinks about the happiness of Bhutan's citizens, as it seeks greater economic growth.</p>
<p>In Bhutan, Buddhism's counsel to choose a middle path seems to provide both a guiding principle, and a challenge — develop, but don't lose your identity. Modernize, but don't lose your soul. Many cultures have faced this challenge — few have done it as consciously.</p>
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guys band black shaggy hair attitudes sound check rehearsal room let rip guitars shriek familiar opening move hyperpaced riff pachelbel canon might usual punk rock fare selfproclaimed punk rockers polite wellspoken bhutanese college students audience hard music like like play says 19yearold guitarist ughyen phuntso communications major mostly end playing garage play youth development funds youth center thimpu rehearsal space instruments offered free attempt keep young people streets trouble noticed places youths could engage productively says dorji ohm centers program director theyd go movies bars fact survey found 500 bars one library shocking perhaps wouldnt shocking many places bhutan experiencing growing pains long mostly rural deeply buddhist largely isolated mountain kingdom dozen years since decided modernize opened television internet outside influences cities grown bhutanese fear mores changed people becoming selfcentered less considerate society less sensitive says lungten gyatso buddhist monk director bhutans institute language cultural studies global culture modernization development whatever call internet television kinds media part effort modernize bhutan villages days walk nearest road getting connected roads electricity television mobile phones opened new worlds bhutanese villagers attracted ever young bhutanese cities towns economy cant yet provide jobs youth center director dorji ohm says unemployed young people taken disturbing new habits like smoking marijuana taking ecstasy remember child never drugs says saw marijuana growing lots didnt know saw grandparents feed pigs looked fodder animals observe must happy pigs happy pigs agrees drug use still common bhutan younger generation grows internet satellite tv influences outside world older burmese wonder become bhutans spirituallybased identity buddhist monk lungten gyatso believes modernization shifted bhutans moral center offbalance refers bhutans gross national happiness index governments effort measure wellbeing says definition happiness seems changing consider terms good feeling feel good factormodern amenities give happiness good place sit good bed rest good food eat says think thats definition happiness happiness peace mind deep even beyond couch cars buildings even beyond sense relaxation haveis happiness totally upside gyatso would like see bhutan find better balance modernizes radio personality film star phubgyel tshen says already would say im balanced im happy present situation says tshen works radio station kuzoo fm tries draw young listeners among things western pop music broadcasts english bhutanese language dzonka encouraging young people stay grounded culture navigate rapidly changing society also offers talk shows callin advice shows public service announcements including frequent ones sexually transmitted diseases rise let student speak view radio like concerns responsibilities tshen says family problems dad mom divorced theres one sponsor education really lag behind compared students divorce becoming increasingly common bhutan dorji ohm thinks thats necessarily bad look parents generation wife stayed home says divorce something bhutanese didnt really see choice extramarital affairs abuse wife would take think education sense independence realize rights economically independent arent dependent husband ohm sees higher divorce rate yet another sign society trying find balance bhutanese feel hard mountains edge pilgrims pause turn buddhist prayer wheel carpenter norbu torsha still seems quite grounded buddhist culture grew says buddhist beliefs tell cutting trees sinful hes come tigers nest temple light butter lamp offering least slightly make make living balance though says sees bhutans development good thing village used walk days get message says use mobile phones country developing fast im happy im happy born back thimpu high school students sonam nanjita feel stopping chat way home school say like listening usher justin bieber kuzoo fm playing around internet sonam says doesnt change bhutanese listen songs inside sense bhutanese says wont forget culture tradition nanjita chimes still like bhutanese culture tradition western things girls say like fact school lessons buddhist mindfulness time given silent meditation theyre glad government actively thinks happiness bhutans citizens seeks greater economic growth bhutan buddhisms counsel choose middle path seems provide guiding principle challenge develop dont lose identity modernize dont lose soul many cultures faced challenge done consciously
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<p><a href="" type="internal" />Oct. 22, 2012</p>
<p>By Bill Evers and Ze’ev Wurman</p>
<p>Gov. Jerry Brown recently sent California several decades back into the 20th century by signing <a href="http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/SB_1200/20112012/" type="external">Senate Bill 1200</a>, by state Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Oakland. This law now mandates a shocking rollback of how much math we expect children in California’s public schools to learn and&#160; — furthermore — this law constitutes a setback for good government.</p>
<p>Back in the late 1990s, faced with evidence that the state ranked near the bottom of the nation and industrialized countries in math achievement, California policymakers set the goal of teaching Algebra 1 by grade eight to all students who were ready for it — in line with most high-achieving countries.</p>
<p>From the beginning, policymakers knew it was an ambitious goal. Educators stepped up to the challenge. Policymakers at the state level, working together with teachers and principals in local school districts, put a system in place to enhance learning of key building blocks of mathematics in the elementary grades, strengthened teachers’ math competency, increased training on math teaching techniques, and provided textbooks aligned to the more challenging standards.</p>
<p>And students stepped up, too. The results are a rarely-told story of stunning success in public education. In 1998, only 17 percent, just 70,000 of our students, took Algebra by grade eight. But this year, 68 percent, or more than 324,000 did.</p>
<p>This translates to almost quarter of a million more students taking Algebra by grade eight. Not only had we successfully quadrupled the fraction of Algebra-taking by grade eight — which is a major accomplishment for those students and their teachers — but an ever larger percentage of students have over time scored “proficient” and above.</p>
<p>The success of minorities and students in poverty increasing their Algebra 1 proficiency was the most significant achievement. In 2003, fewer than 1,700 African-Americans successfully took Algebra by grade 8. By 2012, more than 6,900 did; that was more than a four-fold increase</p>
<p>In 2003, slightly more than 10,000 Latino students successfully took Algebra by grade 8. By 2011, more than 63,000 did; that was more than six-fold increase. In fact, more Latino students scored proficient and advanced on Algebra in 2012 than the total number of Latino students who took Algebra in 2003.</p>
<p>SB 1200 will doom all children, whether in poverty or affluent, to a one-size-fits-all, lowered-expectations elementary curriculum that will only prepare them for pre-algebra in middle school. Rather than strengthening preparation for all students in earlier grades for Algebra in grade eight, in line with international benchmarks, we will return to an era when only privileged families can afford the extra tutoring to prepare their children for high expectations and international competition.</p>
<p>Furthermore, SB1200 is so poorly drafted that it doesn’t just roll back the expectation of Algebra 1 in grade eight. It does more than that by requiring “one set” of standards “at each grade level,” and precluding typical mathematics course options for students in high school.</p>
<p>California high schools have always offered different math classes to students in the same grade who have different levels of preparation. Accordingly, California historically has adopted course-level math standards for high school — preserving local control at the district and school level to decide when it would be best to offer rigorous courses to each student based on the student’s ability. But SB 1200 would outlaw that practice by mandating only one set of mathematics curriculum- content standards, textbooks and training and teacher materials for all students in each K-12 grade.</p>
<p>Officials of Brown’s administration have offered rhetoric about how they will not have to implement the plain language of the law. But they do not have the statutory authority or capacity to violate the law’s provisions. Efforts to get around the wording of the law will lead to confusion about policy on curriculum, textbooks and testing — and hence invite lawsuits and re-ignite the math wars.</p>
<p>Finally, SB 1200 radically changes the balance of power in government over the development of curriculum-content standards. Historically, standards have been drafted by a panel appointed by different branches of California’s state government, with a majority of appointees made by the governor. This bill permanently transfers authority over standards development to the state superintendent of public instruction, currently Tom Torlakson, a former Democratic state legislator.</p>
<p>Such a move is unwise. The state superintendent and bureaucrats at the state Department of Education often are likely to represent the narrow interests of education providers. Whereas the governor (of whatever party) is more likely to represent the larger interests of all the people of California who primarily want to see students succeeding academically&#160;— especially students’ parents and employers who hire graduates of public schools.</p>
<p>When California agreed to consider adopting the Common Core national curriculum-content standards, then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, concerned about maintaining California’s rigorous standards, conditioned their adoption “until we have determined that they meet or exceed our own” standards.</p>
<p>In that spirit, the California State Academic Content Standards Commission determined in 2010 that retaining Algebra I in eighth grade was essential. It suggested dual options — both authentic Algebra I and the Common Core’s pre-algebra. The state Board of Education approved the suggestions in August 2010. In signing SB 1200 Governor Brown has just thrown overboard the rigor that three past governors — of both parties — had fought hard to establish and maintain.</p>
<p>Undoing California’s high academic expectations is a disastrous step backward for all children. SB 1200 will leave the children and&#160; future workers of California woefully unprepared for the challenges and demands they will face in today’s ever more fiercely competitive economy at home and in an increasingly global marketplace.</p>
<p>Bill Evers is a research fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and a member of the institution’s Koret Task Force on K-12 Education. He was U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education for Program, Evaluation and Policy Development from 2007 to 2009.</p>
<p>Ze’ev Wurman is an executive at a Silicon Valley semiconductor company and a former senior adviser to the U.S. Department of Education. Both Evers and Wurman served on the California State Academic Content Standards Commission in 2010. &#160;</p>
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oct 22 2012 bill evers zeev wurman gov jerry brown recently sent california several decades back 20th century signing senate bill 1200 state sen loni hancock doakland law mandates shocking rollback much math expect children californias public schools learn and160 furthermore law constitutes setback good government back late 1990s faced evidence state ranked near bottom nation industrialized countries math achievement california policymakers set goal teaching algebra 1 grade eight students ready line highachieving countries beginning policymakers knew ambitious goal educators stepped challenge policymakers state level working together teachers principals local school districts put system place enhance learning key building blocks mathematics elementary grades strengthened teachers math competency increased training math teaching techniques provided textbooks aligned challenging standards students stepped results rarelytold story stunning success public education 1998 17 percent 70000 students took algebra grade eight year 68 percent 324000 translates almost quarter million students taking algebra grade eight successfully quadrupled fraction algebrataking grade eight major accomplishment students teachers ever larger percentage students time scored proficient success minorities students poverty increasing algebra 1 proficiency significant achievement 2003 fewer 1700 africanamericans successfully took algebra grade 8 2012 6900 fourfold increase 2003 slightly 10000 latino students successfully took algebra grade 8 2011 63000 sixfold increase fact latino students scored proficient advanced algebra 2012 total number latino students took algebra 2003 sb 1200 doom children whether poverty affluent onesizefitsall loweredexpectations elementary curriculum prepare prealgebra middle school rather strengthening preparation students earlier grades algebra grade eight line international benchmarks return era privileged families afford extra tutoring prepare children high expectations international competition furthermore sb1200 poorly drafted doesnt roll back expectation algebra 1 grade eight requiring one set standards grade level precluding typical mathematics course options students high school california high schools always offered different math classes students grade different levels preparation accordingly california historically adopted courselevel math standards high school preserving local control district school level decide would best offer rigorous courses student based students ability sb 1200 would outlaw practice mandating one set mathematics curriculum content standards textbooks training teacher materials students k12 grade officials browns administration offered rhetoric implement plain language law statutory authority capacity violate laws provisions efforts get around wording law lead confusion policy curriculum textbooks testing hence invite lawsuits reignite math wars finally sb 1200 radically changes balance power government development curriculumcontent standards historically standards drafted panel appointed different branches californias state government majority appointees made governor bill permanently transfers authority standards development state superintendent public instruction currently tom torlakson former democratic state legislator move unwise state superintendent bureaucrats state department education often likely represent narrow interests education providers whereas governor whatever party likely represent larger interests people california primarily want see students succeeding academically160 especially students parents employers hire graduates public schools california agreed consider adopting common core national curriculumcontent standards thengov arnold schwarzenegger concerned maintaining californias rigorous standards conditioned adoption determined meet exceed standards spirit california state academic content standards commission determined 2010 retaining algebra eighth grade essential suggested dual options authentic algebra common cores prealgebra state board education approved suggestions august 2010 signing sb 1200 governor brown thrown overboard rigor three past governors parties fought hard establish maintain undoing californias high academic expectations disastrous step backward children sb 1200 leave children and160 future workers california woefully unprepared challenges demands face todays ever fiercely competitive economy home increasingly global marketplace bill evers research fellow stanford universitys hoover institution member institutions koret task force k12 education us assistant secretary education program evaluation policy development 2007 2009 zeev wurman executive silicon valley semiconductor company former senior adviser us department education evers wurman served california state academic content standards commission 2010 160
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<p>KAWAUCHI, Japan - More than a year after the meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi power, several hundred residents forced out by radiation have made a nervous first return to their homes in Kawauchi.</p>
<p>Residents from the village and two other locations near the edge of the 12-mile exclusion zone around the facility were allowed back recently after the government lifted evacuation orders in former "hotspots" where <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/japan/120330/japan-eases-limits-nuke-no-go-zone" type="external">radiation exposure has dropped</a> to levels it considers safe.</p>
<p>As a handful of children were welcomed back to school at an emotional ceremony last month, local officials heralded the first chapter in the village's post-Fukushima history.</p>
<p>"There were times when we never thought we would be able to return and get on with our lives again," Yoshinobu Ishii, head of the local board of education, told parents and children.</p>
<p>"There are only a few of us here, and I know you are missing your friends who are still living in temporary accommodation. These things take time. And remember, the whole of Japan wants us to succeed."</p>
<p>In theory, 16,000 of the more than 100,000 people displaced by the nuclear crisis are able return to their old neighborhoods, although only those whose homes have been decontaminated can stay overnight.</p>
<p>But tens of thousands of others who once lived near the plant may have to wait decades before they can even attempt to rebuild lives put on hold since radiation contaminated their communities in the wake of Japan's triple disaster.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/series/after-the-tsunami" type="external">After the tsunami, an in-depth series</a></p>
<p>Kawauchi, whose eastern reaches lie inside the no-go zone, was the first to resume basic services, including reopening the village's office, clinic and schools.</p>
<p>The mayor, Yuko Endo, praised the children for their courage. "You have had a tough time as refugees, but now you can concentrate on the things that matter, like school and home."</p>
<p>The government lifted the evacuation order in line with a new radiation zoning system that allows people in neighborhoods where atmospheric radiation is below 20 millisieverts (mSv) a year - although that is still twenty times the target Japan's authorities have set for contaminated areas.</p>
<p>Residents in areas where the annual reading is between 20 mSv to 50 mSv now have unrestricted access during the day, although they are not permitted to stay overnight; those living in places where exposure exceeds 50 mSv a year will not be allowed to return for at least five years.</p>
<p>The village of Tamura also lifted its evacuation order, as did Minamisoma, where many residents in newly reopened coastal area lost their homes to the tsunami, and gas, water and electricity supplies have yet to be restored.</p>
<p>Endo, who said he was determined not to allow Kawauchi to become another Pripyat - the deserted town near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant - hopes the population will return to around pre-disaster levels in two to three years.</p>
<p>But of the village's population of 2,856, only about 500 have returned so far. Local schools should have had more than 200 pupils on their rolls this spring; instead there are just 30, including the 16 who started classes in April.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/japan/120301/tsunami-fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-power-plant-year-anniversary" type="external">Fukushima a year on</a></p>
<p>An estimated 75,000 people in eight other towns, cities and villages in or around the 12-mile evacuation zone who face a much longer wait, if they are allowed to return at all.</p>
<p>Last weekend the environment minister, Goshi Hosono, acknowledged that the no-entry order for communities closest to the Fukushima plant could remain in place for years. Earlier, the minister in charge of tsunami reconstruction, Tatsuo Hirano, hinted that a permanent "buffer zone" could be created around the facility due to the persistent threat from radioactive water leaks.</p>
<p>A recent government report forecasts that in some areas - including the towns of Futaba and Okuma, located less than two miles from the power plant - radiation exposure will exceed 100 mSv a year in March 2017. That is the lowest level at which any long-term increase in cancer risk is clearly evident, according to the UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Radiation.</p>
<p>In 20 years' time, levels in some of those areas will still exceed the 20 mSv limit the government has imposed for returning residents, the report added.</p>
<p>There wasn't a single mention of radiation at Kawauchi community center, where officials and teachers fought back tears to welcome the new intake at the village's nursery, elementary and junior high schools.</p>
<p>"I promised we would wait for you," Toshihiko Takahama, principal of Kawauchi middle school, told his pupils. "Being forced out of your home was really tough for you, but now you're back, starting a new chapter in your lives. Don't worry, your teachers will look after you."</p>
<p>The children's thoughts were with friends who have started new lives elsewhere, or whose parents remain unconvinced by reassurances that radiation in the village does not pose a threat to their long-term health.</p>
<p>"About half of my friends are still living all over the place," said 12-year-old Haruna Endo, who moved back last month. "But I want to enjoy school with those of us who have come back. I'm not at all worried about my health."</p>
<p>Opinion was divided among parents who had decided to move back after more than a year in temporary housing, in some cases hundreds of miles from Fukushima.</p>
<p>"We went to Ehime prefecture [in southwest Japan] and the kids were bullied, mainly because of their accents," said Koji Nishiyama, a local government official and father of four. "I'm relieved that they're finally able to return and start school in their own home. The children are happy too."</p>
<p>Nishiyama said he wasn't worried about radiation levels; areas in front of the village schools measured between 0.114 and 0.16 mSv an hour on the day his children started classes - well below the 0.23 mSv an hour the government considers safe.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/120312/burma-economy-myanmar-sanctions" type="external">Myanmar open for business?</a></p>
<p>"I'm not concerned," he said. "I was more worried about our children when we were living in temporary accommodation and they couldn't lead normal lives. The radiation levels are really low around here."</p>
<p>But Hirotaka Suzuki, whose 12-year-old son, Hideyoshi, has just started middle school, was more guarded: "I'm still not sure that we've done the right thing."</p>
<p>Now that he has persuaded about a sixth of the population to return, Mayor Endo must convince the remainder to follow. That could prove difficult in a village where rice farming has been put on hold by the nuclear crisis, most shops and restaurants are still closed, and cultivated fields have been overtaken by wild grass.</p>
<p>"I'm glad that some people have decided to come back," he said. "But I worry that life here will never be what it was."</p>
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kawauchi japan year meltdown fukushima daiichi power several hundred residents forced radiation made nervous first return homes kawauchi residents village two locations near edge 12mile exclusion zone around facility allowed back recently government lifted evacuation orders former hotspots radiation exposure dropped levels considers safe handful children welcomed back school emotional ceremony last month local officials heralded first chapter villages postfukushima history times never thought would able return get lives yoshinobu ishii head local board education told parents children us know missing friends still living temporary accommodation things take time remember whole japan wants us succeed theory 16000 100000 people displaced nuclear crisis able return old neighborhoods although whose homes decontaminated stay overnight tens thousands others lived near plant may wait decades even attempt rebuild lives put hold since radiation contaminated communities wake japans triple disaster globalpost tsunami indepth series kawauchi whose eastern reaches lie inside nogo zone first resume basic services including reopening villages office clinic schools mayor yuko endo praised children courage tough time refugees concentrate things matter like school home government lifted evacuation order line new radiation zoning system allows people neighborhoods atmospheric radiation 20 millisieverts msv year although still twenty times target japans authorities set contaminated areas residents areas annual reading 20 msv 50 msv unrestricted access day although permitted stay overnight living places exposure exceeds 50 msv year allowed return least five years village tamura also lifted evacuation order minamisoma many residents newly reopened coastal area lost homes tsunami gas water electricity supplies yet restored endo said determined allow kawauchi become another pripyat deserted town near chernobyl nuclear power plant hopes population return around predisaster levels two three years villages population 2856 500 returned far local schools 200 pupils rolls spring instead 30 including 16 started classes april globalpost fukushima year estimated 75000 people eight towns cities villages around 12mile evacuation zone face much longer wait allowed return last weekend environment minister goshi hosono acknowledged noentry order communities closest fukushima plant could remain place years earlier minister charge tsunami reconstruction tatsuo hirano hinted permanent buffer zone could created around facility due persistent threat radioactive water leaks recent government report forecasts areas including towns futaba okuma located less two miles power plant radiation exposure exceed 100 msv year march 2017 lowest level longterm increase cancer risk clearly evident according un scientific committee effects radiation 20 years time levels areas still exceed 20 msv limit government imposed returning residents report added wasnt single mention radiation kawauchi community center officials teachers fought back tears welcome new intake villages nursery elementary junior high schools promised would wait toshihiko takahama principal kawauchi middle school told pupils forced home really tough youre back starting new chapter lives dont worry teachers look childrens thoughts friends started new lives elsewhere whose parents remain unconvinced reassurances radiation village pose threat longterm health half friends still living place said 12yearold haruna endo moved back last month want enjoy school us come back im worried health opinion divided among parents decided move back year temporary housing cases hundreds miles fukushima went ehime prefecture southwest japan kids bullied mainly accents said koji nishiyama local government official father four im relieved theyre finally able return start school home children happy nishiyama said wasnt worried radiation levels areas front village schools measured 0114 016 msv hour day children started classes well 023 msv hour government considers safe globalpost myanmar open business im concerned said worried children living temporary accommodation couldnt lead normal lives radiation levels really low around hirotaka suzuki whose 12yearold son hideyoshi started middle school guarded im still sure weve done right thing persuaded sixth population return mayor endo must convince remainder follow could prove difficult village rice farming put hold nuclear crisis shops restaurants still closed cultivated fields overtaken wild grass im glad people decided come back said worry life never
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<p>Tribune Content Agency — August 9, 2016</p>
<p>Three former Central Intelligence Agency directors have emerged to denounce Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, to the benefit of his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. It’s troubling to see past leaders of America’s foreign intelligence agency, which is responsible for subverting and influencing foreign targets through propaganda, attempting to do the same at home to influence a presidential election.</p>
<p>In a recent New York Times op-ed, Michael J. Morell, a former acting director and deputy director of the CIA, wrote: “President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia was a career intelligence officer, trained to identify vulnerabilities in an individual and to exploit them. That is exactly what he did early in the primaries.”</p>
<p>Ironically, that’s exactly what career intelligence officers appear to be doing right now to the American voting public.</p>
<p>It’s hard to ignore the fact that since leaving the CIA, Morell has worked for Beacon Global Strategies — whose managing director, Philippe Reines, was a senior advisor to Clinton during her time as a U.S. senator and secretary of state. But Morell isn’t the only ex-CIA chief with Democratic ties who’s gone after Trump.</p>
<p>Former CIA Director Leon Panetta, who ran the agency under President Barack Obama and attended last week’s Democratic National Convention, said in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that Trump “is truly not qualified to be president of the United States.”</p>
<p>In addition to the attacks from Morell and Panetta, 50 prominent Republican national security officials signed a letter denouncing Trump and stating that none of them will vote for him. One of the signees was Michael Hayden, a former CIA director and director of the National Security agency.</p>
<p>And just as the group letter was hitting the press, a former CIA officer stepped into the limelight by announcing that he’ll run for president as an alternative to Trump. Evan McMullin, who served as a refugee resettlement officer in Jordan on behalf of the United Nations, worked briefly at Goldman Sachs and spent about a decade with the CIA, has to be the most tone-deaf presidential candidate of all time. Did McMullin miss the memo that this election has had major anti-establishment undertones, and that voters aren’t interested in electing a former CIA apparatchik, former Wall Streeter and former member of the U.N. bureaucracy?</p>
<p>But back to that letter, which includes no mention of Clinton’s foreign policy failures as secretary of state but is highly critical of Trump’s foreign policy positions.</p>
<p>“He persistently compliments our adversaries and threatens our allies and friends,” the letter writers complain.</p>
<p>The word “threaten” is rather subjective in this case. Take, for example, Trump’s criticism of NATO, a military and diplomatic straitjacket. When Trump declared NATO obsolete, it was a threat only to the system that has supported the letter-writing national security officials for much of their lives. It makes perfect sense that Trump would want to forge cordial relationships with potential new allies such as Russia in order to tackle the unsolved challenge of asymmetric terrorist warfare. But if the U.S. allied with Russia, it would no doubt leave the CIA and other agencies without a key budget justification.</p>
<p>Compare Trump’s problem-solving approach to Morell’s assertion in an interview with Charlie Rose of CBS that, “We need to make the Iranians pay a price in Syria. We need to make the Russians pay a price.”</p>
<p>Pay a price for what? For laying bare the CIA’s agenda in the Middle East, which resulted in the training and arming of the “Syrian rebels” who morphed into the Islamic State? For rolling up their sleeves and rooting out the Islamic State as Western forces stood idly by?</p>
<p>“I want to go after those things that Assad sees as his personal power base,” Morell told Rose. “I want to scare Assad.”</p>
<p>Seriously? And Trump is the one who’s reckless?</p>
<p>Compare Trump’s take, which comes from an interview with The New York Times: “I think that our far bigger problem than Assad is ISIS, I’ve always felt that. Assad is, you know I’m not saying Assad is a good man, ’cause he’s not, but our far greater problem is not Assad, it’s ISIS.”</p>
<p>In their letter, the national security experts accuse Trump of being “unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood.” Yet, unlike the establishment experts in the CIA and State Department, Trump doesn’t seem stuck in a time machine permanently set to the Cold War era. More interested in forging pragmatic new alliances and re-evaluating those that have been taken for granted, Trump has called out “traditional” U.S. ally Mexico for its lack of border control, resulting in a flood of undocumented immigrants into America. He also told The New York Times that Saudi Arabia would have to start pulling its weight as an ally — which would certainly be a nice change from the Saudis’ more prominent role in funding terrorism.</p>
<p>In his op-ed, Morell tried to portray Trump as a dupe.</p>
<p>“In the intelligence business,” Morell wrote, “we would say that Mr. Putin had recruited Mr. Trump as an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation.”</p>
<p>In the propaganda-deciphering business, we would call that a rhetorical hit job. Why don’t we just all regress back to the 1950s and call everyone who disagrees with our worldview a commie? Morell is trying to prop up a weak argument by manipulating people’s emotions and provoking their fears.</p>
<p>Former CIA leaders have no business using such tactics on the American public.</p>
<p>(c) 2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.</p>
<p>Rachel Marsden is a columnist, political strategist and former Fox News host based in Paris. She is the host of the syndicated talk show " <a href="http://www.unredactedshow.com" type="external">UNREDACTED with Rachel Marsden</a>" Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Eastern. Her website can be found at <a href="http://www.rachelmarsden.com" type="external">www.rachelmarsden.com</a>.</p>
<p />
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tribune content agency august 9 2016 three former central intelligence agency directors emerged denounce republican presidential nominee donald trump benefit democratic rival hillary clinton troubling see past leaders americas foreign intelligence agency responsible subverting influencing foreign targets propaganda attempting home influence presidential election recent new york times oped michael j morell former acting director deputy director cia wrote president vladimir v putin russia career intelligence officer trained identify vulnerabilities individual exploit exactly early primaries ironically thats exactly career intelligence officers appear right american voting public hard ignore fact since leaving cia morell worked beacon global strategies whose managing director philippe reines senior advisor clinton time us senator secretary state morell isnt excia chief democratic ties whos gone trump former cia director leon panetta ran agency president barack obama attended last weeks democratic national convention said interview cnns christiane amanpour trump truly qualified president united states addition attacks morell panetta 50 prominent republican national security officials signed letter denouncing trump stating none vote one signees michael hayden former cia director director national security agency group letter hitting press former cia officer stepped limelight announcing hell run president alternative trump evan mcmullin served refugee resettlement officer jordan behalf united nations worked briefly goldman sachs spent decade cia tonedeaf presidential candidate time mcmullin miss memo election major antiestablishment undertones voters arent interested electing former cia apparatchik former wall streeter former member un bureaucracy back letter includes mention clintons foreign policy failures secretary state highly critical trumps foreign policy positions persistently compliments adversaries threatens allies friends letter writers complain word threaten rather subjective case take example trumps criticism nato military diplomatic straitjacket trump declared nato obsolete threat system supported letterwriting national security officials much lives makes perfect sense trump would want forge cordial relationships potential new allies russia order tackle unsolved challenge asymmetric terrorist warfare us allied russia would doubt leave cia agencies without key budget justification compare trumps problemsolving approach morells assertion interview charlie rose cbs need make iranians pay price syria need make russians pay price pay price laying bare cias agenda middle east resulted training arming syrian rebels morphed islamic state rolling sleeves rooting islamic state western forces stood idly want go things assad sees personal power base morell told rose want scare assad seriously trump one whos reckless compare trumps take comes interview new york times think far bigger problem assad isis ive always felt assad know im saying assad good man cause hes far greater problem assad isis letter national security experts accuse trump unable unwilling separate truth falsehood yet unlike establishment experts cia state department trump doesnt seem stuck time machine permanently set cold war era interested forging pragmatic new alliances reevaluating taken granted trump called traditional us ally mexico lack border control resulting flood undocumented immigrants america also told new york times saudi arabia would start pulling weight ally would certainly nice change saudis prominent role funding terrorism oped morell tried portray trump dupe intelligence business morell wrote would say mr putin recruited mr trump unwitting agent russian federation propagandadeciphering business would call rhetorical hit job dont regress back 1950s call everyone disagrees worldview commie morell trying prop weak argument manipulating peoples emotions provoking fears former cia leaders business using tactics american public c 2016 tribune content agency llc rachel marsden columnist political strategist former fox news host based paris host syndicated talk show unredacted rachel marsden tuesdays 7 pm eastern website found wwwrachelmarsdencom
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<p>SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina — During the worst days of the Bosnian war, when the city of Sarajevo was under continual siege, members of the city’s philharmonic orchestra practiced in the freezing cold by candlelight and dodged sniper bullets to attend rehearsals.</p>
<p>Times have certainly changed. On Feb. 19, the elegantly dressed orchestra — full now of fresh, young faces — took to the gilded stage of Bosnia’s National Theater to perform Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer and Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony to an audience of well-heeled Sarajevans.</p>
<p>During the nearly four-year-long siege, from 1992 to 1996, as snipers and shells terrorized the population, the Sarajevo Philharmonic played on, becoming in the process a symbol of the city’s determination and bravery.</p>
<p>Today, threats faced by the orchestra are of a more mundane nature: the challenges of staying financially afloat and building new audiences in a post-Communist era of scant state support for classical music.</p>
<p>American conductor Charles Ansbacher, who conducted the Feb. 19 concert, has been working with the Sarajevo Philharmonic since the war. In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Ansbacher’s wife, Swanee Hunt, as the American ambassador to Austria. The former conductor of the Colorado Springs Symphony, Ansbacher arrived in Vienna planning to immerse himself in that city’s rich cultural scene.</p>
<p>Instead, he found himself drawn to Bosnia, where he decided to help in the only way he knew how, through music. Over the last decade and a half, Ansbacher has worked with orchestras in a number of transitional and post-conflict societies and says music is a "universal language of emotion" that is particularly resonant in difficult times. To watch a video about Ansbacher's pursuits in Beirut, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/video/general/091228/charles-ansbacher-beirut" type="external">click here</a>.</p>
<p>In Bosnia, he and his wife helped organize new instruments for the philharmonic members and organized for the orchestra to play in Austria.</p>
<p>“From then to now, obviously the orchestra has gotten enormously better,” Ansbacher says, recalling how, in his early visits, there used to be a sign warning that no weapons were allowed on stage. “At first, we wondered if it was strange to be bringing gifts of cellos and violins to a place that didn’t have food or water.” But, in the end, they decided, it was as important to nurture the soul as the body. “The idea was to lift the spirit.”</p>
<p>Today, the challenges facing the Sarajevo Philharmonic are more in tune with those facing other classical music institutions around the world. In Bosnia, as in other post-Communist countries, the massive state infrastructure that once supported classical music education and performance institutions has diminished or disappeared. Instead of Mozart and Bach, the country’s radio and television stations now bombard youth with homegrown turbo-folk and American pop.</p>
<p>“I think they’ve been focused on surviving and they’ve been less focused on how do you make this available to a new generation, because before, they haven’t needed to go out and build audiences,” says Ansbacher, the founder and conductor of the Boston Landmarks Orchestra, who still comes almost yearly to conduct in Sarajevo. Still, each time he returns, he sees little signs of change. This year, for the first time since the war, the elevators in the National Theater worked.</p>
<p>Still, many members of the Sarajevo Philharmonic remember the war years with a certain nostalgia. They were dangerous and difficult times for all Sarajevans, and members of the orchestra were no exception.</p>
<p>Arijana Zupcevic, now the second-violinist, joined the ensemble in the middle of the conflict at the age of 19 and recalls walking 10 miles each way through the besieged city for rehearsals and concerts. Seven members of the philharmonic died during the war, one killed not far from the doors of the National Theater, and at least 12 were seriously injured.</p>
<p>But, Dzevad Sabanagic, the philharmonic’s white-haired concertmaster and its longest serving member, says during the war, people turned to music and books for comfort because they had nothing else.</p>
<p>“In a city where 1 million grenades fell during the siege, people were longing for art,” he says. “We would see when the people entered the building that their faces were full of fear, because they had to walk through grenades and snipers. But the music kept them alive and it kept us alive.”</p>
<p>Now, he laments, Sarajevo is again focused on its material rather than spiritual needs. The city’s cafes are restaurants buzzing with stylish young people and its streets are lined with shops selling luxury clothes brands. The political situation is still precarious, but the guns have been silenced for nearly a decade and a half.</p>
<p>As he nears retirement, Sabanagic too worries about the future of classical music in Bosnia and the divides that still separate its people. When he was a child, classical music came to every city and village in the country. Today, the philharmonic, which also plays for the city’s opera and ballet, rarely travels outside Sarajevo and is now the only full-time, professional orchestra in the country. “There are 30 music schools in Bosnia today, but most students finish music school never having actually seen a philharmonic concert,” he says, shaking his head.</p>
<p>Increasingly, he and others fear, classical music in Bosnia — as in other western nations — is becoming a pastime of the old and rich. The cost of tickets, which usually range from $7 to $20, are modest by American standards, but still expensive in a country where many still make only a few hundred dollars a month.</p>
<p>The audience at the Feb. 19 concert, which also featured the well-known Argentinian born mezzo-soprano Bernarda Fink, who happens to be married to Valentin Inzko, the international High Representative in Bosnia, was certainly distinguished. Many of the country’s political leaders were there, including one of the country’s three presidents and the prime minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the country's two entities, as well as a good representation from the city’s diplomatic corps. But the predominant hair color, noted 22-year-old Dijana Pliska, was gray.</p>
<p>“As you can see in the concert, there are few young people, and they are mostly from the music academy,” said Pliska, herself a 22-year-old student of music, gesturing at the crowd. “We young people should do something to make other young people love classical music.”</p>
<p>Editor's note: Swanee Hunt and Charles Ansbacher are investors in GlobalPost.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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sarajevo bosniaherzegovina worst days bosnian war city sarajevo continual siege members citys philharmonic orchestra practiced freezing cold candlelight dodged sniper bullets attend rehearsals times certainly changed feb 19 elegantly dressed orchestra full fresh young faces took gilded stage bosnias national theater perform mahlers songs wayfarer beethovens pastoral symphony audience wellheeled sarajevans nearly fouryearlong siege 1992 1996 snipers shells terrorized population sarajevo philharmonic played becoming process symbol citys determination bravery today threats faced orchestra mundane nature challenges staying financially afloat building new audiences postcommunist era scant state support classical music american conductor charles ansbacher conducted feb 19 concert working sarajevo philharmonic since war 1993 president bill clinton appointed ansbachers wife swanee hunt american ambassador austria former conductor colorado springs symphony ansbacher arrived vienna planning immerse citys rich cultural scene instead found drawn bosnia decided help way knew music last decade half ansbacher worked orchestras number transitional postconflict societies says music universal language emotion particularly resonant difficult times watch video ansbachers pursuits beirut click bosnia wife helped organize new instruments philharmonic members organized orchestra play austria obviously orchestra gotten enormously better ansbacher says recalling early visits used sign warning weapons allowed stage first wondered strange bringing gifts cellos violins place didnt food water end decided important nurture soul body idea lift spirit today challenges facing sarajevo philharmonic tune facing classical music institutions around world bosnia postcommunist countries massive state infrastructure supported classical music education performance institutions diminished disappeared instead mozart bach countrys radio television stations bombard youth homegrown turbofolk american pop think theyve focused surviving theyve less focused make available new generation havent needed go build audiences says ansbacher founder conductor boston landmarks orchestra still comes almost yearly conduct sarajevo still time returns sees little signs change year first time since war elevators national theater worked still many members sarajevo philharmonic remember war years certain nostalgia dangerous difficult times sarajevans members orchestra exception arijana zupcevic secondviolinist joined ensemble middle conflict age 19 recalls walking 10 miles way besieged city rehearsals concerts seven members philharmonic died war one killed far doors national theater least 12 seriously injured dzevad sabanagic philharmonics whitehaired concertmaster longest serving member says war people turned music books comfort nothing else city 1 million grenades fell siege people longing art says would see people entered building faces full fear walk grenades snipers music kept alive kept us alive laments sarajevo focused material rather spiritual needs citys cafes restaurants buzzing stylish young people streets lined shops selling luxury clothes brands political situation still precarious guns silenced nearly decade half nears retirement sabanagic worries future classical music bosnia divides still separate people child classical music came every city village country today philharmonic also plays citys opera ballet rarely travels outside sarajevo fulltime professional orchestra country 30 music schools bosnia today students finish music school never actually seen philharmonic concert says shaking head increasingly others fear classical music bosnia western nations becoming pastime old rich cost tickets usually range 7 20 modest american standards still expensive country many still make hundred dollars month audience feb 19 concert also featured wellknown argentinian born mezzosoprano bernarda fink happens married valentin inzko international high representative bosnia certainly distinguished many countrys political leaders including one countrys three presidents prime minister federation bosnia herzegovina one countrys two entities well good representation citys diplomatic corps predominant hair color noted 22yearold dijana pliska gray see concert young people mostly music academy said pliska 22yearold student music gesturing crowd young people something make young people love classical music editors note swanee hunt charles ansbacher investors globalpost 160
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<p>A two-year-old missing person case is taking a toll on the family of a Missouri Baptist lobbyist amid release of new information about the disappearance of 52-year-old Lynn Messer from the family farm in the early&#160;morning hours of July 8, 2014.</p>
<p>Abram Messer, 34, who in the past lobbied with his father, Kerry Messer, on behalf of conservative clients including the Missouri Baptist Convention at the state capitol in Jefferson City, Mo., <a href="http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2016/07/07/new-clues-missing-ste-genevieve-woman/" type="external">told</a> St. Louis radio station KMOX July 7 he believes his father is hiding something about the disappearance of his&#160;wife of 34 ½ years.</p>
<p>“I see two possibilities,” Abram said. “Number one: that my mother walked out of the house, took her own life, and my father moved her body in an effort to protect himself or protect his assets, to protect the farm —&#160;or, he was more directly involved.”</p>
<p>Kerry Messer, president of the <a href="http://missourifamilynetwork.net/" type="external">Missouri Family Network</a> and lobbyist for clients <a href="http://mbcpathway.com/2014/12/17/messer-ready-to-reengage-at-state-capitol/" type="external">including</a> the Missouri Baptist Convention, sent KMOX a statement in reaction to his son’s accusation.</p>
<p>“This is the first time Abram has made this kind of accusation that I am aware of,” the father said. “It is sad to see him come to this kind of state. If this is what he has come to believe over the past year, it certainly helps to explain a lot of his behavior towards me. And it certainly adds to the grief of a difficult season.”</p>
<p>A July 18 <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/missing-woman-case-tears-apart-jefferson-city-lobbying-team/article_685b6b96-c31e-5f66-907b-afc86f6f304f.html" type="external">article</a> in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said both Abram and his brother Aaron are concerned with their father’s changing narrative. Abram said that his father never disclosed to the public that the morning his wife disappeared he had found a vague note of affection, apology and regret apparently written by Lynn. Kerry Messer originally maintained that his wife had vanished without a clue.</p>
<p>They also are upset by their father’s romantic relationship with a family friend whom Lynn Messer had said before her disappearance that if anything ever happened to her she hoped her husband would remarry.</p>
<p>“I know that my father loved my mother, I know that he loved her very much, and I do not believe that my father would go running off to another woman eight weeks after my mother disappears, if he truly, truly did not know whether or not she was dead or alive,” Abram Messer <a href="http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2016/07/07/new-clues-missing-ste-genevieve-woman/" type="external">told</a> KMOX.</p>
<p>Kerry Messer has posted regularly on a Facebook page titled <a href="https://www.facebook.com/findlynnmesser/" type="external">Find Lynn Messer</a> launched originally to help organize volunteers to search the family’s 250-acre farm and surrounding areas in the days immediately following her disappearance.</p>
<p>On Aug. 6, 2014, Kerry Messer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/findlynnmesser/posts/428017754005006" type="external">wrote</a> a post saying “we don’t have a single clue what has happened” but speculating that she might have reacted badly to new pain pills prescribed by her doctor and wandered off the property in a disoriented state and couldn’t find her way back home.</p>
<p>“We have gone over every possible idea imaginable with law enforcement and absolutely nothing else makes a lick of sense,” he posted Nov. 23, 2014. &#160;“I am thoroughly convicted and confident that she was not in her ‘right mind’ and it was only her body that opened the door and stepped out. However, anyone could have picked her up off the road. From there we are only limited by the imagination.”</p>
<p>Last July Messer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/findlynnmesser/photos/a.414524462021002.1073741827.414483235358458/577717405701706/?type=1&amp;theater" type="external">listed</a> frustrations about “misinformation,” including “reports of depression, which we still cannot figure out where it came from” along with the stress of the “husband” being viewed as a prime suspect in her disappearance.</p>
<p>Kerry and Lynn Messer (Photo/Find Lynn Messer Facebook page)</p>
<p>On Mother’s Day in 2016 Kerry Messer wrote a long post lamenting “rumors about yourself that are unfounded and heartbreaking.”</p>
<p>“Here is a real life example,” he <a href="https://m.facebook.com/findlynnmesser/posts/685163101623802" type="external">wrote</a>. “A dear friend of ours died after courageously battling cancer for years. She was close to many people and loved by everyone. Her life’s story is compelling and inspiring. Now you are walking into the church for the funeral service already despondent over your own wife’s disappearance. Then one of the first people you see is another close family friend who is deeply hurt over your loss and now the loss of this second dear one.</p>
<p>“The two of you hug (as is a common greeting at a funeral). You speak for a brief moment, but the funeral is just about to begin. Most folks are already seated and the two of you are making your way to the door of the somber sanctuary. Your friend who is emotionally hurting, and you, living in a swirl of grief on every level, step into the well-attended yet hushed sanctuary together and all eyes are on you. Your friend instinctively takes your hand. She is struggling to fight back tears and you so don’t want to see anyone in such hurt.</p>
<p>“So there you are, walking into your own home church with an emotionally upset friend, holding hands. So you deliberately select a seat in the first few front pews in order to sit next to your mother’s best friend. Yet a few days later you are told of a rumor that in the midst of your own struggles, ‘you took a date to the funeral?’”</p>
<p>The May 8 posting closed with a “confession” about one item he hadn’t previously talked about on Facebook, discussions he and his wife had about what they would do if anything were to happen to the other spouse.</p>
<p>“Ma had a plan that we discussed from time to time that she would build a farrowing house and go into a specialty hog business for income,” he wrote. “We planned out the proper site and discussed the basic details of her plan many times over the years. But I had no plan. I could not think how to deal with such a dreary possibility despite Ma’s repeated encouragements for me to do so.</p>
<p>“All I could think of was how an older husband, who does the more dangerous things on the farm, drives manifold more miles and hours across the state, and all the other reasons Ma needed such a plan, not I. All I could think about was how I could not live without my Bride without becoming very self-destructive.”</p>
<p>On May 4 the Missouri Times <a href="http://themissouritimes.com/29221/record-messer-answers-questions-raised-missing-wife/" type="external">quoted</a> Messer describing his relationship with his new love interest as “not a sexual relationship” but rather an emotional bond developed as she helped him through the grieving process. He said if Lynn returns home he will still be her husband, and both he and his girlfriend understand that.</p>
<p>The article quoted unnamed sources saying that contrary to Kerry’s <a href="http://themissouritimes.com/12707/happened-lynn-messer/" type="external">assertions</a>,&#160;his wife was not receiving mental health treatment. Lynn Messer was prescribed anti-anxiety medicine and struggled with anxiety for several years.</p>
<p>“Lynn struggled with a lot of issues,” Kerry Messer told the newspaper, adding the biggest was three weeks before her disappearance being told that pain from hip replacement surgery wasn’t going away and she would be looking at pain management for the next 20 years.</p>
<p>Recently Kerry Messer is theorizing that his wife may have walked eight or nine miles to the Mississippi River and taken her own life. He says she often took long walks at night, while their sons say they doubt she would be up to such a trek.</p>
<p>Kerry described his estrangement within his family as a “misunderstanding,” <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/missing-woman-case-tears-apart-jefferson-city-lobbying-team/article_685b6b96-c31e-5f66-907b-afc86f6f304f.html" type="external">telling</a> the Post-Dispatch he sees nothing unusual about changing his mind over time to believe her disappearance may have been a suicide and that he overlooked signs of depression.</p>
<p>Messer discussed the recent media coverage on Facebook July 10, acknowledging “this is where we are at as a family.” Some of the accusations, he said, were “ugly and exceedingly hurtful due to so many falsehoods.”</p>
<p>Before launching the Missouri Family Network after visiting the state capitol with a delegation from his church, Messer worked with <a href="http://www.txbc.org/2001Journals/MayJune2001/May01obscurelaymenwithacause.htm" type="external">Roger Moran</a> at Missouri Baptist Laymen’s Association, a conservative group <a href="http://www.bpnews.net/4897/conservatives-in-missouri-win-top-convention-posts" type="external">opposed</a> to “theological and social liberalism inherent within the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the growing influence of the CBF within the Missouri Baptist Convention.”</p>
<p>Previous stories:</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Lynn Messer still missing after a year</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Lobbyist enlists hunters to search for missing wife</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Lobbyist’s wife still missing after six months</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Search for lobbyist’s wife enters second month</a></p>
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twoyearold missing person case taking toll family missouri baptist lobbyist amid release new information disappearance 52yearold lynn messer family farm early160morning hours july 8 2014 abram messer 34 past lobbied father kerry messer behalf conservative clients including missouri baptist convention state capitol jefferson city mo told st louis radio station kmox july 7 believes father hiding something disappearance his160wife 34 ½ years see two possibilities abram said number one mother walked house took life father moved body effort protect protect assets protect farm 160or directly involved kerry messer president missouri family network lobbyist clients including missouri baptist convention sent kmox statement reaction sons accusation first time abram made kind accusation aware father said sad see come kind state come believe past year certainly helps explain lot behavior towards certainly adds grief difficult season july 18 article st louis postdispatch said abram brother aaron concerned fathers changing narrative abram said father never disclosed public morning wife disappeared found vague note affection apology regret apparently written lynn kerry messer originally maintained wife vanished without clue also upset fathers romantic relationship family friend lynn messer said disappearance anything ever happened hoped husband would remarry know father loved mother know loved much believe father would go running another woman eight weeks mother disappears truly truly know whether dead alive abram messer told kmox kerry messer posted regularly facebook page titled find lynn messer launched originally help organize volunteers search familys 250acre farm surrounding areas days immediately following disappearance aug 6 2014 kerry messer wrote post saying dont single clue happened speculating might reacted badly new pain pills prescribed doctor wandered property disoriented state couldnt find way back home gone every possible idea imaginable law enforcement absolutely nothing else makes lick sense posted nov 23 2014 160i thoroughly convicted confident right mind body opened door stepped however anyone could picked road limited imagination last july messer listed frustrations misinformation including reports depression still figure came along stress husband viewed prime suspect disappearance kerry lynn messer photofind lynn messer facebook page mothers day 2016 kerry messer wrote long post lamenting rumors unfounded heartbreaking real life example wrote dear friend died courageously battling cancer years close many people loved everyone lifes story compelling inspiring walking church funeral service already despondent wifes disappearance one first people see another close family friend deeply hurt loss loss second dear one two hug common greeting funeral speak brief moment funeral begin folks already seated two making way door somber sanctuary friend emotionally hurting living swirl grief every level step wellattended yet hushed sanctuary together eyes friend instinctively takes hand struggling fight back tears dont want see anyone hurt walking home church emotionally upset friend holding hands deliberately select seat first front pews order sit next mothers best friend yet days later told rumor midst struggles took date funeral may 8 posting closed confession one item hadnt previously talked facebook discussions wife would anything happen spouse plan discussed time time would build farrowing house go specialty hog business income wrote planned proper site discussed basic details plan many times years plan could think deal dreary possibility despite mas repeated encouragements could think older husband dangerous things farm drives manifold miles hours across state reasons needed plan could think could live without bride without becoming selfdestructive may 4 missouri times quoted messer describing relationship new love interest sexual relationship rather emotional bond developed helped grieving process said lynn returns home still husband girlfriend understand article quoted unnamed sources saying contrary kerrys assertions160his wife receiving mental health treatment lynn messer prescribed antianxiety medicine struggled anxiety several years lynn struggled lot issues kerry messer told newspaper adding biggest three weeks disappearance told pain hip replacement surgery wasnt going away would looking pain management next 20 years recently kerry messer theorizing wife may walked eight nine miles mississippi river taken life says often took long walks night sons say doubt would trek kerry described estrangement within family misunderstanding telling postdispatch sees nothing unusual changing mind time believe disappearance may suicide overlooked signs depression messer discussed recent media coverage facebook july 10 acknowledging family accusations said ugly exceedingly hurtful due many falsehoods launching missouri family network visiting state capitol delegation church messer worked roger moran missouri baptist laymens association conservative group opposed theological social liberalism inherent within cooperative baptist fellowship growing influence cbf within missouri baptist convention previous stories lynn messer still missing year lobbyist enlists hunters search missing wife lobbyists wife still missing six months search lobbyists wife enters second month
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<p>LIMA, Peru — How did it all go so horribly wrong?</p>
<p>Back in 1998, when Hugo Chavez was first elected president, many Venezuelans’ expectations could not have been higher.</p>
<p>The burly former paratrooper vowed to end the politics that had allowed corruption to thrive and vast oil wealth to fritter away. More than anything else, Chavez gave a voice — arguably for the first time in the South American nation’s history — to the poor majority.</p>
<p>Seventeen years later, the economy is in shambles, and Chavez’s handpicked successor, President Nicolas Maduro, is locking up store owners and opposition leaders, drawing angry protesters into the streets. The death toll increased again last week when a 14-year-old schoolboy was shot in the head, reportedly by police. Maduro is even slapping <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/150228/maduro-says-venezuela-detains-us-citizens-announces-moves-again" type="external">sanctions on US politicians</a> that criticize the repression.</p>
<p>The mayor of the capital Caracas, Antonio Ledezma, was detained Feb. 19 and charged the next day for “conspiring” against President Maduro in a United States-backed coup plot. He denies the charge.</p>
<p>The footage of the arrest is dramatic, and spread quickly online (the clip below was uploaded to YouTube by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSrZ3UV4jOidv8ppoVuvW9Q" type="external">euronews</a>).</p>
<p>His wife <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/arrest-shows-venezuelan-leader-panicking-mayors-wife-174645636.html" type="external">told Reuters</a> Maduro is “panicked by the opposition.” The US government <a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/02/237650.htm" type="external">described</a> it as an attempt to “distract attention from the country’s economic and political problems.”</p>
<p>Venezuelans are enduring shortages of food and medicine and inflation near 70 percent, while the authorities recently let the <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/150213/venezuelan-bolivar-exchange-devaluation-maduro" type="external">currency, the bolivar, plunge</a> by more than two-thirds.</p>
<p>Their president is hurting, too — his approval rating sank to 22 percent in a Datanalisis poll in January.</p>
<p>A <a href="http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268779/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=ayRS8lHJ" type="external">controversial figure and vocal government critic</a>, Ledezma is just one of the latest high-profile targets. Another is Leopoldo Lopez, who has sat in prison for a year accused of inciting massive anti-government violence. More than 42 percent of the country’s opposition mayors face some kind of legal action, a national city halls association <a href="http://elcomercio.pe/mundo/latinoamerica/venezuela-428-alcaldes-opositores-tienen-proceso-judicial-noticia-1793101?ref=portada_home" type="external">said</a>.</p>
<p>Now some fear a wider crackdown. Ruling socialist party lawmakers <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/150223/venezuelas-ruling-socialists-target-another-opposition-leader" type="external">accused prominent opposition congressman Julio Borges</a> of conspiring against Maduro as well.</p>
<p>How did it come to this?</p>
<p>Here's a timeline showing the descent of Chavez’s “Bolivarian” socialist revolution into repression and economic disaster.</p>
<p>Paratroop Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez bursts onto the scene when he leads a failed coup against an elected government that had overseen the bloody repression of street protests against a gasoline price hike. Chavez is jailed — but not forgotten by many grateful Venezuelans.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Chavez is freed. President Rafael Caldera dismisses the charges but discharges Chavez and other mutinous officers from the military.</p>
<p>Chavez is elected president. He promises a "third way" between capitalism and socialism.</p>
<p>Chavez supporters win 122 of 128 seats in a constituent assembly, allowing the president to rewrite the constitution. He eliminates the senate, lengthens the presidential term from five to six years, and renames the country the "Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela" after his idol Simon Bolivar, the inspiration behind most of Latin America's independence from Spain.</p>
<p>Chavez is briefly taken prisoner during a failed coup led by business leaders and dissident generals. President George W. Bush’s White House swiftly publicly backs the coup plotters — only to end up badly wrong-footed when Chavez triumphantly returns to office. It comes less than two years after he is re-elected under the new constitution and in response to anti-Chavez protests that ended in gunfire.</p>
<p>Unions, business leaders, political parties and thousands of workers at state oil company PDVSA strike to demand an immediate referendum on whether Chavez should leave office. It peters out after two months.</p>
<p>Chavez stamps his authority on PDVSA by firing seven senior executives and 18,000 workers for participating in the strike.</p>
<p>In a referendum, Venezuelans vote overwhelmingly against making Chavez leave office immediately.</p>
<p>Chavez and Cuba’s Fidel Castro sign a cooperation agreement that eventually gives birth to the Bolivarian Alliance of the Americas, or ALBA, a bloc of largely leftist, anti-Washington governments including Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua.</p>
<p>Chavez’s most famous moment comes as he gives a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, in which he calls George W. Bush “the devil.” With much of Latin America appalled by the US-led invasion of Iraq, the comment sparks mirth, and even toasts, around the world.</p>
<p>Chavez wins re-election to his second six-year term. Now at the height of his powers, the president talks openly about his grandiose plans to unify Latin America.</p>
<p>The national assembly gives Chavez sweeping powers to rule by decree. With the price of oil, which accounts for most of Venezuela’s exports, heading up to $100 a barrel, Chavez lavishes cash on anti-poverty programs like never before. Critics warn the spree is unsustainable.</p>
<p>Venezuela’s oldest TV station, Radio Caracas Television, a longtime Chavez critic, falls silent after the government decides against renewing its broadcast license. The move marks the start of a policy of systematically squeezing out of business, or taking over, media outlets that question the government.</p>
<p>Chavez boots out the US ambassador, accusing him of plotting against the government. That same month, he also expels independent researchers from Human Rights Watch, in a portent of the abuses that his government and that of his successor, Nicolas Maduro, would increasingly commit.</p>
<p>Voters approve an end to term limits, paving the way for Chavez to rule indefinitely.</p>
<p>Chavez heads to Cuba for <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/120301/venezuela-awaits-chavezs-return-operation-cuba" type="external">surgery to remove an abscess</a> from his pelvis. Three weeks later he confirms on TV that the tumor was cancerous.</p>
<p>The president says he has successfully completed a course of chemotherapy.</p>
<p>On hearing of Col. Muammar Gaddafi’s death, Chavez describes the brutal Libyan dictator as a “liberator” and “martyr.”</p>
<p>Chavez reveals doctors have told him the cancer has returned.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/series/depth-series-hugo-chavez-vs-henrique-capriles" type="external">Chavez wins re-election again</a>, three months after declaring himself “totally free” of cancer — to the skepticism of some of his critics.</p>
<p>The president announces that his cancer has returned. In the same TV address, he names his Vice President Nicolas Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader, as his political heir. This is the last time Chavez is seen in public. Two days later he undergoes major surgery in Cuba.</p>
<p>Officials announce Chavez’s death. To this day, they have yet to reveal the type of cancer that killed him. Maduro is sworn in as interim president, pending elections. Mourners at the funeral include longtime Chavez ally Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, then the Iranian president, who <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/130308/venezuelans-chavez-funeral-cheer-ahmadinejad-castro-boo-spain-prince-felipe" type="external">kisses the coffin</a>.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/130501/signs-venezuela-us-washington-rocky-relations" type="external">5 signs Venezuela-US relations are still rocky after Chavez</a></p>
<p>Maduro narrowly beats opposition leader Henrique Capriles, by less than 2 percentage points, following a ferocious presidential campaign. Critics claim the new president took the Chavez tactic of using state resources, especially TV airtime, to new heights. Amid opposition complaints of vote-rigging, the National Electoral Council vows a full audit of the result “to preserve a climate of harmony between Venezuelans.” It never fulfills that promise.</p>
<p>As the economy wobbles, Maduro expels three US diplomats for supposedly orchestrating a massive power outage. “Yankee go home,” he declares on TV. “Enough abuses already.”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Student demonstrations against violent crime quickly morph into national anti-government protests. Dozens die in clashes with security forces during the demonstrations. One opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, leads the charge, calling for peaceful marches to bring about the “salida” or “exit” of the government. He is arrested for allegedly orchestrating a coup and, one year later, remains behind bars. His arrest is the first of several of prominent dissidents, including two provincial mayors.</p>
<p>The United Nations publishes its 2013 homicide report, which confirms what long-suffering Venezuelans already know: after 15 years of Chavismo, their country is so ultra-violent it is not safe to leave home even in broad daylight. According to the numbers, Venezuela is the world’s second most murderous nation.</p>
<p>With inflation at 60 percent and <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/141029/crude-oil-prices-venezuelan-economy" type="external">oil prices plummeting</a>, Maduro warns he will take unspecified “actions” <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/140917/venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-harvard-ricardo-hausmann" type="external">against a Harvard professor</a> who suggests Caracas might default on its national debt.</p>
<p>Despite having recently been declared by OPEC, the oil exporting nations’ club, as the country with the largest oil reserves — larger even than Saudi Arabia’s — Venezuela is reported to be importing crude. After 15 years of “socialist” Chavista economics, this may be the most telling sign of the shambles the country is in.</p>
<p>President Barack Obama signs a law that <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/141215/obama-sanctions-venezuelan-officials-pros-cons" type="external">punishes</a> Venezuelan government officials, freezing their US assets and denying them visas.</p>
<p>Official inflation reaches 64 percent. The government bans desperate shoppers from lining up overnight at supermarkets.</p>
<p>The government devalues the bolivar <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/150213/venezuelan-bolivar-exchange-devaluation-maduro" type="external">by 69 percent</a>. In a televised speech on the same day, Maduro completely omits the bombshell and instead alleges that the US was on the point of sending fighter jets to bomb his presidential palace. He also approves new rules that, <a href="http://www.hrw.org/news/2015/02/12/venezuela-new-military-authority-curb-protests" type="external">Human Rights Watch says</a>, authorize the military to fire on peaceful protests. One week later, Caracas' opposition mayor Antonio Ledezma, a vocal critic of the government but not someone viewed as either a likely presidential rival or insurgency leader, is arrested. On Feb. 28, Maduro announces limits on the number of US diplomats in Venezuela and new visa requirements for American visitors. He also says he will deny visas to George W. Bush, Marco Rubio and other US politicians, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/150228/urgent-venezuela-sanction-us-officials-limit-diplomatic-pers" type="external">calling</a> them “terrorists.”</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/150213/venezuelan-bolivar-exchange-devaluation-maduro" type="external">Venezuela's currency plummets but President Maduro keeps talking coups</a></p>
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lima peru go horribly wrong back 1998 hugo chavez first elected president many venezuelans expectations could higher burly former paratrooper vowed end politics allowed corruption thrive vast oil wealth fritter away anything else chavez gave voice arguably first time south american nations history poor majority seventeen years later economy shambles chavezs handpicked successor president nicolas maduro locking store owners opposition leaders drawing angry protesters streets death toll increased last week 14yearold schoolboy shot head reportedly police maduro even slapping sanctions us politicians criticize repression mayor capital caracas antonio ledezma detained feb 19 charged next day conspiring president maduro united statesbacked coup plot denies charge footage arrest dramatic spread quickly online clip uploaded youtube euronews wife told reuters maduro panicked opposition us government described attempt distract attention countrys economic political problems venezuelans enduring shortages food medicine inflation near 70 percent authorities recently let currency bolivar plunge twothirds president hurting approval rating sank 22 percent datanalisis poll january controversial figure vocal government critic ledezma one latest highprofile targets another leopoldo lopez sat prison year accused inciting massive antigovernment violence 42 percent countrys opposition mayors face kind legal action national city halls association said fear wider crackdown ruling socialist party lawmakers accused prominent opposition congressman julio borges conspiring maduro well come heres timeline showing descent chavezs bolivarian socialist revolution repression economic disaster paratroop lt col hugo chavez bursts onto scene leads failed coup elected government overseen bloody repression street protests gasoline price hike chavez jailed forgotten many grateful venezuelans 160 chavez freed president rafael caldera dismisses charges discharges chavez mutinous officers military chavez elected president promises third way capitalism socialism chavez supporters win 122 128 seats constituent assembly allowing president rewrite constitution eliminates senate lengthens presidential term five six years renames country bolivarian republic venezuela idol simon bolivar inspiration behind latin americas independence spain chavez briefly taken prisoner failed coup led business leaders dissident generals president george w bushs white house swiftly publicly backs coup plotters end badly wrongfooted chavez triumphantly returns office comes less two years reelected new constitution response antichavez protests ended gunfire unions business leaders political parties thousands workers state oil company pdvsa strike demand immediate referendum whether chavez leave office peters two months chavez stamps authority pdvsa firing seven senior executives 18000 workers participating strike referendum venezuelans vote overwhelmingly making chavez leave office immediately chavez cubas fidel castro sign cooperation agreement eventually gives birth bolivarian alliance americas alba bloc largely leftist antiwashington governments including bolivia ecuador nicaragua chavezs famous moment comes gives speech united nations general assembly calls george w bush devil much latin america appalled usled invasion iraq comment sparks mirth even toasts around world chavez wins reelection second sixyear term height powers president talks openly grandiose plans unify latin america national assembly gives chavez sweeping powers rule decree price oil accounts venezuelas exports heading 100 barrel chavez lavishes cash antipoverty programs like never critics warn spree unsustainable venezuelas oldest tv station radio caracas television longtime chavez critic falls silent government decides renewing broadcast license move marks start policy systematically squeezing business taking media outlets question government chavez boots us ambassador accusing plotting government month also expels independent researchers human rights watch portent abuses government successor nicolas maduro would increasingly commit voters approve end term limits paving way chavez rule indefinitely chavez heads cuba surgery remove abscess pelvis three weeks later confirms tv tumor cancerous president says successfully completed course chemotherapy hearing col muammar gaddafis death chavez describes brutal libyan dictator liberator martyr chavez reveals doctors told cancer returned chavez wins reelection three months declaring totally free cancer skepticism critics president announces cancer returned tv address names vice president nicolas maduro former bus driver union leader political heir last time chavez seen public two days later undergoes major surgery cuba officials announce chavezs death day yet reveal type cancer killed maduro sworn interim president pending elections mourners funeral include longtime chavez ally mahmoud ahmadinejad iranian president kisses coffin globalpost 5 signs venezuelaus relations still rocky chavez maduro narrowly beats opposition leader henrique capriles less 2 percentage points following ferocious presidential campaign critics claim new president took chavez tactic using state resources especially tv airtime new heights amid opposition complaints voterigging national electoral council vows full audit result preserve climate harmony venezuelans never fulfills promise economy wobbles maduro expels three us diplomats supposedly orchestrating massive power outage yankee go home declares tv enough abuses already 160 student demonstrations violent crime quickly morph national antigovernment protests dozens die clashes security forces demonstrations one opposition leader leopoldo lopez leads charge calling peaceful marches bring salida exit government arrested allegedly orchestrating coup one year later remains behind bars arrest first several prominent dissidents including two provincial mayors united nations publishes 2013 homicide report confirms longsuffering venezuelans already know 15 years chavismo country ultraviolent safe leave home even broad daylight according numbers venezuela worlds second murderous nation inflation 60 percent oil prices plummeting maduro warns take unspecified actions harvard professor suggests caracas might default national debt despite recently declared opec oil exporting nations club country largest oil reserves larger even saudi arabias venezuela reported importing crude 15 years socialist chavista economics may telling sign shambles country president barack obama signs law punishes venezuelan government officials freezing us assets denying visas official inflation reaches 64 percent government bans desperate shoppers lining overnight supermarkets government devalues bolivar 69 percent televised speech day maduro completely omits bombshell instead alleges us point sending fighter jets bomb presidential palace also approves new rules human rights watch says authorize military fire peaceful protests one week later caracas opposition mayor antonio ledezma vocal critic government someone viewed either likely presidential rival insurgency leader arrested feb 28 maduro announces limits number us diplomats venezuela new visa requirements american visitors also says deny visas george w bush marco rubio us politicians calling terrorists globalpost venezuelas currency plummets president maduro keeps talking coups
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<p>It might be having an understanding person to talk to. It might be help putting frustrations into perspective. Or it might be a gentle reminder that nobody, not even the pastor, can do everything — and probably shouldn’t try.</p>
<p>But for the first 25 Fellows of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship — people in the early years of their first full-time ministry — the <a href="http://www.thefellowship.info/fellows" type="external">CBF’s new program</a> is providing “invaluable” assistance.</p>
<p>The first group of CBF Fellows gathered in August for a week in Atlanta. The idea, according to the CBF, is to “help ministers establish practices and rhythms that help sustain ministry” and to give “ ‘first call’ ministers a space where they can reflect on their calling and how to live out their calling in their congregations.”</p>
<p>The Fellows, from nine states, will meet four more times over two years, and get continuing support through conference calls, peer groups and professional coaches. They have already taken things a step further by setting up a Facebook page for mutual support.</p>
<p>The intent “to provide ministers with resources to help them be stronger and healthier leaders who are living a healthy and balanced way of life,” said Beth Kennett, coordinator of coaching ministry at the <a href="http://www.healthychurch.org/" type="external">Center for Congregational Health</a> in Winston-Salem. It does this by developing a community and network of colleagues, said Kennett, who serves on the program’s faculty.</p>
<p>Coaches, she added, help “individual leaders to lead more from who they are rather than from the expectations they are experiencing from people and circumstances around them.”</p>
<p>Five Fellows in the Mid-Atlantic</p>
<p />
<p>The program came at just the right time to remind Matthew Johnson of some wisdom he had nearly forgotten. He’d participated in a young leaders program at the Center for Congregational Health, but that was before he became full-time pastor at <a href="http://www.smithtonchurch.org/" type="external">First Baptist Church of Smithton</a>, a rural congregation near Belhaven, N.C.</p>
<p>At the end of his first year at Smithton, he felt a bit discouraged. “I had developed some bad ways of thinking,” he said. “You can take things too personally and be too disappointed by any kind of setbacks, if people don’t agree with your supposedly great idea.</p>
<p>“It was really good for me to be reminded that it’s not all about me; this is usual and expected, and something we should be able to deal with,” he said. “It’s a normal part of the life cycle of the church and of a pastor.”</p>
<p>The Fellows program has helped him look at some tools he’d been taught about in a new way. “I needed to be reminded that there are different places you can lead from, and sometimes you need to be able to lead from the middle or even from the back …. It was very refreshing.”</p>
<p>Meeting others in similar situations was also energizing, he said. “Where I am is very isolated,” he said. Now, “we are helping each other, giving each other advice, and maintaining relationships with one another.”</p>
<p>***</p>
<p />
<p>When Olivia Dawson attended the first Fellows session in August, she was “very pregnant.” In fact, she jokes that “the trip put me over the edge,” because not long after she returned to her church in Arnold, Md., she gave birth to her son, 5-and-a-half weeks early. Fortunately, he’s fine, and so is she.</p>
<p>Her pregnancy was one of the main reasons Dawson applied for the program. “I knew that a baby would change my life, and it was important to me to have accountability and support in this new phase, especially professionally.”</p>
<p>She figured balancing motherhood with her job as associate pastor of music and faith development at <a href="http://www.collegeparkwaybaptist.net/" type="external">College Parkway Baptist Church</a> in Arnold would be a challenge. The Fellows program could help her make a healthy start in balancing family and professional lives, she said.</p>
<p>She’s found that it’s helpful in other ways. She has no musical training, but music is a third of her job. Those in the group who are musically trained have come to her aid.</p>
<p>And there are “the real-life situations that seminary doesn’t always cover.”</p>
<p>“Just yesterday, the power went out in our building,” she said. “All of a sudden you’re a building manager, and you don’t learn that in seminary. We are all going through similar things; we have similar frustrations and similar joys. It makes life easier to know that I’m not going through this alone.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p />
<p>Joe Kendrick’s first Sunday at <a href="http://www.bruingtonchurch.org/" type="external">Bruington Baptist Church</a>, a rural church in eastern Virginia, didn’t happen. Hurricane Irene blew through, the power failed and a tree fell on the parsonage. Church was canceled.</p>
<p>Despite that beginning, he’s glad he stayed. He’s also glad he now has the Fellows program to help him learn how to handle his hectic schedule as the small church’s only staff.</p>
<p>‘The coaching has been fantastic, because I’ve been able to identify things that I need to work on or be intentional about, especially with time management,” he said. “I’ve got sermon writing, worship planning, visitation, men’s activities, women’s activities, youth and children activities …. I end up taking on more than I should. The coaching has really helped. We talk about how to use volunteers effectively, how to recruit better,” he said.</p>
<p>Kendrick had a natural peer group because three fellow graduates of Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond are Fellows, and he’s enjoyed extending his ties with other fellows and the CBF.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p />
<p>Brittany Riddle, minister to adults at <a href="http://www.vintonbaptistchurch.org/" type="external">Vinton (Va.) Baptist Church</a>, also has found the coaching “particularly helpful.”</p>
<p>“My coach helps me discern what my gifts and passions for ministry are and how to best use the ‘resource of me’ to serve God, the church, and to stay true to my calling to ministry,” she said.</p>
<p>Riddle, a graduate of Furman University and Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, had served in intern positions at Grace Baptist Church and Second Baptist Church, both in Richmond, and at churches in Greenville, S.C., and Louisville, Ky. She also had been a chaplaincy intern at a hospital in Greenville.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p />
<p>David John Hailey began his ministry at <a href="http://www.firstbaptistburlington.com/" type="external">First Baptist Church in Burlington, N.C.</a>, while he was in divinity school at Duke University. Now, as the full-time associate pastor with children, youth and families, he finds that the Fellows program is important in helping him “know that I’m not alone in what I deal with.”</p>
<p>The coaching sessions are “great,” he said. He has a lot of support from his father, who is a minister, but he also finds that it helpful to be able to talk things through with his coach, a youth minister in Georgia.</p>
<p>“He takes the coach position — he doesn’t try to force me to do anything; he just helps me find the course of action that I need to take,” said Hailey.</p>
<p>Having studied at Duke, where Baptists are a minority, Hailey appreciates the opportunity to get to know the CBF’s leaders — and those who will be its leaders in the future.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>Seven other ministers in the Mid-Atlantic are among the first Fellows cohort: Joshua Breazeale, minister of education and children at Oakmont Baptist Church in Greenville, N.C.; Paul French, minister of music and worship at Rosalind Hills Baptist Church in Roanoke; Alex Gallimore, pastor of Hester Baptist Church in Oxford, N.C.; Andy Hale, pastor of Mosaic in Clayton, N.C.; John Harris Jr., pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church in Rose Hill, N.C.; Matthew Roberts, associate pastor of youth and children at First Baptist Church in Marion, N.C.; and Darren Williams, co-pastor of Nomini Baptist Church in Montross, Va.</p>
<p>The Fellows program is funded through a grant from the <a href="http://www.lillyendowment.org/religion.html" type="external">Religion Division of the Lilly Endowment</a>. Partnering with the CBF in the project are the Center for Congregational Health and the <a href="http://ctc.mercer.edu/" type="external">Center for Teaching Churches at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology</a>.</p>
<p>Linda Brinson ( <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>) is a Religious Herald contributing writer, based in Madison, N.C.</p>
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might understanding person talk might help putting frustrations perspective might gentle reminder nobody even pastor everything probably shouldnt try first 25 fellows cooperative baptist fellowship people early years first fulltime ministry cbfs new program providing invaluable assistance first group cbf fellows gathered august week atlanta idea according cbf help ministers establish practices rhythms help sustain ministry give first call ministers space reflect calling live calling congregations fellows nine states meet four times two years get continuing support conference calls peer groups professional coaches already taken things step setting facebook page mutual support intent provide ministers resources help stronger healthier leaders living healthy balanced way life said beth kennett coordinator coaching ministry center congregational health winstonsalem developing community network colleagues said kennett serves programs faculty coaches added help individual leaders lead rather expectations experiencing people circumstances around five fellows midatlantic program came right time remind matthew johnson wisdom nearly forgotten hed participated young leaders program center congregational health became fulltime pastor first baptist church smithton rural congregation near belhaven nc end first year smithton felt bit discouraged developed bad ways thinking said take things personally disappointed kind setbacks people dont agree supposedly great idea really good reminded usual expected something able deal said normal part life cycle church pastor fellows program helped look tools hed taught new way needed reminded different places lead sometimes need able lead middle even back refreshing meeting others similar situations also energizing said isolated said helping giving advice maintaining relationships one another olivia dawson attended first fellows session august pregnant fact jokes trip put edge long returned church arnold md gave birth son 5andahalf weeks early fortunately hes fine pregnancy one main reasons dawson applied program knew baby would change life important accountability support new phase especially professionally figured balancing motherhood job associate pastor music faith development college parkway baptist church arnold would challenge fellows program could help make healthy start balancing family professional lives said shes found helpful ways musical training music third job group musically trained come aid reallife situations seminary doesnt always cover yesterday power went building said sudden youre building manager dont learn seminary going similar things similar frustrations similar joys makes life easier know im going alone joe kendricks first sunday bruington baptist church rural church eastern virginia didnt happen hurricane irene blew power failed tree fell parsonage church canceled despite beginning hes glad stayed hes also glad fellows program help learn handle hectic schedule small churchs staff coaching fantastic ive able identify things need work intentional especially time management said ive got sermon writing worship planning visitation mens activities womens activities youth children activities end taking coaching really helped talk use volunteers effectively recruit better said kendrick natural peer group three fellow graduates baptist theological seminary richmond fellows hes enjoyed extending ties fellows cbf brittany riddle minister adults vinton va baptist church also found coaching particularly helpful coach helps discern gifts passions ministry best use resource serve god church stay true calling ministry said riddle graduate furman university baptist theological seminary richmond served intern positions grace baptist church second baptist church richmond churches greenville sc louisville ky also chaplaincy intern hospital greenville david john hailey began ministry first baptist church burlington nc divinity school duke university fulltime associate pastor children youth families finds fellows program important helping know im alone deal coaching sessions great said lot support father minister also finds helpful able talk things coach youth minister georgia takes coach position doesnt try force anything helps find course action need take said hailey studied duke baptists minority hailey appreciates opportunity get know cbfs leaders leaders future seven ministers midatlantic among first fellows cohort joshua breazeale minister education children oakmont baptist church greenville nc paul french minister music worship rosalind hills baptist church roanoke alex gallimore pastor hester baptist church oxford nc andy hale pastor mosaic clayton nc john harris jr pastor evergreen baptist church rose hill nc matthew roberts associate pastor youth children first baptist church marion nc darren williams copastor nomini baptist church montross va fellows program funded grant religion division lilly endowment partnering cbf project center congregational health center teaching churches mercer universitys mcafee school theology linda brinson lindacbrinsongmailcom religious herald contributing writer based madison nc
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<p>The Author’s Digest recently named Dr. John Carvalho “The Renaissance Scholar” because he has led an extraordinarily diverse life that has covered academia, politics, human rights work, world travel, and even the entertainment industry. Now, with the publication of his new book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Crisis-Time-John-Carvalho/dp/149692617X" type="external">“The Crisis Of Our Time” (2014)</a>, Carvalho can add “author” to his repertoire. Already, “The Crisis Of Our Time” has made waves in the literary and Hollywood community, earning its author a Pulitzer Prize submission, an AIMA Best Literary Writer Nomination, and a national Barnes &amp; Noble book tour. In addition, there is talk of turning some of the chapters into a Hollywood film. This week John Carvalho sat down with the National Monitor to discuss his work and its relevance for our world.</p>
<p>Give our readers a brief synopsis of what your new book is about.</p>
<p>“The Crisis Of Our Time” is a discussion of the problems we face in our world today and my philosophical resolutions to them. As also a memoir, the book reveals how my life and career has intersected with these problems and what I have learned from my personal experiences that relates to our world today. In the new book, I address the key issues presently plaguing our society: global health and spread of infectious diseases, economic recession, planetary climate change, fiscal austerity, and the personal, psychological stress that we encounter while we try to find meaning amidst a world of apparent purposelessness.</p>
<p>What are some of the themes that you highlight in this new book?</p>
<p>Well, there are a number of key themes. For one, I ask whether there is one, underlying cause that is a source of all the problems we face.</p>
<p>And is there?</p>
<p>Yes, when we as a society and as individuals glorify the mediocre rather than strive to excel. I present key examples of such in my new book. I also introduce the theme of “causal circular systems”, an idea that has its roots in biology and public health. In this theory, causes, which have mediocrity as their foundation, feed off and exacerbate effects, which, in turn, reinforce those same causes. The example par excellence is demonstrated in public health, like with HIV/AIDS. When we look at disease and poverty, for example, we see that poverty can cause disease because a community may have little healthcare infrastructure, educational resources, knowledgeable doctors, etc. However, new disease cases can feed back on and exacerbate poverty because sick people cannot work and improve their family incomes and contribute to the tax base of governments. Essentially, I show how “causal circular systems” lay at the root of many problems in the world today.</p>
<p>So where do you see our world right now?</p>
<p>Well, as a scientist and scholar, I have seen some incredible changes over the years. We can take the example of global climate change. I have discovered real changes that have occurred these past decades. For instance, I remember when it would hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the desert southwest and make national news back in the 1980’s. Now, meteorologists in Nevada are seeing upwards of 110-degree temperatures many more days per year and it is just considered “typical.” I present many examples of the state of our present world in the book and it is clear to me, and probably the reader as well, that many things are not going well.</p>
<p>It sounds like the book is “doom and gloom!”</p>
<p>[Laughing] Well, in some ways it might be interpreted that way, but I would ask readers to reflect a little more. For example, we have made some serious headway on certain world problems. Take the case of polio. I never thought I would see the day that India would be polio free. But, it is. And that is a great achievement of medical science and public health. This point reveals that there are some problems that we can tackle and completely resolve, so we are indeed making some progress. Other challenges, like climate change, however, we might not be able to solve totally, but we might be able to mitigate so that they are not as bad as they could be. I analyze each of the key present problems on earth to discuss what we can do now to make a better world.</p>
<p>Give an example of one of the resolutions you discuss.</p>
<p>Let’s take the California water crisis. Here is a problem that we have known about for a long time and one that we probably can only “mitigate” rather than resolve entirely. Obviously, conservation would be helpful. We would also need to change the way we use water in agriculture. For example, one almond takes a gallon of water to produce. As much as I love almonds, they are on the “extinction list” of foods since a gallon of water is more important right now to our society than a single almond! This is just a simple example.</p>
<p>That seems like common sense.</p>
<p>[Laughing] Well, yes, but we as individuals and as a society do not strive to excel. We get caught in our mediocre habits and we fail to stop and think of how and why we should act the way we do. Our governmental policies showcase this. In order to curb the world’s troubles, we need to reflect on a better way and then put thought into action.</p>
<p>Do you feel your personal life story influenced your writing?</p>
<p>Oh absolutely! I take pride in that “Renaissance Scholar” title from The Author’s Digest [laughing]. It was such a pleasure working in both science and the humanities during my career. It was also a blast living in Rome, Italy and traveling all over Europe. I think the career journey really helped me see our world problems in a new light because I was on the ground working through those problems myself, such as with my research in microbiology and public health. And the personal travels, of course, gave me insights into other cultures and traditions, and the artistic expression those cultures and traditions portrayed.</p>
<p>There are a number of press articles that claim you have a “European voice” in the work? What do they mean by that?</p>
<p>Certainly I talk about my foreign travels quite a lot, and I make reference to much European literature, culture and history. As I stated in one article, I speak about my journeys to the former Soviet Union, to Greece during the Papandreou era, to Italy and elsewhere and I try to depict how European history and present conditions directly impacts the United States. America is not in a bubble. What happens in Athens, such as present bank troubles, can affect the wider world market, including ours. Europeans and U.S. citizens must continually stay informed of each other if we are ever to solve world problems. Of course, it’s not just Europe I mention. I talk about people living in Africa, Asia, and South America as well. The world is much smaller now with globalization and we are all interconnected, as are our respective challenges.</p>
<p>Do you feel your style of writing is unique?</p>
<p>Well, as you know, I chose AuthorHouse as my publisher. The reason for doing that was because I wanted to prevent any censorship with regards to content and writing style. I will be bold enough to say that there has never been a book written like “The Crisis Of Our Time,” and there never will be. It has many hidden secrets and important meaning lurks everywhere. But, it is not your typical nonfiction work. As some press articles state, the book diversifies the nonfiction genre because it reads like a story in many sections, as if you are delving into fiction rather than nonfiction. There are also grammar tricks permeating the work. I do all of that on purpose. It was a lot of fun pushing the boundaries of language, style, and meaning in “The Crisis Of Our Time,” probably much to the chagrin of some traditional academicians. But the point here is that “how” we develop our laws and social traditions needs to be reflected upon. Again, we glorify mediocrity rather than strive to excel, and what we sometimes hold so dear and sacred could actually be wrong and need revision. The entire LGBT civil rights movement is a perfect, recent example. Social taboos that were held in such high esteem needed to be replaced by equality.</p>
<p>So where do you see the book going from here?</p>
<p>Well, the main thing right now is to get the word out about my new opus and my philosophical suggestions on how to curb our world problems.</p>
<p>And so you’re on tour right now?</p>
<p>Oh yes! I’ve been barnstorming across California and Nevada with Barnes &amp; Noble. In fact, I just finished a tour in Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Henderson, and I am scheduled to hit Seattle, Washington soon</p>
<p>Aside from the tour, are you planning any other events for the book?</p>
<p>In Los Angeles, I held about twenty events including four red carpet parties, a global book launch that was well publicized by the newspapers, and many book readings and signings at community centers, coffee shops, private homes, etc. I am now planning another red carpet “author showcase” for the holidays this December similar to the one I did last year.</p>
<p>You mean your holiday party at the Vaucluse Lounge in Hollywood, the former Charlie Chaplin residence?</p>
<p>Yes! People had a blast at that event, and myself and some other authors want to make it an annual affair. We would like to turn it into one of the best author showcases or book fairs in the city.</p>
<p>Anything else planned?</p>
<p>I’ve also got a full day of filming to do with AuthorHouse in order to make an author video, and I have some radio and television shows coming up.</p>
<p>And what about book reviews?</p>
<p>It is good that you mentioned that because an excellent review was just published in The Hollywood Times. I would also like to get the San Francisco Book Review to do something this year.</p>
<p>There is talk that you have some Hollywood ambitions with your book. Can you elaborate on that?</p>
<p>Well, I wrote the book with Hollywood partly in mind. So certainly there are some sections that have cinematic potential. For example, I am in the process of script development for chapter one with the aim of ultimately making it into a beautiful short film. One of the movies I collaborated on a few years back qualified for the Oscars, and I would like to take this new short to the same level of excellence. And, of course, the final section of the book might be developed into a full-length feature or maybe a theatrical play. Of course, these first and last sections of the book read more like fiction rather than nonfiction.</p>
<p>And what about a documentary?</p>
<p>Yes, in fact the entire second section of the book (the more scholarly section) is perfect, documentary material. Think Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth on steroids! [laughing]. But seriously, some of these topics that I cover are really pertinent right now, like the water crisis in Southern California or public health issues around the world. As a result, I am dialoguing with some documentary filmmakers.</p>
<p>It seems like you’re planning much more to do for “The Crisis Of Our Time.” Do you also have other projects?</p>
<p>[Laughing] Ah yes. It feels like I’m inundated with new projects lately! I have a few movie scripts that I am working through, another red carpet event in Hollywood for the Oscars, and I have a second book that is under “tight wraps” right now. I won’t release any information about my second book until its actual debut.</p>
<p>What advice would you give aspiring authors?</p>
<p>I get this question from a lot of people. I think that to be an author you need to have three items in place. First, have a story to tell. Readers want something unique and interesting. Secondly, be able to write well. One of the problems new authors are having is that they can’t get published because their writing is not at industry standards. Finally, market, market, market! I can’t stress this last point enough. Get yourself out there. Do interviews like this one, talk about your book on the radio, get on television, get published in newspapers and magazines, and get in front of the public by doing a book tour.</p>
<p>John Carvalho’s “The Crisis Of Our Time” is available at Amazon.com, Barnes &amp; Noble, Kobo, AuthorHouse and booksellers around the world. You can follow him at <a href="http://www.drjohncarvalho.com/" type="external">drjohncarvalho.com</a> for the latest updates.</p>
<p />
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authors digest recently named dr john carvalho renaissance scholar led extraordinarily diverse life covered academia politics human rights work world travel even entertainment industry publication new book crisis time 2014 carvalho add author repertoire already crisis time made waves literary hollywood community earning author pulitzer prize submission aima best literary writer nomination national barnes amp noble book tour addition talk turning chapters hollywood film week john carvalho sat national monitor discuss work relevance world give readers brief synopsis new book crisis time discussion problems face world today philosophical resolutions also memoir book reveals life career intersected problems learned personal experiences relates world today new book address key issues presently plaguing society global health spread infectious diseases economic recession planetary climate change fiscal austerity personal psychological stress encounter try find meaning amidst world apparent purposelessness themes highlight new book well number key themes one ask whether one underlying cause source problems face yes society individuals glorify mediocre rather strive excel present key examples new book also introduce theme causal circular systems idea roots biology public health theory causes mediocrity foundation feed exacerbate effects turn reinforce causes example par excellence demonstrated public health like hivaids look disease poverty example see poverty cause disease community may little healthcare infrastructure educational resources knowledgeable doctors etc however new disease cases feed back exacerbate poverty sick people work improve family incomes contribute tax base governments essentially show causal circular systems lay root many problems world today see world right well scientist scholar seen incredible changes years take example global climate change discovered real changes occurred past decades instance remember would hit 100 degrees fahrenheit desert southwest make national news back 1980s meteorologists nevada seeing upwards 110degree temperatures many days per year considered typical present many examples state present world book clear probably reader well many things going well sounds like book doom gloom laughing well ways might interpreted way would ask readers reflect little example made serious headway certain world problems take case polio never thought would see day india would polio free great achievement medical science public health point reveals problems tackle completely resolve indeed making progress challenges like climate change however might able solve totally might able mitigate bad could analyze key present problems earth discuss make better world give example one resolutions discuss lets take california water crisis problem known long time one probably mitigate rather resolve entirely obviously conservation would helpful would also need change way use water agriculture example one almond takes gallon water produce much love almonds extinction list foods since gallon water important right society single almond simple example seems like common sense laughing well yes individuals society strive excel get caught mediocre habits fail stop think act way governmental policies showcase order curb worlds troubles need reflect better way put thought action feel personal life story influenced writing oh absolutely take pride renaissance scholar title authors digest laughing pleasure working science humanities career also blast living rome italy traveling europe think career journey really helped see world problems new light ground working problems research microbiology public health personal travels course gave insights cultures traditions artistic expression cultures traditions portrayed number press articles claim european voice work mean certainly talk foreign travels quite lot make reference much european literature culture history stated one article speak journeys former soviet union greece papandreou era italy elsewhere try depict european history present conditions directly impacts united states america bubble happens athens present bank troubles affect wider world market including europeans us citizens must continually stay informed ever solve world problems course europe mention talk people living africa asia south america well world much smaller globalization interconnected respective challenges feel style writing unique well know chose authorhouse publisher reason wanted prevent censorship regards content writing style bold enough say never book written like crisis time never many hidden secrets important meaning lurks everywhere typical nonfiction work press articles state book diversifies nonfiction genre reads like story many sections delving fiction rather nonfiction also grammar tricks permeating work purpose lot fun pushing boundaries language style meaning crisis time probably much chagrin traditional academicians point develop laws social traditions needs reflected upon glorify mediocrity rather strive excel sometimes hold dear sacred could actually wrong need revision entire lgbt civil rights movement perfect recent example social taboos held high esteem needed replaced equality see book going well main thing right get word new opus philosophical suggestions curb world problems youre tour right oh yes ive barnstorming across california nevada barnes amp noble fact finished tour los angeles san diego las vegas henderson scheduled hit seattle washington soon aside tour planning events book los angeles held twenty events including four red carpet parties global book launch well publicized newspapers many book readings signings community centers coffee shops private homes etc planning another red carpet author showcase holidays december similar one last year mean holiday party vaucluse lounge hollywood former charlie chaplin residence yes people blast event authors want make annual affair would like turn one best author showcases book fairs city anything else planned ive also got full day filming authorhouse order make author video radio television shows coming book reviews good mentioned excellent review published hollywood times would also like get san francisco book review something year talk hollywood ambitions book elaborate well wrote book hollywood partly mind certainly sections cinematic potential example process script development chapter one aim ultimately making beautiful short film one movies collaborated years back qualified oscars would like take new short level excellence course final section book might developed fulllength feature maybe theatrical play course first last sections book read like fiction rather nonfiction documentary yes fact entire second section book scholarly section perfect documentary material think al gores inconvenient truth steroids laughing seriously topics cover really pertinent right like water crisis southern california public health issues around world result dialoguing documentary filmmakers seems like youre planning much crisis time also projects laughing ah yes feels like im inundated new projects lately movie scripts working another red carpet event hollywood oscars second book tight wraps right wont release information second book actual debut advice would give aspiring authors get question lot people think author need three items place first story tell readers want something unique interesting secondly able write well one problems new authors cant get published writing industry standards finally market market market cant stress last point enough get interviews like one talk book radio get television get published newspapers magazines get front public book tour john carvalhos crisis time available amazoncom barnes amp noble kobo authorhouse booksellers around world follow drjohncarvalhocom latest updates
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<p>GENEVA — Want to know where to put your investment dollars while the global economy spins further into a dizzying nose dive? Take a look at information and communications technology, better known in the trade as ICT.</p>
<p>That's the message in a new report, "Confronting the Crisis," just published by the Geneva-based, International Telecommuncation Union (ITU), the UN agency&#160;that coordinates the worldwide communications industry.</p>
<p>While the overall communications industry is taking an economic battering like everyone else, the report suggests that canny investors will see potentially lucrative opportunities in select areas shining in contrast to the otherwise depressing financial debris. The thing to look for here is "disruptive technologies," in other words, new businesses that take advantage of what is likely to be a major paradigm shift.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/commerce/090212/special-report" type="external">&#160;</a></p>
<p>Crises often provide a fertile environment for new technologies to gain a foothold, and past history has shown that can be an optimum time for companies that are tuned to innovative cost-cutting solutions that increase efficiency. Google was launched in 1998, right in the middle of the Asian financial crisis. Skype took off in 2003, at the height of the dot.com crash. Another market winner was Amazon, which used the net and the latest technological breakthroughs in logistics to speed up retail marketing while reducing prices.</p>
<p>In contrast to conventional equipment manufacturers, such as computer chip-maker Intel, which saw its revenues drop by 23 percent&#160;in the final quarter of 2008, Google's final quarter registered an 18 percent&#160;increase over the same period in 2007. Even more impressive, it actually gained 3 percent&#160;in revenue over the preceding quarter at the very moment the crisis was reaching a fever pitch.</p>
<p>The ITU report points out that both Google and Amazon complemented and improved the wider information technology ecosystem instead of trying to cannibalize it. It didn't hurt that both companies relied on business models with low start-up costs. An added advantage for market-changing companies is the fact that during economic downturns computer processing power and bandwidth costs tend to become cheaper.</p>
<p>A number of areas are likely to profit this time around. Lower-priced, higher-performance consumer broadband is a sure winner. "Netbooks" which are half the price of full-featured laptops are experiencing a surge. Cloud computing, which lets you rent net-based software instead of buying it outright is increasingly popular. Even digital television is likely to enable cost reductions by freeing up frequency spectrum that used to be reserved&#160;for preventing interference from noisy analog channels.</p>
<p>Some of the biggest growth, though, is likely to be in more basic, everyday technologies. Mobile phones and portable computer broadband access over cell phone networks are two leading candidates. Much of this growth is likely to be concentrated in the developing world, which has been shielded from the crisis precisely because it is on the margins of the global economy.</p>
<p>India, which passed the U.S. as the largest cell phone market in 2008, added 10 million new mobile customers last September, and then an additional 10.4 million in October.</p>
<p>It's not complete Nirvana. Indian mobile phone users have lower salaries so they pay less for subscriptions. For every customer that British phone operator Vodafone loses in England, it needs to connect&#160;10 new customers in India to maintain its revenues.</p>
<p>But the growth is nevertheless staggering. The world's biggest mobile phone operator, China Mobile, added 74 million new subscribers in the first nine months of last year. That was compared to 55 million new subscribers for all of 2007.</p>
<p>Brazil added four million subscribers in 2008, double the preceding year. By the end of 2008, there were an estimated 4 billion mobile phone subscribers in the world — an increase of 650 million over 2007. By the end of 2008, mobile phone subscriptions added up to nearly one out of every two people in the developing world.</p>
<p>Will they continue to use mobile phones in the economic downturn? The answer is that they don't have much choice. The new mobile technology is increasingly vital to keeping the basic economy going in more and more countries. In Africa, for instance, payments and remittances in remote areas are regularly made by cell phone. Fishermen and farmers depend on current price information they get over their cell phones before deciding to go to market. With bankers in the leading industrialized countries acting like frightened deer frozen in the headlights of the financial crisis, the ITU suggests that much of the financing for this booming market may come from emerging markets in the south.</p>
<p>Broadband computer connections over cell phone networks is another area that is booming. The idea is to use a small thumb-drive-sized modem that plugs into the USB port of your computer to connect to broadband through your local cell phone operator. Introduced a year ago, the market has mushroomed to 30 million connections. Informa Telecoms and Media Group, an industry analyst, forecasts that it will increase by 50 percent&#160;in 2009. In several major European markets up to 15-30 percent&#160;of broadband subscriptions are now over cellular networks.</p>
<p>How does the U.S. fit into this picture? The current scenario is not good. As the ITU sees it, the U.S. is headed for a catastrophic internet traffic jam that will hit sometime in 2012. Upgrading the global internet is projected to cost $137 billion over the next five years. Network operators in North America are currently under spending by 60-70 percent. While U.S. investment in upgrading the net is projected at $72 billion over 2008-12, an additional $42-55 will be needed to keep the U.S. competitive. If commercial banks are still too traumatized to provide credit, Washington may have to step in or risk being bypassed by the global economy of the future.</p>
<p>The demands presented by climate change also need to be taken into account. The carbon footprint for the worldwide communications industry is currently 2 percent&#160;of the global total. But it is growing by 6 percent&#160;a year as developing countries come on line, and could double by 2020. On the other hand, advanced communications can reduce the world's carbon footprint by up to 15 percent&#160;by 2020 — roughly 7.8 gigatons of CO2 emissions a year — by substituting televised conference calls for the air travel needed for business meetings, and by improving the way it uses the electric grid. Since corporate social conscience is likely to be a major casualty of the crisis, the ITU recommends that communications be included as a significant part of stimulus packages.</p>
<p>Telecommunications can't make up for the global downturn, but it nevertheless plays a significant role, representing 7.5 percent&#160;of global GDP. The global information and communications technology market is currently worth roughly $1.6 trillion. Any country that fails to invest in this market is likely to be left in the dust by more agile competitors. Crises come and go, but people need to communicate wherever they are.</p>
<p>More on the global economic crisis:&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/lebanon/090205/lebanon-bankers-cool-crisis" type="external">Lebanon bankers cool in a crisis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/benelux/090213/chocolate-recession-proof" type="external">Is chocolate recession-proof?</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/commerce/090206/peasant-revolution-20" type="external">Peasant revolution 2.0</a></p>
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geneva want know put investment dollars global economy spins dizzying nose dive take look information communications technology better known trade ict thats message new report confronting crisis published genevabased international telecommuncation union itu un agency160that coordinates worldwide communications industry overall communications industry taking economic battering like everyone else report suggests canny investors see potentially lucrative opportunities select areas shining contrast otherwise depressing financial debris thing look disruptive technologies words new businesses take advantage likely major paradigm shift 160 crises often provide fertile environment new technologies gain foothold past history shown optimum time companies tuned innovative costcutting solutions increase efficiency google launched 1998 right middle asian financial crisis skype took 2003 height dotcom crash another market winner amazon used net latest technological breakthroughs logistics speed retail marketing reducing prices contrast conventional equipment manufacturers computer chipmaker intel saw revenues drop 23 percent160in final quarter 2008 googles final quarter registered 18 percent160increase period 2007 even impressive actually gained 3 percent160in revenue preceding quarter moment crisis reaching fever pitch itu report points google amazon complemented improved wider information technology ecosystem instead trying cannibalize didnt hurt companies relied business models low startup costs added advantage marketchanging companies fact economic downturns computer processing power bandwidth costs tend become cheaper number areas likely profit time around lowerpriced higherperformance consumer broadband sure winner netbooks half price fullfeatured laptops experiencing surge cloud computing lets rent netbased software instead buying outright increasingly popular even digital television likely enable cost reductions freeing frequency spectrum used reserved160for preventing interference noisy analog channels biggest growth though likely basic everyday technologies mobile phones portable computer broadband access cell phone networks two leading candidates much growth likely concentrated developing world shielded crisis precisely margins global economy india passed us largest cell phone market 2008 added 10 million new mobile customers last september additional 104 million october complete nirvana indian mobile phone users lower salaries pay less subscriptions every customer british phone operator vodafone loses england needs connect16010 new customers india maintain revenues growth nevertheless staggering worlds biggest mobile phone operator china mobile added 74 million new subscribers first nine months last year compared 55 million new subscribers 2007 brazil added four million subscribers 2008 double preceding year end 2008 estimated 4 billion mobile phone subscribers world increase 650 million 2007 end 2008 mobile phone subscriptions added nearly one every two people developing world continue use mobile phones economic downturn answer dont much choice new mobile technology increasingly vital keeping basic economy going countries africa instance payments remittances remote areas regularly made cell phone fishermen farmers depend current price information get cell phones deciding go market bankers leading industrialized countries acting like frightened deer frozen headlights financial crisis itu suggests much financing booming market may come emerging markets south broadband computer connections cell phone networks another area booming idea use small thumbdrivesized modem plugs usb port computer connect broadband local cell phone operator introduced year ago market mushroomed 30 million connections informa telecoms media group industry analyst forecasts increase 50 percent160in 2009 several major european markets 1530 percent160of broadband subscriptions cellular networks us fit picture current scenario good itu sees us headed catastrophic internet traffic jam hit sometime 2012 upgrading global internet projected cost 137 billion next five years network operators north america currently spending 6070 percent us investment upgrading net projected 72 billion 200812 additional 4255 needed keep us competitive commercial banks still traumatized provide credit washington may step risk bypassed global economy future demands presented climate change also need taken account carbon footprint worldwide communications industry currently 2 percent160of global total growing 6 percent160a year developing countries come line could double 2020 hand advanced communications reduce worlds carbon footprint 15 percent160by 2020 roughly 78 gigatons co2 emissions year substituting televised conference calls air travel needed business meetings improving way uses electric grid since corporate social conscience likely major casualty crisis itu recommends communications included significant part stimulus packages telecommunications cant make global downturn nevertheless plays significant role representing 75 percent160of global gdp global information communications technology market currently worth roughly 16 trillion country fails invest market likely left dust agile competitors crises come go people need communicate wherever global economic crisis160 lebanon bankers cool crisis chocolate recessionproof peasant revolution 20
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<p>The rules are clear: “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”</p>
<p>So states the International Olympic Committee’s <a href="http://www.olympic.org/Documents/olympic_charter_en.pdf" type="external">official charter</a>. But the IOC has got to be kidding itself if it thinks that the Games are ever, well, just games.</p>
<p>As the Winter Olympics continue in Sochi, Russia’s laws against “homosexual propaganda” have made the host the target of indefatigable protests, be it in the <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/russia/140211/sochi-2014-winter-olympics-protest-zone-Putin" type="external">designated protest zone</a>, in other countries or on the web. They may be some of the <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/culture-lifestyle/140206/putin-gay-rights-protest-songs-sochi" type="external">most colourful demonstrations</a> we’ve seen so far — but they’re far from the only ones.</p>
<p>Here are some of the most memorable times when politics has taken over the podium.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>(Wikimedia Commons)</p>
<p>Long jumper <a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2012/0804/ireland/oaposconnor-waves-flag-of-justice-at-games-203055.html" type="external">Peter O’Connor</a> was born in Wicklow, in what was then the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. But he wanted to represent only one country: an independent Ireland.</p>
<p>Having refused to compete for the UK in the 1900 Paris Olympics, he agreed to go to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1906_Olympics" type="external">1906 intermediate Games</a> in Athens, where he and his two fellow Irish athletes pointedly wore green to distinguish themselves from their British teammates.</p>
<p>The jump that would have won him the gold medal was declared a foul — due to bias from the English and American judges, he would claim — and he eventually took silver.</p>
<p>As he received his medal, the Union Jack was raised. O’Connor wanted none of it. With the help of Irish athlete Conor Leahy, who stood guard, he shimmied up the flag pole and waved <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_O'Connor_(athlete)" type="external">the green flag of Ireland</a> instead.</p>
<p>Later in the competition, when O’Connor and Leahy won gold and silver respectively in the triple jump, O’Connor asked officials to raise two Irish flags for them; when they refused, he instead paraded round the stadium with one in hand.</p>
<p>Those would be O’Connor’s last Games. At the 1908 Olympics in London, all but a few Irish athletes refused to attend in protest at the United Kingdom’s refusal to grant Ireland its independence.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>(Getty Images)</p>
<p>If ever an Olympics deserved to be protested, it was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1936_Summer_Olympics#Boycott_polemics" type="external">the 1936 Games in Berlin</a>.</p>
<p>Führer Adolf Hitler planned to use the event to showcase the capabilities of the fascist German state and the supposed superiority of its Aryan athletes.</p>
<p>Yet despite loud calls for a boycott, not a single invited country declined to take part on moral grounds (though Jewish athletes from various countries refused to attend).</p>
<p>Once in Germany, several athletes reported receiving messages from people concerned about the Nazis’ increasing brutality; as far as we know, those witness accounts, warnings and pleas for help went largely ignored.</p>
<p><a href="http://books.google.fr/books?id=vFYti_djZYEC&amp;lpg=PP1&amp;pg=PP1#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false" type="external">One such letter</a> was addressed to the undisputed star of the Berlin Olympics, US four-time gold medal winner Jesse Owens.</p>
<p>The author, one J.M. Loraine of Britain, urged Owens to use the opportunity to mount a protest from the podium: refuse to accept his medals from any member of the Nazi party in light of their persecution of non-whites, Jews and other so-called undesirables.</p>
<p>“If you make this fine and honourable gesture with the eyes of all the world upon you, you will earn the admiration and gratitude of every liberty-loving man and woman and your words will reverberate around the world,” Loraine wrote.</p>
<p>Sadly for him and for history, Owens never got to read his words; the Gestapo, which was secretly monitoring all mail sent to non-white medallists, intercepted the letter before it reached its addressee. We will never know what Owens — who was <a href="http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016393.html" type="external">no stranger to discrimination</a> in the segregated United States — would have made of its contents.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>(Allsport UK/Allsport/Getty Images)</p>
<p>South Africa’s apartheid government had been warned. <a href="http://web.up.ac.za/sitefiles/file/1795/2012%20october%20medalist/History%20of%20the%20Olympics.pdf" type="external">All of its sport was segregated</a>; no black athlete could compete against a white athlete and only white athletes were picked for the national Olympic team.</p>
<p>When the government announced that South Africa’s white Olympians represented only white South Africans and that any black athletes would have to compete separately, the International Olympics Committee could no longer ignore the flagrant disregard of its own charter.</p>
<p>It issued an ultimatum: South Africa had until August 1964 to make a public declaration renouncing all racial discrimination in sport, or face a ban on competing in the Tokyo Summer Games.</p>
<p>In June, South Africa announced that seven non-white athletes, out of a total of 62, had been chosen to go to Japan. It wasn’t enough.</p>
<p>The South African Amateur Athletic Union objected to the IOC’s ultimatum, which it claimed — with some gall, it must be said, for a country that separated athletes according to its own racist policies — brought politics unduly into sport.</p>
<p>The authorities refused to comply and on August 18, two days after the deadline expired, South Africa was <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/18/newsid_3547000/3547872.stm" type="external">officially excluded</a> from the Olympics.</p>
<p>The ban was strenuously maintained for the next 28 years, thanks notably to other African countries and their threat to <a href="http://library.la84.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1976/ore109/ore109h.pdf" type="external">boycott en masse</a> at any sign of wavering (28 of them went through with it in 1976, when New Zealand was allowed to compete at the Montreal Games despite its rugby team having toured South Africa).</p>
<p>It would not be until the 1992 Games in Barcelona, when apartheid was irrevocably on the way to dismantlement, that any athlete would once again represent South Africa at the Olympics.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>(OFF/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>It’s little wonder that the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/24/sports/olympics-when-games-turned-political.html?pagewanted=2&amp;pagewanted=all" type="external">1968 Mexico Olympics</a> was one of the most tumultuous ever held. The world was in turmoil: the Vietnam War staggered on, Martin Luther King and then Robert F. Kennedy had been assassinated, race riots wrenched the US, outraged students in Paris had inspired anti-government street protests around the world, and the Soviet Union had crushed Czechoslovakia’s bid for freedom.</p>
<p>That upheaval couldn’t be swept aside when the world came to Mexico City to play sports. Mexican students had been demanding democracy all that summer. The government warned protesters that any disruption of the country’s first ever Olympics would not be tolerated.</p>
<p>When, some 10 days before the opening ceremony, hundreds of students assembled in one of the capital’s central squares, government troops opened fire. It was a <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97546687" type="external">massacre</a>. As many as 300 demonstrators were killed; more than 1,000 were injured.</p>
<p>The Games started regardless — but politics couldn’t be kept out of the stadium, either. Czech gymnast <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/24/sports/olympics-when-games-turned-political.html?pagewanted=2&amp;pagewanted=all" type="external">Vera Caslavska</a>, a nationalist who had been in hiding ever since Soviet tanks rolled into her country to put down the Prague Spring, risked her liberty by showing up to compete.</p>
<p>(Wanted by the Soviets, she had taken refuge in the mountains where she kept in competition form by practicing her floor routine in fields and swinging on tree branches instead of the parallel bars.)</p>
<p>When Caslavska tied with a Soviet gymnast for the gold, she pointedly bowed her head while the Soviet national anthem was played. Her defiance would cost Caslavska her career.</p>
<p>But the podium would see its most memorable moment — and arguably the most memorable Olympic protest of all time — thanks to two American athletes.</p>
<p>Tommie Smith and John Carlos, gold and bronze medallists in the 200 meters, gave a silent, symbolic <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/17/newsid_3535000/3535348.stm" type="external">black power salute</a> while ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ played.</p>
<p>They wore no shoes, to mark black poverty; Smith wore a black scarf, for black pride; Carlos wore a string of beads, for all those who were lynched; they wore one black glove each, on opposite hands, because Carlos had forgotten his pair.</p>
<p>The reaction from Olympics officials was immediate, and unbending: the two athletes had violated the Olympic charter and were to be suspended from Team USA, expelled from the Olympic village and sent home.</p>
<p>(Silver medallist <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7674157.stm" type="external">Peter Norman</a>, the white Australian who tacitly supported the Americans’ protest as he shared the podium with them — he even came up with the idea to share the gloves — was not formally punished but faced decades of ostracism, and would never win another title.)</p>
<p>The next day, three other African-American sprinters would wear <a href="http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/american-sprinters-lee-evans-larry-james-and-ronald-freeman-news-photo/51954566" type="external">black berets</a> as they collected their medals to show solidarity for their banished teammates. More than 40 years later, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/30/black-power-salute-1968-olympics" type="external">Carlos has said</a> he doesn’t regret his actions for a moment: “Morality was a far greater force than the rules and regulations they had. God told the angels that day, ‘Take a step back – I’m gonna have to do this myself.’”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>(AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>Politics took over the <a href="http://www.olympic.org/munich-1972-summer-olympics" type="external">1972 Munich Olympics</a> in the most horrifying possible way.</p>
<p>It wasn’t a protest, it was terrorism: armed members of Black September, a faction battling for Palestinian independence, broke into the Israeli team’s accommodation, killed two people, took nine hostage and demanded the release of more than 200 prisoners.</p>
<p>Negotiations failed, rescue attempts failed, and 24 hours later, all the captives were dead. For the first time in history, the IOC suspended the Olympics; but incredibly, despite misgivings from the German organizers, 34 hours later <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_massacre" type="external">the Games went on</a>. Understandably, many athletes opted to withdraw.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>(Tony Duffy/Getty Images)</p>
<p>In a Cold War, it’s not the taking part that counts — it’s the not taking part.</p>
<p>When the IOC, decided in its infinite wisdom, to award consecutive Games first to the Soviet Union and then to the US, tit-for-tat sabotage was almost inevitable.</p>
<p>The US persuaded more than 60 countries to <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7334362.stm" type="external">boycott the 1980 Moscow Olympics</a>, citing the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan one year earlier.</p>
<p>That was like a red flag to, er, a communist. Sure enough, the Soviets called an Eastern Bloc boycott ahead of the 1984 Los Angeles Games. While the US saw the move as simple revenge, Soviet officials put it down to the safety of its athletes, which it said was in danger from “extremist organizations” determined to attack the USSR.</p>
<p>“It is known that from the very first days of preparations for the present Olympics, the American administration has set course at using the Games for its political aims,” the <a href="http://books.google.fr/books?id=U7gMy-9aDNgC&amp;lpg=PA129&amp;ots=FQdFmIfVR9&amp;dq=%22chauvinistic%20sentiments%20and%20an%20anti-Soviet%20hysteria%22&amp;pg=PA130#v=onepage&amp;q=%22chauvinistic%20sentiments%20and%20an%20anti-Soviet%20hysteria%22&amp;f=false" type="external">official announcement</a> stated. “Chauvinistic statements and an anti-Soviet hysteria are being whipped up in the country.” A total of 16 countries sat the LA Games out.</p>
<p>Incidentally, two countries proved that they were equal-opportunity boycotters: Albania and Iran, which refused to attend in either ’80 or ’84.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>(Ian Walton/Getty Images)</p>
<p>It’s honestly hard to pick just one protest out of the scores that took place in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concerns_and_controversies_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics" type="external">the run-up to Beijing 2008</a>.</p>
<p>Should we mention the controversy over the use of migrant labor? Or the criticism of the Chinese government’s support for the Sudanese regime in Darfur? What about the Chinese activists arrested for drawing attention to forced evictions? Or the decision by <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/aug/07/olympics2008.china" type="external">the designer of the showpiece stadium</a> to boycott in protest against autocracy?</p>
<p>All these went into making the Beijing Games some of the most contentious to date, but for innovation alone we tip our hats to the protesters who chose to target a relatively overlooked part of the Olympic ritual: the torch relay.</p>
<p>Demonstrators lined the route in several cities as the torch made its worldwide tour, they demanded a free Tibet, the release of Tibetan prisoners of conscience and better human rights in general.</p>
<p>The disruption was such that the relay had to be repeatedly cut short; in a few cases, officials were forced briefly to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/08/world/europe/08torch.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0" type="external">extinguish the torch</a>.</p>
<p>The Chinese government <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/04/08/us-olympics-torch-idUSPEK13147120080408?feedType=RSS&amp;feedName=topNews" type="external">retorted</a> that such “despicable activities tarnish the lofty Olympic spirit” — which is pretty much the go-to defense for any Olympic host who finds an unwelcome spotlight on its less-than-lofty dealings. Counter-demonstrations in support of Beijing, as well as a ruthlessly efficient Summer Olympics, ensued.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>(YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>The world got a preview of what to expect when the Summer Olympics go to Brazil in June and July last year.</p>
<p>Tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded city streets during Brazil’s <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/brazil/130618/brasilia-protests-congress" type="external">winter of discontent</a>, which was fuelled in part by public outrage at the vast sums spent on hosting the soccer Confederations Cup, the World Cup and the Olympics, all within three years. Will their anger have dissipated by the time 2016 rolls around?</p>
<p>Not unless the organizers go on the hard sell, the IOC acknowledged this month. “There is a good story to tell, but we need Rio and Rio 2016 needs to tell it to the people to maintain and even improve the support of the games by the population,” <a href="http://www.canada.com/olympics/news/as-sochi-launches-ioc-warns-2016-olympics-in-rio-need-constant-supervision" type="external">says</a> IOC President Thomas Bach.</p>
<p>If that doesn't work, the Brazilian security forces can always just continue <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/brazil/140205/brazil-spies-black-bloc-protesters-protect-world-cup" type="external">spying on suspected troublemakers</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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rules clear kind demonstration political religious racial propaganda permitted olympic sites venues areas states international olympic committees official charter ioc got kidding thinks games ever well games winter olympics continue sochi russias laws homosexual propaganda made host target indefatigable protests designated protest zone countries web may colourful demonstrations weve seen far theyre far ones memorable times politics taken podium 160 wikimedia commons long jumper peter oconnor born wicklow united kingdom great britain ireland wanted represent one country independent ireland refused compete uk 1900 paris olympics agreed go 1906 intermediate games athens two fellow irish athletes pointedly wore green distinguish british teammates jump would gold medal declared foul due bias english american judges would claim eventually took silver received medal union jack raised oconnor wanted none help irish athlete conor leahy stood guard shimmied flag pole waved green flag ireland instead later competition oconnor leahy gold silver respectively triple jump oconnor asked officials raise two irish flags refused instead paraded round stadium one hand would oconnors last games 1908 olympics london irish athletes refused attend protest united kingdoms refusal grant ireland independence 160 getty images ever olympics deserved protested 1936 games berlin führer adolf hitler planned use event showcase capabilities fascist german state supposed superiority aryan athletes yet despite loud calls boycott single invited country declined take part moral grounds though jewish athletes various countries refused attend germany several athletes reported receiving messages people concerned nazis increasing brutality far know witness accounts warnings pleas help went largely ignored one letter addressed undisputed star berlin olympics us fourtime gold medal winner jesse owens author one jm loraine britain urged owens use opportunity mount protest podium refuse accept medals member nazi party light persecution nonwhites jews socalled undesirables make fine honourable gesture eyes world upon earn admiration gratitude every libertyloving man woman words reverberate around world loraine wrote sadly history owens never got read words gestapo secretly monitoring mail sent nonwhite medallists intercepted letter reached addressee never know owens stranger discrimination segregated united states would made contents 160 allsport ukallsportgetty images south africas apartheid government warned sport segregated black athlete could compete white athlete white athletes picked national olympic team government announced south africas white olympians represented white south africans black athletes would compete separately international olympics committee could longer ignore flagrant disregard charter issued ultimatum south africa august 1964 make public declaration renouncing racial discrimination sport face ban competing tokyo summer games june south africa announced seven nonwhite athletes total 62 chosen go japan wasnt enough south african amateur athletic union objected iocs ultimatum claimed gall must said country separated athletes according racist policies brought politics unduly sport authorities refused comply august 18 two days deadline expired south africa officially excluded olympics ban strenuously maintained next 28 years thanks notably african countries threat boycott en masse sign wavering 28 went 1976 new zealand allowed compete montreal games despite rugby team toured south africa would 1992 games barcelona apartheid irrevocably way dismantlement athlete would represent south africa olympics 160 offafpgetty images little wonder 1968 mexico olympics one tumultuous ever held world turmoil vietnam war staggered martin luther king robert f kennedy assassinated race riots wrenched us outraged students paris inspired antigovernment street protests around world soviet union crushed czechoslovakias bid freedom upheaval couldnt swept aside world came mexico city play sports mexican students demanding democracy summer government warned protesters disruption countrys first ever olympics would tolerated 10 days opening ceremony hundreds students assembled one capitals central squares government troops opened fire massacre many 300 demonstrators killed 1000 injured games started regardless politics couldnt kept stadium either czech gymnast vera caslavska nationalist hiding ever since soviet tanks rolled country put prague spring risked liberty showing compete wanted soviets taken refuge mountains kept competition form practicing floor routine fields swinging tree branches instead parallel bars caslavska tied soviet gymnast gold pointedly bowed head soviet national anthem played defiance would cost caslavska career podium would see memorable moment arguably memorable olympic protest time thanks two american athletes tommie smith john carlos gold bronze medallists 200 meters gave silent symbolic black power salute starspangled banner played wore shoes mark black poverty smith wore black scarf black pride carlos wore string beads lynched wore one black glove opposite hands carlos forgotten pair reaction olympics officials immediate unbending two athletes violated olympic charter suspended team usa expelled olympic village sent home silver medallist peter norman white australian tacitly supported americans protest shared podium even came idea share gloves formally punished faced decades ostracism would never win another title next day three africanamerican sprinters would wear black berets collected medals show solidarity banished teammates 40 years later carlos said doesnt regret actions moment morality far greater force rules regulations god told angels day take step back im gon na 160 afpgetty images politics took 1972 munich olympics horrifying possible way wasnt protest terrorism armed members black september faction battling palestinian independence broke israeli teams accommodation killed two people took nine hostage demanded release 200 prisoners negotiations failed rescue attempts failed 24 hours later captives dead first time history ioc suspended olympics incredibly despite misgivings german organizers 34 hours later games went understandably many athletes opted withdraw 160 tony duffygetty images cold war taking part counts taking part ioc decided infinite wisdom award consecutive games first soviet union us titfortat sabotage almost inevitable us persuaded 60 countries boycott 1980 moscow olympics citing soviet invasion afghanistan one year earlier like red flag er communist sure enough soviets called eastern bloc boycott ahead 1984 los angeles games us saw move simple revenge soviet officials put safety athletes said danger extremist organizations determined attack ussr known first days preparations present olympics american administration set course using games political aims official announcement stated chauvinistic statements antisoviet hysteria whipped country total 16 countries sat la games incidentally two countries proved equalopportunity boycotters albania iran refused attend either 80 84 160 ian waltongetty images honestly hard pick one protest scores took place runup beijing 2008 mention controversy use migrant labor criticism chinese governments support sudanese regime darfur chinese activists arrested drawing attention forced evictions decision designer showpiece stadium boycott protest autocracy went making beijing games contentious date innovation alone tip hats protesters chose target relatively overlooked part olympic ritual torch relay demonstrators lined route several cities torch made worldwide tour demanded free tibet release tibetan prisoners conscience better human rights general disruption relay repeatedly cut short cases officials forced briefly extinguish torch chinese government retorted despicable activities tarnish lofty olympic spirit pretty much goto defense olympic host finds unwelcome spotlight lessthanlofty dealings counterdemonstrations support beijing well ruthlessly efficient summer olympics ensued 160 yasuyoshi chibaafpgetty images world got preview expect summer olympics go brazil june july last year tens thousands demonstrators flooded city streets brazils winter discontent fuelled part public outrage vast sums spent hosting soccer confederations cup world cup olympics within three years anger dissipated time 2016 rolls around unless organizers go hard sell ioc acknowledged month good story tell need rio rio 2016 needs tell people maintain even improve support games population says ioc president thomas bach doesnt work brazilian security forces always continue spying suspected troublemakers 160
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<p>The tragic mass shooting at the gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando has sparked renewed interest in the causes of homophobia.</p>
<p>While the exact motives of the shooter, Omar Mateen, remain unclear, a portrait has emerged of someone <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/troubled-quiet-macho-angry-the-volatile-life-of-omar-mateen/2016/06/17/15229250-34a6-11e6-8758-d58e76e11b12_story.html" type="external">conflicted about his religion and sexuality</a>&#160;—&#160;a man who was married twice but who <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-orlando-nightclub-shooting-20160613-snap-story.html" type="external">many claimed also frequented gay bars</a>, who became furious when he saw two men kissing but who had reportedly signed up for gay dating apps.</p>
<p>Of course, Mateen’s religion —&#160;Islam —&#160;traditionally <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/29/opinion/mustafa-akyol-what-does-islam-say-about-being-gay.html" type="external">forbids homosexuality</a>. Prior to the shooting, Mateen’s father had also publicly denounced homosexuality, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/shooters-father-god-will-punish-homosexuality_us_575e741de4b0ced23ca87ae1" type="external">posting a video on Facebook</a> in which he proclaimed that “God himself will punish those involved in homosexuality.”</p>
<p>Some have wondered (like in <a href="https://www.quora.com/LGBTQI-Issues-Is-it-true-that-many-vocal-homophobes-are-in-fact-self-hating-closeted-homosexuals" type="external">this Quora discussion</a>) if those who are homophobic may actually be closeted themselves. Has research actually identified a relationship between repressing same-sex attractions and expressing homophobia? And what factors may influence these feelings?</p>
<p>Often because of social or religious pressures, some find homosexuality unacceptable. For those who believe homosexuality is wrong —&#160;but nonetheless find themselves experiencing same-sex attraction —&#160;they can become internally conflicted: They must reconcile these feelings with their strongly held beliefs.</p>
<p>Repressed urges can sometimes be expressed as their opposite; in other words, a person may lash out against what he finds unacceptable in himself. Freud termed this defense <a href="http://faculty.fortlewis.edu/burke_b/personality/readings/freuddefense.pdf" type="external">reaction formation</a>, and when one has unwanted feelings of same-sex attraction, they may be expressed as homophobia.</p>
<p>My colleagues and I published a <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0026854" type="external">set of studies</a> examining this process in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. We wanted to see if we could identify a relationship between repressed sexual identities and any potential consequences, like homophobia.</p>
<p>Across six studies in the United States and Germany, we recruited participants across the spectrum of sexual orientations. First, we asked participants to self-identify on a continuum from straight to gay, with bisexual at the center.</p>
<p>Next, participants completed a computer task that measured their reaction time while categorizing words and pictures as “gay” or “straight,” including the words “homosexual” and “heterosexual,” and pictures depicting same-sex and opposite-sex couples.</p>
<p>The words and images were presented one at a time, and participants were told to make these categorizations as quickly as possible. But immediately before each of these words or images was presented, a word – “me” or “others” – was flashed on the screen. This was done quickly enough that it could be subliminally processed, but not long enough for it to be consciously recognized.</p>
<p>This method uses what is known as <a href="http://www.apa.org/pubs/highlights/peeps/issue-33.aspx" type="external">semantic priming</a>, and it assumes that, after being exposed to “me,” participants will categorize words more quickly that match their sexual orientation (e.g., a straight person, after being primed with “me,” will more quickly choose words or images associated with heterosexuality). If the words don’t match their sexual orientation (such as a straight person viewing homosexual cues), it will take them longer to make the categorization.</p>
<p>These two measures identified a group of people who labeled themselves as heterosexual, but showed quicker reaction times to the “me” and gay pairings. Individuals with these discrepant identities were more likely to describe themselves as homophobic and to endorse anti-gay policies. In addition, in scenarios describing gay individuals committing minor crimes, they were more likely to assign harsher punishments.</p>
<p>In other words, those people in our studies who were conflicted around their sexual identities tended to be more anti-gay themselves.</p>
<p>However, we also sought to understand what could cause this dynamic to develop in the first place.</p>
<p>We identified parenting as a possible factor in the development of these conflicting identities. One of the major aspects of parenting we measured was something called “perceived parental autonomy support” among the participants.</p>
<p>When parents support their children’s need for autonomy, they give them the freedom to not only explore their beliefs, needs and emotions, but also to act on them. Parents who do the opposite will pressure their kids to feel or act in narrowly defined ways.</p>
<p>In several of our studies, participants reported how their parents supported them while they were growing up. Those who had a more conflicted sexual identity were more likely to recall having parents who were more controlling. These individuals were also more homophobic.</p>
<p>On the other hand, those participants who had supportive parents were more at ease with their sexual identity and reported being less homophobic.</p>
<p>This research highlights an unfortunate reality in many people’s lives: an unsupportive and unwelcoming environment may lead to a rejection of one’s own same-sex attraction or identification. This, then, can cause people to lash out against LGBT individuals.</p>
<p>Of course, it’s important to highlight that this certainly does not explain the source of all homophobic behavior. Furthermore, it’s likely that most of those who are in the closet do not feel the slightest bit of homophobia. Nonetheless, there can be a host of other negative consequences; studies have shown that those who suppress their sexuality suffer <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/ort/71/1/61/" type="external">greater distress and suicidality</a>, and <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/xge/143/2/721/" type="external">poorer executive functioning and physical stamina</a>.</p>
<p>It’s also entirely possible this process may not apply to the recent tragedy in Orlando. Though a number of people interviewed said that Omar struggled with same-sex attraction, and his father has made his negative views on gay people known, we may never arrive at a truly clear picture of his experience.</p>
<p>However, it should still force us to ask what kind of environments we want to create in our homes, schools and workplaces. Do we want places that will support all people, regardless of their identities? Or do we want to pressure them into lifestyles that simply don’t fit with their sense of who they are?</p>
<p>Improving these environments could go a long way in reducing the suffering felt by many who still struggle to come to grips with an LGBT identity.</p>
<p><a href="http://theconversation.com/profiles/cody-dehaan-275868" type="external">Cody DeHaan</a>&#160;is a doctoral candidate in psychology at the&#160; <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-rochester" type="external">University of Rochester</a></p>
<p>This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" type="external">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-there-a-link-between-being-in-the-closet-and-being-homophobic-61185" type="external">original article</a>.</p>
<p />
| false | 3 |
tragic mass shooting gay nightclub pulse orlando sparked renewed interest causes homophobia exact motives shooter omar mateen remain unclear portrait emerged someone conflicted religion sexuality160160a man married twice many claimed also frequented gay bars became furious saw two men kissing reportedly signed gay dating apps course mateens religion 160islam 160traditionally forbids homosexuality prior shooting mateens father also publicly denounced homosexuality posting video facebook proclaimed god punish involved homosexuality wondered like quora discussion homophobic may actually closeted research actually identified relationship repressing samesex attractions expressing homophobia factors may influence feelings often social religious pressures find homosexuality unacceptable believe homosexuality wrong 160but nonetheless find experiencing samesex attraction 160they become internally conflicted must reconcile feelings strongly held beliefs repressed urges sometimes expressed opposite words person may lash finds unacceptable freud termed defense reaction formation one unwanted feelings samesex attraction may expressed homophobia colleagues published set studies examining process journal personality social psychology wanted see could identify relationship repressed sexual identities potential consequences like homophobia across six studies united states germany recruited participants across spectrum sexual orientations first asked participants selfidentify continuum straight gay bisexual center next participants completed computer task measured reaction time categorizing words pictures gay straight including words homosexual heterosexual pictures depicting samesex oppositesex couples words images presented one time participants told make categorizations quickly possible immediately words images presented word others flashed screen done quickly enough could subliminally processed long enough consciously recognized method uses known semantic priming assumes exposed participants categorize words quickly match sexual orientation eg straight person primed quickly choose words images associated heterosexuality words dont match sexual orientation straight person viewing homosexual cues take longer make categorization two measures identified group people labeled heterosexual showed quicker reaction times gay pairings individuals discrepant identities likely describe homophobic endorse antigay policies addition scenarios describing gay individuals committing minor crimes likely assign harsher punishments words people studies conflicted around sexual identities tended antigay however also sought understand could cause dynamic develop first place identified parenting possible factor development conflicting identities one major aspects parenting measured something called perceived parental autonomy support among participants parents support childrens need autonomy give freedom explore beliefs needs emotions also act parents opposite pressure kids feel act narrowly defined ways several studies participants reported parents supported growing conflicted sexual identity likely recall parents controlling individuals also homophobic hand participants supportive parents ease sexual identity reported less homophobic research highlights unfortunate reality many peoples lives unsupportive unwelcoming environment may lead rejection ones samesex attraction identification cause people lash lgbt individuals course important highlight certainly explain source homophobic behavior furthermore likely closet feel slightest bit homophobia nonetheless host negative consequences studies shown suppress sexuality suffer greater distress suicidality poorer executive functioning physical stamina also entirely possible process may apply recent tragedy orlando though number people interviewed said omar struggled samesex attraction father made negative views gay people known may never arrive truly clear picture experience however still force us ask kind environments want create homes schools workplaces want places support people regardless identities want pressure lifestyles simply dont fit sense improving environments could go long way reducing suffering felt many still struggle come grips lgbt identity cody dehaan160is doctoral candidate psychology the160 university rochester article originally published conversation read original article
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<p>BOSTON - This week the US military involvement in Afghanistan will be big in the news.</p>
<p>The killing of 16 Afghan civilians, including 9 children, last week, allegedly by US Army sergeant Robert Bales, will continue to prompt debate on the mission of US troops in Aghanistan.</p>
<p>Bales, 38, who turned himself in after the killings, was flown out of Afghanistan and is being held in pre-trial solitary confinement at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He is expected to be charged this week, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/afghanistan/story/2012-03-17/robert-bales-afghanistan-shooting-suspect/53587098/1" type="external">according to AP.</a></p>
<p>Bales' history as having been on <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/120318/robert-bales-us-soldier-afghanistan-killings-911-karilyn-wife" type="external">his fourth deployment to war zones</a> and his record of having suffered traumatic injuries calls into question the US military's multiple deployments of troops in the long-term engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan.</p>
<p>Bales won honors for his performance in combat in Iraq. But he has also been under financial pressure over house mortgages and had a couple of brushes with the law in his home state, Washington, according to AP. It appears that Bales' defense will plead that he suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).&#160;</p>
<p>The entire international community will participate in the debate over Afghanistan this week. On Thursday, March 22, the United Nations Security Council will consider the UN mission in Afghanistan, one day before it expires.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/groundtruth/sgt-robert-bales-afghanistan-massacre-lessons" type="external">The lessons of Sgt. Robert Bales</a></p>
<p>Syria crisis focuses on Aleppo and the Assad family</p>
<p>Syria will continue to be gripped by violence between supporters of President Bashar al-Assad and anti-government activists.</p>
<p>On Sunday 67 people were killed in clashes throughout Syria, including two children and seven soldiers from the Free Syria Army, <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/18/world/meast/syria-unrest/" type="external">reported CNN</a> which quoted the&#160; <a href="http://www.lccsyria.org/" type="external">Local Coordination Committees of Syria</a>, a network of opposition activists.</p>
<p>The dead were killed in fighting in the northeastern city of Deir Erroz, where 29 dead were counted, as well as the cities of Idlib, Homs and the suburbs of Damascus.</p>
<p>The Assad family will continue to be under scrutiny, following the leak of emails, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/14/gilded-lifestyle-assad-coterie-conflict" type="external">published by The Guardian</a>&#160;and other British newspapers, which show the ruling family and their inner circle are more concerned about buying luxury goods than in the violence that has wracked Syria.</p>
<p>New attention has focused on <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/120317/asma-al-assad-syria-bashar-online-shopping-luxury-goods-eu-sanctions-vogue" type="external">Asma, Assad's British-born wife</a>, who could face a two-year jail sentence for breaking international sanctions by shopping online at Harrod's, the London department store, and jewelry stores in Paris, according to the Daily Telegraph.</p>
<p>In one of the leaked emails, Asma wrote, "I am the real dictator," and said that she has supported her husband's crackdown on the opposition that is blamed for the deaths estimated to be at 8,000.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/120317/syria-damascus-blasts-terrorists-annan" type="external">Syria: Damascus blast kills police and civilians</a>&#160;</p>
<p>Libya, France and ICC all want to put on trial Gaddafi's top security official</p>
<p>The arrest Saturday <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/120317/al-senussi-libyas-ex-spy-chief-wanted-icc-arrested-mauritania" type="external">in Mauritania of&#160;Abdullah al-Senussi,</a> who was the head of intelligence for Libya's deposed ruler Muammar Gaddafi, has set off a scramble between the new Libyan government, France and the International Criminal Court. All three want to <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/threeway-battle-to-put-gaddafis-spy-chief-on-trial-7576836.html" type="external">put Senussi on trial.</a></p>
<p>The Hague-based ICC wants to try Senussi for crimes against humanity. It issued an arrest warrant for him last year.</p>
<p>France accuses Senussi of being behind the 1989 bombing of an airliner over Niger in which 54 French nationals died. French courts have tried and convicted Senussi in absentia and French officials confirmed they would request that Mauritania extradite Senussi to France.</p>
<p>The new Libyan government insisted that Senussi be returned to Libya so that he could stand trial for many crimes including the alleged torture of anti-Gaddafi rebels.&#160;</p>
<p>Senussi was Gaddafi's right hand man and is reported to have directed the construction of a secret nuclear facility deep in the Sahara desert.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see where Mauritania will decide to send Senussi.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/120317/al-senussi-libyas-ex-spy-chief-wanted-icc-arrested-mauritania" type="external">Libya's ex-spy chief Senussi arrested in Mauritania</a>&#160;</p>
<p>Republican race moves on to Ilinois&#160;</p>
<p>The marathon race of the Republican primaries keeps going and going.</p>
<p>This week started off with a win in the US territory of <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/120318/republican-primaries-mitt-romney-projected-winne" type="external">Puerto Rico for Mitt Romney</a>, who won 83 percent of the vote there, according to polls. Rick Santorum did poorly, with just 8 percent of the vote, after saying that Puerto Rico should adopt English as its official language in order to attain US statehood.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, March 20, attention will be focused on the primary vote in the midwestern state of Illinois. Illinois is generally viewed as a state that has many moderate Republicans and therefore Mitt Romney is expected to do well there. And he will welcome picking up as many as possible of that state's 69 delegates.</p>
<p>On Saturday, March 24, Louisiana is holding its primary and the more conservative Rick Santorum may do better there. It has 20 delegates.</p>
<p>An interesting race will be in Maryland, also on March 24, which has a winner take all system for the allocation of its 37 delegates.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/120318/mccain-gop-presidential-race-nastiest-superpac" type="external">McCain: GOP presidential race is the nastiest he's ever seen</a></p>
<p>Senegal goes to the polls again&#160;</p>
<p>The West African state of Senegal <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/senegal/120312/senegal-opposition-rallies-ahead-presidential-run" type="external">will hold a runoff election</a> on Sunday, March 25 between President Abdoulaye Wade and opposition challenger Macky Sall.</p>
<p>Wade, 85, is going for a controversial third term, which is against the country's constitution.</p>
<p>Normally West Africa's most peaceful and stable country, Senegal has been rocked by angry demonstrations against Wade, in which more than six protesters have died.</p>
<p>In the first round of elections in February, Wade won 35 percent of the vote, well short of the 50 percent he needed to win outright.The opposition field of 13 different candidates split the rest of the votes. Sall, 50, came in second with 26 percent of the votes. But now most of the opposition have united behind Sall.</p>
<p>It is expected to be a tight race, and international observers will be watching closely to see if it is free and fair.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/senegal/120312/senegal-opposition-rallies-ahead-presidential-run" type="external">Senegal opposition rallies ahead of presidential election</a></p>
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boston week us military involvement afghanistan big news killing 16 afghan civilians including 9 children last week allegedly us army sergeant robert bales continue prompt debate mission us troops aghanistan bales 38 turned killings flown afghanistan held pretrial solitary confinement fort leavenworth kansas expected charged week according ap bales history fourth deployment war zones record suffered traumatic injuries calls question us militarys multiple deployments troops longterm engagements iraq afghanistan bales honors performance combat iraq also financial pressure house mortgages couple brushes law home state washington according ap appears bales defense plead suffered post traumatic stress disorder ptsd160 entire international community participate debate afghanistan week thursday march 22 united nations security council consider un mission afghanistan one day expires globalpost160 lessons sgt robert bales syria crisis focuses aleppo assad family syria continue gripped violence supporters president bashar alassad antigovernment activists sunday 67 people killed clashes throughout syria including two children seven soldiers free syria army reported cnn quoted the160 local coordination committees syria network opposition activists dead killed fighting northeastern city deir erroz 29 dead counted well cities idlib homs suburbs damascus assad family continue scrutiny following leak emails published guardian160and british newspapers show ruling family inner circle concerned buying luxury goods violence wracked syria new attention focused asma assads britishborn wife could face twoyear jail sentence breaking international sanctions shopping online harrods london department store jewelry stores paris according daily telegraph one leaked emails asma wrote real dictator said supported husbands crackdown opposition blamed deaths estimated 8000 globalpost syria damascus blast kills police civilians160 libya france icc want put trial gaddafis top security official arrest saturday mauritania of160abdullah alsenussi head intelligence libyas deposed ruler muammar gaddafi set scramble new libyan government france international criminal court three want put senussi trial haguebased icc wants try senussi crimes humanity issued arrest warrant last year france accuses senussi behind 1989 bombing airliner niger 54 french nationals died french courts tried convicted senussi absentia french officials confirmed would request mauritania extradite senussi france new libyan government insisted senussi returned libya could stand trial many crimes including alleged torture antigaddafi rebels160 senussi gaddafis right hand man reported directed construction secret nuclear facility deep sahara desert interesting see mauritania decide send senussi globalpost libyas exspy chief senussi arrested mauritania160 republican race moves ilinois160 marathon race republican primaries keeps going going week started win us territory puerto rico mitt romney 83 percent vote according polls rick santorum poorly 8 percent vote saying puerto rico adopt english official language order attain us statehood tuesday march 20 attention focused primary vote midwestern state illinois illinois generally viewed state many moderate republicans therefore mitt romney expected well welcome picking many possible states 69 delegates saturday march 24 louisiana holding primary conservative rick santorum may better 20 delegates interesting race maryland also march 24 winner take system allocation 37 delegates globalpost mccain gop presidential race nastiest hes ever seen senegal goes polls again160 west african state senegal hold runoff election sunday march 25 president abdoulaye wade opposition challenger macky sall wade 85 going controversial third term countrys constitution normally west africas peaceful stable country senegal rocked angry demonstrations wade six protesters died first round elections february wade 35 percent vote well short 50 percent needed win outrightthe opposition field 13 different candidates split rest votes sall 50 came second 26 percent votes opposition united behind sall expected tight race international observers watching closely see free fair globalpost160 senegal opposition rallies ahead presidential election
| 572 |
<p>Chicago School Board members unanimously voted to privatize building engineers in almost 50 schools, potentially putting engineers out of work and giving more control over school maintenance to two companies that principals have widely criticized for two years.</p>
<p>District officials have said the additions to existing contracts with Aramark and SodexoMAGIC are cost neutral&#160;and&#160;touted the change as a way to give principals a single “point of contact” for supervising engineers and custodial staff.</p>
<p>But critics worry the plan will exacerbate maintenance problems at schools, cost the district more in the long term and cause problems for the municipal pension fund by reducing the number of employees paying in.</p>
<p>“No privatization scheme ever worked out with public money,” said William Iacullo, president of International Union of Operating Engineers <a href="http://local143.org/?page_id=9" type="external">Local 143</a>, to the board at Wednesday’s regular meeting. “You’re giving public money to a private company to make money.”</p>
<p>William Iacullo</p>
<p>Iacullo and other critics warn that CPS and schools will end up in worse shape. When Aramark first took over some janitorial services in 2014, <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2015/03/schools-still-dirty-with-privatized-custodians-principals/" type="external">principals widely complained</a>of dirty schools and a lack of janitorial staff. In its first year, the contract left CPS with a bill <a href="https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/chicago-school-cleaning-contract-millions-over-budget/9d1de86e-e66b-4d5d-8536-d7cb073bc0f0" type="external">$22 million</a> over budget.</p>
<p>Under the amended contract, Aramark will provide engineering services to 18&#160;of the schools in which it already provides custodians. Engineers’ jobs include maintaining&#160;heating and cooling systems, fixing windows, sealing leaky pipes and mowing lawns, while custodians perform cleaning and other janitorial duties.</p>
<p>SodexoMAGIC, which already provides engineers and custodians at <a href="" type="internal">33 pilot</a> “integrated facilities management” CPS schools, will also provide these services at an additional 30.&#160;(See a list of all&#160;impacted schools&#160; <a href="" type="internal">here</a>.)</p>
<p>The district says no current engineers will be laid off, as all schools that are part of the newly extended pilot are understaffed or have an engineer who will retire at the end of the school year. The salaries and benefits of 50 or so engineers currently costs CPS about $5.8 million.</p>
<p>In 2014, Aramark was awarded a $260 million contract, while SodexoMAGIC—owned by basketball superstar-turned-businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson, a major contributor to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s re-election campaign—had a contract worth $80 million.</p>
<p>CPS is still at the beginning of an RFP to do “integrated facilities management” throughout the system—essentially privatizing all custodial and building engineering staff sometime in 2018. The current Sodexo and Aramark contracts are up next February.</p>
<p>“The results of the initial pilot have shown us that the IFM model has the potential to improve facility services without increasing costs, and we will evaluate the modified pilot to determine if a larger transition to IFM is warranted,” CPS spokesman Michael Passman said in a statement.</p>
<p>Adding a middle-man, losing pension funds</p>
<p>Outgoing Chicago Principals and Administrators Association President Clarice Berry pointed out that bringing in private companies only adds an unnecessary middle-man to maintenance and janitorial work. “[Principals] want cleaner schools, and we had that before Aramark, when custodians reported to engineers and engineers reported to principals,” she said.</p>
<p>There are currently just over 500 building engineers at CPS. Most high schools have two, while many elementary schools share one engineer or have only one working full-time.</p>
<p>Iacullo said he repeatedly pointed out the high cost of privatizing engineers and management during contract negotiations with CPS in recent weeks, but was told that privatization was about increasing efficiency, not saving money.</p>
<p>The engineers union was so opposed to the deal that it agreed to cut jobs, eliminate a 7-percent pension pick-up by the district and forego raises for two years instead. But CPS forged ahead anyway and the union’s contract expires next month.</p>
<p>“They don’t seem to care what we say,” Iacullo said earlier. “It’s disheartening. They just want to go ahead with privatization and not even a generous offer from us can stop them.”</p>
<p>One of Iacullo’s greatest concerns is the impact that increasing privatization could have on pensions. As more engineers become privatized, there are fewer public employees paying into the Municipal Employees’ Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago.</p>
<p>In <a href="" type="internal">a letter</a> earlier this month to Anthony Clancy, Local 143’s pension representative, the <a href="http://www.meabf.org/" type="external">municipal fund’s</a> executive director James Mohler said that the total amount of lost contributions could reach around $7.3 million a year if CPS privatizes all building engineers.</p>
<p>Mohler’s letter also pointed out that privatizing may lead more CPS engineers to retire earlier than they typically would, if eligible—putting further financial strain on the fund. If at least half chose this option, it could cost the fund an additional $120 million over 10 years. As a result, the pension fund would be stuck paying massive retirement expenses without a sustainable stream of new money coming in.</p>
<p>There are also fears that engineers may not really have an option to “retire early”—they might just not be rehired at CPS schools.</p>
<p>In a <a href="" type="internal">letter to principals</a> last month, CPS Chief Administrative Officer Jose Alfonso de Hoyos-Acosta said the district is “requiring all prospective … vendors to employ impacted CPS engineers.”</p>
<p>However, SodexoMAGIC’s pilot schools hired engineers from IUOE Local 399, not Iacullo’s local. Some engineers from Iacullo’s union found jobs at other Chicago schools or in the suburbs rather than switch to Local 399.</p>
<p>Building age is also a factor. Of SodexoMAGIC’s 33 pilot schools, 26 are less than 30 years old. Many CPS buildings are almost a century old, and principals from non-pilot schools have expressed concern that new engineers won’t have the experience to maintain these older buildings, or that engineering staff will be cut too much to give the buildings adequate maintenance.</p>
<p>“Sodexo didn’t get the schools that were old,” Berry said. “And I don’t know how quickly they’ll be able to get up to speed in older buildings without hiring more staff. We’re going to be right back where we were with Aramark.”</p>
<p>Catalyst associate editor Melissa Sanchez contributed to this report.</p>
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chicago school board members unanimously voted privatize building engineers almost 50 schools potentially putting engineers work giving control school maintenance two companies principals widely criticized two years district officials said additions existing contracts aramark sodexomagic cost neutral160and160touted change way give principals single point contact supervising engineers custodial staff critics worry plan exacerbate maintenance problems schools cost district long term cause problems municipal pension fund reducing number employees paying privatization scheme ever worked public money said william iacullo president international union operating engineers local 143 board wednesdays regular meeting youre giving public money private company make money william iacullo iacullo critics warn cps schools end worse shape aramark first took janitorial services 2014 principals widely complainedof dirty schools lack janitorial staff first year contract left cps bill 22 million budget amended contract aramark provide engineering services 18160of schools already provides custodians engineers jobs include maintaining160heating cooling systems fixing windows sealing leaky pipes mowing lawns custodians perform cleaning janitorial duties sodexomagic already provides engineers custodians 33 pilot integrated facilities management cps schools also provide services additional 30160see list all160impacted schools160 district says current engineers laid schools part newly extended pilot understaffed engineer retire end school year salaries benefits 50 engineers currently costs cps 58 million 2014 aramark awarded 260 million contract sodexomagicowned basketball superstarturnedbusinessman earvin magic johnson major contributor mayor rahm emanuels reelection campaignhad contract worth 80 million cps still beginning rfp integrated facilities management throughout systemessentially privatizing custodial building engineering staff sometime 2018 current sodexo aramark contracts next february results initial pilot shown us ifm model potential improve facility services without increasing costs evaluate modified pilot determine larger transition ifm warranted cps spokesman michael passman said statement adding middleman losing pension funds outgoing chicago principals administrators association president clarice berry pointed bringing private companies adds unnecessary middleman maintenance janitorial work principals want cleaner schools aramark custodians reported engineers engineers reported principals said currently 500 building engineers cps high schools two many elementary schools share one engineer one working fulltime iacullo said repeatedly pointed high cost privatizing engineers management contract negotiations cps recent weeks told privatization increasing efficiency saving money engineers union opposed deal agreed cut jobs eliminate 7percent pension pickup district forego raises two years instead cps forged ahead anyway unions contract expires next month dont seem care say iacullo said earlier disheartening want go ahead privatization even generous offer us stop one iacullos greatest concerns impact increasing privatization could pensions engineers become privatized fewer public employees paying municipal employees annuity benefit fund chicago letter earlier month anthony clancy local 143s pension representative municipal funds executive director james mohler said total amount lost contributions could reach around 73 million year cps privatizes building engineers mohlers letter also pointed privatizing may lead cps engineers retire earlier typically would eligibleputting financial strain fund least half chose option could cost fund additional 120 million 10 years result pension fund would stuck paying massive retirement expenses without sustainable stream new money coming also fears engineers may really option retire earlythey might rehired cps schools letter principals last month cps chief administrative officer jose alfonso de hoyosacosta said district requiring prospective vendors employ impacted cps engineers however sodexomagics pilot schools hired engineers iuoe local 399 iacullos local engineers iacullos union found jobs chicago schools suburbs rather switch local 399 building age also factor sodexomagics 33 pilot schools 26 less 30 years old many cps buildings almost century old principals nonpilot schools expressed concern new engineers wont experience maintain older buildings engineering staff cut much give buildings adequate maintenance sodexo didnt get schools old berry said dont know quickly theyll able get speed older buildings without hiring staff going right back aramark catalyst associate editor melissa sanchez contributed report
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<p>Not long ago, this would’ve been a remarkable statement from the head of the US Environmental Protection Agency:</p>
<p>“There's tremendous disagreement about the degree of impact [of carbon dioxide], so I would not agree that it's a primary contributor to … global warming.”</p>
<p>But those were indeed the words of new EPA administrator Scott Pruitt, speaking Thursday on the CNBC show <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/09/epa-chief-scott-pruitt.html?platform=hootsuite" type="external">Squawk Box</a>.</p>
<p>Pruitt’s statement is roughly the scientific equivalent of saying he doesn't believe that gravity is a primary contributor to making things fall. Although by itself, it was no big surprise&#160;—&#160;his record of denying the reality and significance of human-induced climate change has been well known since his days battling federal environmental regulations as Oklahoma’s attorney general.&#160;His boss, President Donald Trump, too has often dismissed climate change as a <a href="" type="internal">hoax</a>.</p>
<p>But Pruitt’s statement this past week matters hugely, because he and Trump are now positioned to reverse the US government’s efforts to combat the global climate crisis, with the first specific plans expected in an executive order from the president in&#160; <a href="http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060051196" type="external">the coming&#160;week</a>.</p>
<p>In other words, Pruitt’s comments are not exactly news, but they are important to report, as well as to put in context — to remind ourselves what we know about CO2 and the Earth’s climate, and how we know it.</p>
<p>For that we got in touch with <a href="http://geology.byu.edu/Home/content/Faculty%20Directory/barry-bickmore" type="external">Barry Bickmore</a>, a professor of geosciences at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and, it’s worth noting, <a href="https://bbickmore.wordpress.com/" type="external">a Republican</a>.</p>
<p>“The first thing we know,” Bickmore says, “is that carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, which slows down the rate heat can escape from the Earth to space.</p>
<p>“So the fact is — and this is just basic physics — if you put more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, it will warm things up. [And]&#160;we know that burning fossil fuels puts more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.”</p>
<p>We can also measure how much the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased, Bickmore says, and correlate that with changes in the global temperature.</p>
<p>Doing that shows that the two are closely linked&#160;—&#160;as CO2 levels have gone up, temperatures have gone up. Basic physics predict this would happen; careful and widespread real-world data confirms that it has.</p>
<p>That's not to say the progression has been in lockstep. CO2&#160;is only one of many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and nature also plays a role in changing the levels of those gases along with human activity.</p>
<p>“It’s a complicated system,” Bickmore says, “so pinning things like that exactly [is]&#160;not going to be possible all the time.”</p>
<p>Pruitt and others who reject the well-established science of the&#160;climate system point to this complexity and uncertainty to suggest that we can’t draw any conclusions about the role of increased CO2 levels in altering the Earth’s climate.</p>
<p>Bickmore says such claims are “disingenuous.”</p>
<p>We can establish a range of probable impacts, he says, “and the probability that humans are contributing less than half to the recent climate change is probably less than 1 percent.”</p>
<p>In other words, there’s a more than 99 percent likelihood that the CO2 humans have put into the atmosphere is responsible for at least half of the planet’s recent warming.</p>
<p>This basic understanding of the link between CO2 and climate change is almost universally accepted by scientists in the field.&#160;</p>
<p>So, Bickmore says, Pruitt’s assertions that there is “tremendous disagreement” about the impact of CO2, and that it's not a primary contributor to global warming, are “absolutely wrong.”</p>
<p>This, in a nutshell, is what we know about CO2 and climate.</p>
<p>As for how we know it — which is important to establish at a time when basic scientific knowledge is being challenged from all sides — the conclusions are supported by what scientists call “multiple lines of evidence.”</p>
<p>Among these, Bickmore says, are thermometers in place around the world — in some cases establishing a surface temperature record going back more than 150 years; buoys that measure ocean temperatures; and satellites that estimate changes in atmospheric temperatures.</p>
<p>“We can also go and look at past changes in the climate,” Bickmore says, through things like ocean and lakebed sediments and glacial ice, which can contain traces of atmospheric gases and other clues to ancient climates going back millennia.</p>
<p>Scientists have even been able to learn how much solar radiation — heat — the sun was producing in past epochs, and account for how that would’ve affected the global climate.</p>
<p>“So we can pin down the major players way back into the past, too,” Bickmore says. “And it’s really clear that carbon dioxide isn’t the only player in the game, but it’s always been one of the big ones.”</p>
<p>Bickmore himself didn’t always accept all this evidence. Although he’s a geoscientist, climate systems aren’t his primary field of study. And he says he brought an inherent skepticism to the field.</p>
<p>“I’m a lifelong Republican, and conservatives generally — our knee-jerk reaction to a thing like this is, ‘oh, they’re probably overblowing this,’” he says.</p>
<p>“But once I started looking into it, what I found out was, there was a lot of evidence piled up on one side, and basically a lot of hot air on the other — some really, really bad arguments,” Bickmore says.</p>
<p>“Whenever I checked, I found out that the critics of the mainstream science were almost always being really disingenuous. That’s probably the most polite way to say it.”</p>
<p>So Bickmore’s personal beliefs and values colored his initial engagement with the topic of climate change, but not his ultimate conclusions. The science spoke for itself.</p>
<p>Which sets him apart from Scott Pruitt and most of his fellow conservatives in a time when acceptance of the reality of climate change and the role of humans in causing it skews sharply along ideological and party lines.</p>
<p>Bickmore says he’s seen this trend developing since at least the 1980s, when the Republican Party began allying itself more with conservative Christians who reject much of our modern scientific understanding of the world. He says it also stems from the same philosophical position that prompted his initial skepticism of the dangers of the human impact on the climate system.</p>
<p>“The knee-jerk reaction of a conservative will always be to downplay problems like this,” Bickmore says,” because if your ideology is that you should try a more hands-off approach to governing, then a problem like this, that requires a lot of cooperation to address, is going to be really inconvenient for that ideology.</p>
<p>“But it’s gotten to the point where people, just out of hand, instead of saying, ‘we don’t need to do as much as these other people are saying to solve the problem,’ they’re saying ‘there is no problem.’”</p>
<p>But, he says, fellow conservatives like Pruitt and Trump “are taking a terrible, terrible risk by just pretending there is no problem” with climate change.</p>
<p>Watch Prof. Barry Bickmore trace his journey from&#160;climate change "skeptic" to&#160;outspoken advocate of mainstream climate science.</p>
<p />
<p />
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long ago wouldve remarkable statement head us environmental protection agency theres tremendous disagreement degree impact carbon dioxide would agree primary contributor global warming indeed words new epa administrator scott pruitt speaking thursday cnbc show squawk box pruitts statement roughly scientific equivalent saying doesnt believe gravity primary contributor making things fall although big surprise160160his record denying reality significance humaninduced climate change well known since days battling federal environmental regulations oklahomas attorney general160his boss president donald trump often dismissed climate change hoax pruitts statement past week matters hugely trump positioned reverse us governments efforts combat global climate crisis first specific plans expected executive order president in160 coming160week words pruitts comments exactly news important report well put context remind know co2 earths climate know got touch barry bickmore professor geosciences brigham young university provo utah worth noting republican first thing know bickmore says carbon dioxide greenhouse gas slows rate heat escape earth space fact basic physics put carbon dioxide atmosphere warm things and160we know burning fossil fuels puts carbon dioxide atmosphere also measure much concentration co2 atmosphere increased bickmore says correlate changes global temperature shows two closely linked160160as co2 levels gone temperatures gone basic physics predict would happen careful widespread realworld data confirms thats say progression lockstep co2160is one many greenhouse gases atmosphere nature also plays role changing levels gases along human activity complicated system bickmore says pinning things like exactly is160not going possible time pruitt others reject wellestablished science the160climate system point complexity uncertainty suggest cant draw conclusions role increased co2 levels altering earths climate bickmore says claims disingenuous establish range probable impacts says probability humans contributing less half recent climate change probably less 1 percent words theres 99 percent likelihood co2 humans put atmosphere responsible least half planets recent warming basic understanding link co2 climate change almost universally accepted scientists field160 bickmore says pruitts assertions tremendous disagreement impact co2 primary contributor global warming absolutely wrong nutshell know co2 climate know important establish time basic scientific knowledge challenged sides conclusions supported scientists call multiple lines evidence among bickmore says thermometers place around world cases establishing surface temperature record going back 150 years buoys measure ocean temperatures satellites estimate changes atmospheric temperatures also go look past changes climate bickmore says things like ocean lakebed sediments glacial ice contain traces atmospheric gases clues ancient climates going back millennia scientists even able learn much solar radiation heat sun producing past epochs account wouldve affected global climate pin major players way back past bickmore says really clear carbon dioxide isnt player game always one big ones bickmore didnt always accept evidence although hes geoscientist climate systems arent primary field study says brought inherent skepticism field im lifelong republican conservatives generally kneejerk reaction thing like oh theyre probably overblowing says started looking found lot evidence piled one side basically lot hot air really really bad arguments bickmore says whenever checked found critics mainstream science almost always really disingenuous thats probably polite way say bickmores personal beliefs values colored initial engagement topic climate change ultimate conclusions science spoke sets apart scott pruitt fellow conservatives time acceptance reality climate change role humans causing skews sharply along ideological party lines bickmore says hes seen trend developing since least 1980s republican party began allying conservative christians reject much modern scientific understanding world says also stems philosophical position prompted initial skepticism dangers human impact climate system kneejerk reaction conservative always downplay problems like bickmore says ideology try handsoff approach governing problem like requires lot cooperation address going really inconvenient ideology gotten point people hand instead saying dont need much people saying solve problem theyre saying problem says fellow conservatives like pruitt trump taking terrible terrible risk pretending problem climate change watch prof barry bickmore trace journey from160climate change skeptic to160outspoken advocate mainstream climate science
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<p>Even as CPS decided to ramp up its get-tough stance on charter schools and <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2013/02/two-charter-campuses-could-close/" type="external">phase out two campuses for poor performance</a>, a vote on the fate of the DuSable Campus of Betty Shabazz Charter School drew the rare opposition of board members Andrea Zopp and Mahalia Hines.</p>
<p>Every fall, the district will name poor performers to a “warning list.” In contracts with charters going forward, it will stipulate that being on the warning list would result in closure the following Spring. Currently, charters only face closure at the end of their contract. Contracts are typically five years, though recently some shaky performers have been given three-year contracts.</p>
<p>The first batch of those put on the warning list, announced Wednesday, will get slightly longer to improve – until spring 2014, if they are still on the list come September.</p>
<p>“We are putting schools that are not making progress to our standards on notice,” schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett said at Wednesday’s school board meeting.</p>
<p>In addition to the schools that are being closed for poor performance this year, six more are on the list to start – ACE Tech Charter High School, which had its charter renewed for 3 years today; ASPIRA Early College High School; Catalyst-Howland; CICS-Basil; Galapagos Charter Campus; and North Lawndale Charter High School – Collins.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2013/02/aspira-charter-expanding-one-school-closes/" type="external">new ASPIRA Business and Finance High School,</a> put on the agenda even as one campus faced closure for poor performance and another was put on the warning list, was pulled from the agenda in a move CPS spokeswoman Robyn Ziegler said was procedural.&#160; The board will consider the new campus separately in a future meeting.</p>
<p>In spring 2012, the most recent year for which data was available, there were at least 12 elementary charter campuses and six high school campuses rated as Level 3 schools, among the worst in the district. All new charter contracts will allow CPS to close campuses that are at the lowest level for three years in a five-year period to be closed; and to review them annually for closure starting in September 2017.</p>
<p>Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett said those rules, along with the “warning list,” will allow the district to “act immediately if a charter is not performing, rather than waiting for the renewal process.” But those aren’t necessarily the schools targeted by the new policy. CICS-Basil and ACE Tech, for instance, are Level 2 schools.</p>
<p>Schools will be added to the list any time that they miss performance standards in their contracts for two years in a 3-year period, and don’t score at least 10 percent higher on the CPS performance policy point system than comparison schools.</p>
<p>CPS is also getting tough on schools with financial problems. Certain infractions will lead to shortened renewal periods, and schools that are more than 15 days <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2013/02/charters-targeted-teacher-pension-fund-proposal/" type="external">delinquent on Chicago Teachers Pension Fund contributions</a>&#160;will have 15 more days to pay up, or CPS will withhold the amount due.</p>
<p>The new rules will phase in as charter schools receive new contracts. Some board members seemed impatient; board Vice President Jesse Ruiz asked if current charters could be renegotiated to allow CPS more power.</p>
<p>Warning list “a bit of a blindside”</p>
<p>Phyllis Lockett, president and CEO of New Schools for Chicago, says she is glad CPS is holding charters accountable but wishes charter schools had gotten a seat at the table.</p>
<p>“Schools got less than 24 hours’ notice they were even being put on this list,” she said. “When you have schools like CICS-Basil and they have done an amazing job this last year, it is a bit of a blindside to the parents, the students and the teachers.”</p>
<p>Lockett is also unhappy that CPS uses the ISAT, PSAE and ACT scores (though combined with other measures like AP enrollment and dropout and graduation rates in high school) as well as, for elementary schools, the ISAT value-added student growth scores. She would prefer to see the performance policy include the NWEA MAP assessment, which CPS has also adopted district-wide.</p>
<p>“Those are much better indicators, and so I think they have got to develop a more consistent and comprehensive approach to evaluating schools before putting them on lists like this,” Lockett says. “I think a much better measure is nationally normed student growth.”</p>
<p>Galapagos Charter School issued a news release complaining it was not told of the decision until 8:45 p.m. Tuesday. “Furthermore, Galapagos was not provided any opportunity to participate in a dialogue surrounding this issue. In fact, all of the CPS Board of Education speaker reservation slots had been filled at least three days earlier,” the release said.</p>
<p>The school slammed the lack of warning as a “failure of professional responsibility” on the part of CPS and a symptom of “the capricious and covert nature of CPS’ closure process.”</p>
<p>“The question should be: Which Chicago schools are providing the best quality education to the students of Chicago? If that were the question, Galapagos would not be on any ‘watchlist,’” the release said.</p>
<p>DuSable supporters seek another chance</p>
<p>Amid discussion of the DuSable Leadership Academy phase-out, it became clear the discussion of getting tough on the politically connected Betty Shabazz International Charter School operator touched a nerve. In addition to DuSable Leadership Academy, Shabazz has two other campuses.</p>
<p>Board member Andrea Zopp, who later voted against the phase-out, along with board member Mahalia Hines, questioned why DuSable was being closed when its graduation and college enrollment rates are better than those of nearby schools. But Elsey said test score data shows students may not be prepared for college.</p>
<p>“Admission to college is not a subjective process,” argued Carol Lee, the school’s founder, during the public participation section of the meeting. “We have indicators in what we are seeing now, in the test preparation work, that we will see significant improvement in the spring scores.”</p>
<p>David Ireland, CEO of the charter operator, said that the school’s students were more likely “to actually attend school,” to graduate, and to enroll in college. “Aren’t these indicators of a school’s quality?” he asked.</p>
<p>After public participation ended, Zopp asked Elsey for a response to the plans the school proposed to improve DuSable.</p>
<p>Elsey said the plans were “certainly research based” but “late in the process; they came up in the year when they were up in renewal.”</p>
<p>Problems at Shabazz, ASPIRA campuses detailed</p>
<p>Officials also offered more details on the problems plaguing ASPIRA and Shabazz charter operators, both of which are having schools phased out.</p>
<p>Site visits to Shabazz campuses found that “strategies and structures designed to improve academic performance were absent or only newly instituted” and that “school and classroom management were inconsistent… Some parents and students had significant issues with the schools, including a lack of academic rigor, lack of engagement in student outcomes, and verbal or physical altercations with other students and parents.”</p>
<p>The Shabazz Academy campus requires $1 million in Americans with Disabilities Act recommendations in the first year of its contract. “Fixing these issues was a condition of their previous contract and was not met,” noted Chief of Innovation and Incubation Jack Elsey’s presentation. “The five-year budget allocates no money for facility improvements associated with documented ADA issues.”</p>
<p>By July 2, the operator will be required to have a new budget approved by CPS, as well as a facilities improvement plan and a financial “corrective action plan” with details on how the school will pay for the estimated $1.5 million in improvements.</p>
<p>At ASPIRA, also being granted a 5-year renewal, site visitors found that “data was rarely used to inform decision-making” and that “teachers at Ramirez had not received any professional development support or observations.”</p>
<p>Elsey’s presentation noted that “the ASPIRA network’s governance and operations provide poor oversight; the network reports that a strategic plan does not exist.”</p>
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even cps decided ramp gettough stance charter schools phase two campuses poor performance vote fate dusable campus betty shabazz charter school drew rare opposition board members andrea zopp mahalia hines every fall district name poor performers warning list contracts charters going forward stipulate warning list would result closure following spring currently charters face closure end contract contracts typically five years though recently shaky performers given threeyear contracts first batch put warning list announced wednesday get slightly longer improve spring 2014 still list come september putting schools making progress standards notice schools ceo barbara byrdbennett said wednesdays school board meeting addition schools closed poor performance year six list start ace tech charter high school charter renewed 3 years today aspira early college high school catalysthowland cicsbasil galapagos charter campus north lawndale charter high school collins new aspira business finance high school put agenda even one campus faced closure poor performance another put warning list pulled agenda move cps spokeswoman robyn ziegler said procedural160 board consider new campus separately future meeting spring 2012 recent year data available least 12 elementary charter campuses six high school campuses rated level 3 schools among worst district new charter contracts allow cps close campuses lowest level three years fiveyear period closed review annually closure starting september 2017 schools ceo barbara byrdbennett said rules along warning list allow district act immediately charter performing rather waiting renewal process arent necessarily schools targeted new policy cicsbasil ace tech instance level 2 schools schools added list time miss performance standards contracts two years 3year period dont score least 10 percent higher cps performance policy point system comparison schools cps also getting tough schools financial problems certain infractions lead shortened renewal periods schools 15 days delinquent chicago teachers pension fund contributions160will 15 days pay cps withhold amount due new rules phase charter schools receive new contracts board members seemed impatient board vice president jesse ruiz asked current charters could renegotiated allow cps power warning list bit blindside phyllis lockett president ceo new schools chicago says glad cps holding charters accountable wishes charter schools gotten seat table schools got less 24 hours notice even put list said schools like cicsbasil done amazing job last year bit blindside parents students teachers lockett also unhappy cps uses isat psae act scores though combined measures like ap enrollment dropout graduation rates high school well elementary schools isat valueadded student growth scores would prefer see performance policy include nwea map assessment cps also adopted districtwide much better indicators think got develop consistent comprehensive approach evaluating schools putting lists like lockett says think much better measure nationally normed student growth galapagos charter school issued news release complaining told decision 845 pm tuesday furthermore galapagos provided opportunity participate dialogue surrounding issue fact cps board education speaker reservation slots filled least three days earlier release said school slammed lack warning failure professional responsibility part cps symptom capricious covert nature cps closure process question chicago schools providing best quality education students chicago question galapagos would watchlist release said dusable supporters seek another chance amid discussion dusable leadership academy phaseout became clear discussion getting tough politically connected betty shabazz international charter school operator touched nerve addition dusable leadership academy shabazz two campuses board member andrea zopp later voted phaseout along board member mahalia hines questioned dusable closed graduation college enrollment rates better nearby schools elsey said test score data shows students may prepared college admission college subjective process argued carol lee schools founder public participation section meeting indicators seeing test preparation work see significant improvement spring scores david ireland ceo charter operator said schools students likely actually attend school graduate enroll college arent indicators schools quality asked public participation ended zopp asked elsey response plans school proposed improve dusable elsey said plans certainly research based late process came year renewal problems shabazz aspira campuses detailed officials also offered details problems plaguing aspira shabazz charter operators schools phased site visits shabazz campuses found strategies structures designed improve academic performance absent newly instituted school classroom management inconsistent parents students significant issues schools including lack academic rigor lack engagement student outcomes verbal physical altercations students parents shabazz academy campus requires 1 million americans disabilities act recommendations first year contract fixing issues condition previous contract met noted chief innovation incubation jack elseys presentation fiveyear budget allocates money facility improvements associated documented ada issues july 2 operator required new budget approved cps well facilities improvement plan financial corrective action plan details school pay estimated 15 million improvements aspira also granted 5year renewal site visitors found data rarely used inform decisionmaking teachers ramirez received professional development support observations elseys presentation noted aspira networks governance operations provide poor oversight network reports strategic plan exist
| 776 |
<p>Mary Rives Black, a resident of Lakewood Manor, remembers watching young Lawson Pankey, about age 4, padding down the aisle of Elon Baptist Church at Pamplin where her father was pastor. The little boy was headed to the most enticing part of the church — the Sunday school. No one at Elon realized that the Pankey boy would grow up to lead the Sunday school work of Virginia Baptists.</p>
<p />
<p>The Pankeys lived in the countryside. Lawson was a member of a large family and he was only 8 years old when his mother died in 1933. In time, his father remarried and other children were born into the family. A sister was a schoolteacher and she likely was an influence upon Lawson in seeking higher education. Without such inspiration, his education might have ended at Pamplin High School and his life would have gone into other directions.</p>
<p />
<p>Instead, he entered the University of Richmond when it truly was a Baptist institution. As a UR Spider, he immediately flourished. He was elected president of the freshman class and joined fraternities, the literary society and the Baptist Student Union. By the close of his college years, he was president of the campus ministerial association. He was focused upon pursuing his high calling for the ministry.</p>
<p>In 1950 he married Mary Rudasill; and the following year, he completed studies at Southern Seminary. Lawson and Mary established a family which, in due order, included David, Tom, Susan and Libbie. Together they also participated in church and denominational life and ministries. In the first half of the Fifties, Lawson Pankey was pastor of Skinquarter and Chesterfield churches just outside Richmond and at Azalea Church in Norfolk.</p>
<p>It was from Azalea that the young minister at age 39 was tapped by the Virginia Baptist General (now Mission) Board to serve in the training union department. He joined the staff in 1965 as an associate working alongside Walton Connelly Jr. The department included “Tootie” Moore, children’s worker; and in 1967 another associate, Cecil Marsh, came aboard. In 1968 Connelly resigned to pursue graduate studies and Pankey was named acting director; and in 1970, in the first of several restructurings of the board staff, Pankey became director of the department of teaching and training.</p>
<p>When Pankey came to the board, it was still a heyday for training union and there were training union conventions held at Eagle Eyrie which drew upwards of 600 to 800 and an annual summer assembly which attracted 1,700. It was the time of tournaments in areas including essays, memory drills and public speaking.</p>
<p>Titles and job descriptions kept changing at the board, but basically the ministry and emphasis remained the same. By the time Pankey retired in 1990, after 25 years of service, he was head of what was known as the division of Sunday school development. It included all phases of Sunday school work from cradle roll to senior adults, as well as special education and church architectural services. There were Sunday school conventions, Vacation Bible School clinics, retreats and conferences and training conferences for individual district associations. The division even published its own paper, Sunday School Times.</p>
<p>In his last report as director, Lawson Pankey stated: “It is our philosophy that local churches provide the main bases for most teaching, corporate worship, evangelism, Christian development and ministry. We focus much attention on helping churches of any size and location in developing useable programs of Bible study, outreach, witnessing and nurture.” In 1989 his division was even engaged in the Tanzania partnership, the first overseas missions partnership of the General Association. His staff was teaching and equipping missions volunteers who spent weeks in Tanzania doing Sunday school leadership training.</p>
<p>Lloyd Jackson was once a part of Pankey’s team. He recalled that Pankey was “a friend, colleague and, come to think of it, my boss.” He added: “But he was not a bossy-boss; instead he was a supervisor who said you have been hired to do a job, so do it. It was a matter of trust.”&#160;</p>
<p>Rod Hale was another member of the team. “He was an easy person to enjoy and respect,” remembered Rod, “and he reminded me of Chaucer’s knight in The Canterbury Tales: ‘He never had in all his life time an ill-bred word … true and perfect knight.’ I never heard him speak ill of anyone. You could always believe and trust what he said. He was blessed with a gentle spirit and wise insight. He would speak loudly his convictions. Those of us who served [on the staff] learned that we better be perceptive and alert because he meant what he meant and expected his staff to follow. He possessed a sense of humor shared from life’s circumstances. He was a true Virginia gentleman; a man full of grace.” &#160;Michael J. Clingenpeel became Lawson Pankey’s pastor at River Road Church in Richmond and he lifted a line from Pankey’s obituary to serve as a text for his funeral message at Pankey’s memorial service on Jan. 5. The line read as follows: “He dedicated his life to service in the Baptist church.” The pastor emphasized three key words: dedicated, service and church. “When a young student at UR he set his course on the ministry. Lawson kept on dedicating himself. It has to be done on a continuous basis. One must rise and say, ‘This day I dedicate myself to God’s work’ and that’s what he did. Long before the term ‘servant-leader,’ Lawson was a servant-leader. What he did was not about himself or about a paycheck or professional advancement or awards. It was about the work of discipleship, ministry and Bible teaching and people.</p>
<p>“Lawson spent more than half his professional career in denominational work; but what he loved first was the local church. He worked so that pastors and laity would have better Bible teaching in the churches as well as for Baptist men’s ministry, missions and church administration.”</p>
<p>Frank Lawson Pankey, a Virginia gentleman, would have been 86 next week.&#160; He died on Dec. 12, 2010.&#160; He left behind a legacy of dedication to his family and his calling and of service to the many Baptist churches of Virginia.</p>
<p>Fred Anderson is executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies, located on the campus of the University of Richmond. He may be contacted at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> or at P.O. Box 34, University of Richmond, VA 23173.</p>
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mary rives black resident lakewood manor remembers watching young lawson pankey age 4 padding aisle elon baptist church pamplin father pastor little boy headed enticing part church sunday school one elon realized pankey boy would grow lead sunday school work virginia baptists pankeys lived countryside lawson member large family 8 years old mother died 1933 time father remarried children born family sister schoolteacher likely influence upon lawson seeking higher education without inspiration education might ended pamplin high school life would gone directions instead entered university richmond truly baptist institution ur spider immediately flourished elected president freshman class joined fraternities literary society baptist student union close college years president campus ministerial association focused upon pursuing high calling ministry 1950 married mary rudasill following year completed studies southern seminary lawson mary established family due order included david tom susan libbie together also participated church denominational life ministries first half fifties lawson pankey pastor skinquarter chesterfield churches outside richmond azalea church norfolk azalea young minister age 39 tapped virginia baptist general mission board serve training union department joined staff 1965 associate working alongside walton connelly jr department included tootie moore childrens worker 1967 another associate cecil marsh came aboard 1968 connelly resigned pursue graduate studies pankey named acting director 1970 first several restructurings board staff pankey became director department teaching training pankey came board still heyday training union training union conventions held eagle eyrie drew upwards 600 800 annual summer assembly attracted 1700 time tournaments areas including essays memory drills public speaking titles job descriptions kept changing board basically ministry emphasis remained time pankey retired 1990 25 years service head known division sunday school development included phases sunday school work cradle roll senior adults well special education church architectural services sunday school conventions vacation bible school clinics retreats conferences training conferences individual district associations division even published paper sunday school times last report director lawson pankey stated philosophy local churches provide main bases teaching corporate worship evangelism christian development ministry focus much attention helping churches size location developing useable programs bible study outreach witnessing nurture 1989 division even engaged tanzania partnership first overseas missions partnership general association staff teaching equipping missions volunteers spent weeks tanzania sunday school leadership training lloyd jackson part pankeys team recalled pankey friend colleague come think boss added bossyboss instead supervisor said hired job matter trust160 rod hale another member team easy person enjoy respect remembered rod reminded chaucers knight canterbury tales never life time illbred word true perfect knight never heard speak ill anyone could always believe trust said blessed gentle spirit wise insight would speak loudly convictions us served staff learned better perceptive alert meant meant expected staff follow possessed sense humor shared lifes circumstances true virginia gentleman man full grace 160michael j clingenpeel became lawson pankeys pastor river road church richmond lifted line pankeys obituary serve text funeral message pankeys memorial service jan 5 line read follows dedicated life service baptist church pastor emphasized three key words dedicated service church young student ur set course ministry lawson kept dedicating done continuous basis one must rise say day dedicate gods work thats long term servantleader lawson servantleader paycheck professional advancement awards work discipleship ministry bible teaching people lawson spent half professional career denominational work loved first local church worked pastors laity would better bible teaching churches well baptist mens ministry missions church administration frank lawson pankey virginia gentleman would 86 next week160 died dec 12 2010160 left behind legacy dedication family calling service many baptist churches virginia fred anderson executive director virginia baptist historical society center baptist heritage studies located campus university richmond may contacted fredandersonvbmborg po box 34 university richmond va 23173
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<p>On the fourth floor of a shabby walk-up fronting one of the busiest streets in New York's Chinatown, lions are dancing.</p>
<p>Okay, it’s lion dancing.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChineseFreemasons/" type="external">New York Chinese Freemasons Athletic Club</a> (more on that name in a second) hosts what’s believed to be the longest-running lion dance troupe in New York City. For this year’s Lunar New Year Parade, pairs of lion dancers will again don giant papier-mâché heads and colorful synthetic tails to cavort through the streets —&#160;blessing businesses, thrilling tourists and discreetly collecting cash. This year’s will be the club’s 61st annual parade.</p>
<p>Back in the 1960s, there were fewer than 10 troupes participating in Chinatown’s Lunar New Year parade; today it’s more like 40 or 50.</p>
<p />
<p>Dancers are supposed to control the lion head's ears and eyes by manipulating four strings with one hand, while the other supports and moves the head.</p>
<p>Alina Simone/PRI</p>
<p>The dancers make it look easy, but that head can weigh up to 30 pounds, and swiveling it around on your forearms when you can see almost nothing but your feet requires a lot of flexibility, strength and balance.</p>
<p>“It’s not like in the movies — the guy reads a book and then he's flying through the air,” says Karlin Chan, one of the club’s veteran lion dancers. He joined the troupe as a 10-year-old, back in the late ’60s. Chan explains the Chinese Freemasons practice a form of “southern lion dance” based on kung fu.</p>
<p>“You had to learn martial arts before the master of the system, your particular shifu as they’re called.&#160;Your instructor would teach you the basics of lion dancing,” he says, “because lion dancing was for the top students.”</p>
<p />
<p>Before new members are allowed to touch the head, they must master the fundamentals of Kung Fu, especially the horse stance. "That is normally the first thing that we instill into our students," says Prima Lia. "You gotta do your squats essentially."</p>
<p>Alina Simone/PRI</p>
<p>Today, training is still based on kung fu stances, but only the leg forms.&#160;</p>
<p>When I arrive, about nine guys are hunched in a wide, low squat known as the “horse stance.”</p>
<p>Their teacher is a woman.</p>
<p>Considering martial arts is almost <a href="http://sportsclubadvisors.net/martial-arts-clubs-industry-snap-shot/" type="external">equally popular</a> with men as with women in the US, this shouldn’t be surprising. But lion dancing was traditionally reserved for men. And the same goes for membership in the Chinese Freemasons.</p>
<p>“It was all a bachelor society,” Chan says. “Women were not allowed in.”</p>
<p>The Chinese Freemasons (no relation to European freemasonry) came together in the late 1800s to support immigrants from China.</p>
<p>“They had these halls where people would come to get news from their home villages and whatnot,” Chan says.</p>
<p>This club remains steeped in tradition, with a Buddhist shrine taking up a large corner of the room. Back when Karlin Chan joined it was still all male, and all Chinese. But in the ’70s, they started letting non-Chinese kids who wanted to lion dance become members. And in the ’80s, the Chinese Freemasons became one of the first New York Chinatown troupes to welcome women lion dancers.</p>
<p>“I guess someone decided, ‘hey, we're in the US now. Let's do something different,’” says Prima Lai, who joined the Chinese Freemasons 15 years ago, when she was 12. Her stepfather, a member, offered her a deal.</p>
<p>“He said, if you join the Freemasons, you can get kung fu classes for free. Free kung fu Classes? Who's not going to say yes, right?”</p>
<p />
<p>When old lion heads fall apart, instructors use parts of the frame to teach dancers proper technique.</p>
<p>Alina Simone/PRI</p>
<p>The catch? She had to learn how to lion dance too — that’s actually how the club earns most of its money. There was only one other female member at the time, but for Lai that wasn’t an issue.</p>
<p>“I think what I really liked about being in that class was that there was no special girl treatment,” she says. “You do the same number of push-ups, you do the same number of sit-ups.”</p>
<p>Today, Lai is an instructor — and there is definitely still no special girl treatment.</p>
<p>“There are certain weeks when we’ll do about 500 push-ups in a night,” says Avril Saavedra, 17. She joined the Chinese Freemasons last year after volunteering as a runner — someone who dashes into shops along the parade route to see if they’ll pay for a performance. She came with a friend, Prima Lai’s sister.</p>
<p>“Once I came up here and I saw what it was, I just thought it was the coolest thing ever. And I said, well, would it be possible for me to join, which was kind of out there for me because … I'm not Chinese.”</p>
<p />
<p>The head used for the Chinese lion, which includes a horn growing out of its forehead, is an imaginative interpretation of an animal not native to ancient China, incorporating elements of the dragon and other mythical beasts.</p>
<p>Alina Simone/PRI</p>
<p>Saavedra was born in Uruguay. “Surrounded by cows,” she says, laughing. “But my friend said if you're willing to do a lot of work and to have a lifelong commitment to this club ... then you can join us.”</p>
<p>That’s as a trial member. Becoming a full member can take years.</p>
<p>Despite their openness to new members like Saavedra, there are still only three active women lion dancers in the troupe out of about 60, something Lai attributes to the hardcore training, but also some lingering “anti-female traditions,” she says.</p>
<p>“For example, women are not allowed to touch the head if they are on their period ... because the lion head is supposed to bring you good luck and if you're bleeding it's bad luck,” she says. “I think ... nobody wants to be that person to say, let’s forget what our ancestors told us.”</p>
<p>Saavedra says she’s also aware that some retro attitudes toward women persist, but “we as a group are trying to change that.”</p>
<p>Next fall, Saavedra is moving to Boston for college, but she still plans to come back to lion dance in New York’s Lunar New Year parade, and to keep up her membership in the club.</p>
<p>The Masonic commitment, Chinese or not, is real.</p>
<p />
<p>"Our club is a little more intimidating,"&#160;Prima Lai&#160; says. "The work is tough and we are expected to be pulling an equal weight and that's not exactly easy. It's a very rigorous sport."</p>
<p>Alina Simone/PRI</p>
<p />
<p>The New York Chinese Freemasons Athletic Club hosts the oldest lion-dance troupe in New York City's Chinatown. A typical weekly rehearsal begins with 1-2 hours of kung fu practice, and lasts over four hours.</p>
<p>Alina Simone/PRI</p>
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fourth floor shabby walkup fronting one busiest streets new yorks chinatown lions dancing okay lion dancing new york chinese freemasons athletic club name second hosts whats believed longestrunning lion dance troupe new york city years lunar new year parade pairs lion dancers giant papiermâché heads colorful synthetic tails cavort streets 160blessing businesses thrilling tourists discreetly collecting cash years clubs 61st annual parade back 1960s fewer 10 troupes participating chinatowns lunar new year parade today like 40 50 dancers supposed control lion heads ears eyes manipulating four strings one hand supports moves head alina simonepri dancers make look easy head weigh 30 pounds swiveling around forearms see almost nothing feet requires lot flexibility strength balance like movies guy reads book hes flying air says karlin chan one clubs veteran lion dancers joined troupe 10yearold back late 60s chan explains chinese freemasons practice form southern lion dance based kung fu learn martial arts master system particular shifu theyre called160your instructor would teach basics lion dancing says lion dancing top students new members allowed touch head must master fundamentals kung fu especially horse stance normally first thing instill students says prima lia got ta squats essentially alina simonepri today training still based kung fu stances leg forms160 arrive nine guys hunched wide low squat known horse stance teacher woman considering martial arts almost equally popular men women us shouldnt surprising lion dancing traditionally reserved men goes membership chinese freemasons bachelor society chan says women allowed chinese freemasons relation european freemasonry came together late 1800s support immigrants china halls people would come get news home villages whatnot chan says club remains steeped tradition buddhist shrine taking large corner room back karlin chan joined still male chinese 70s started letting nonchinese kids wanted lion dance become members 80s chinese freemasons became one first new york chinatown troupes welcome women lion dancers guess someone decided hey us lets something different says prima lai joined chinese freemasons 15 years ago 12 stepfather member offered deal said join freemasons get kung fu classes free free kung fu classes whos going say yes right old lion heads fall apart instructors use parts frame teach dancers proper technique alina simonepri catch learn lion dance thats actually club earns money one female member time lai wasnt issue think really liked class special girl treatment says number pushups number situps today lai instructor definitely still special girl treatment certain weeks well 500 pushups night says avril saavedra 17 joined chinese freemasons last year volunteering runner someone dashes shops along parade route see theyll pay performance came friend prima lais sister came saw thought coolest thing ever said well would possible join kind im chinese head used chinese lion includes horn growing forehead imaginative interpretation animal native ancient china incorporating elements dragon mythical beasts alina simonepri saavedra born uruguay surrounded cows says laughing friend said youre willing lot work lifelong commitment club join us thats trial member becoming full member take years despite openness new members like saavedra still three active women lion dancers troupe 60 something lai attributes hardcore training also lingering antifemale traditions says example women allowed touch head period lion head supposed bring good luck youre bleeding bad luck says think nobody wants person say lets forget ancestors told us saavedra says shes also aware retro attitudes toward women persist group trying change next fall saavedra moving boston college still plans come back lion dance new yorks lunar new year parade keep membership club masonic commitment chinese real club little intimidating160prima lai160 says work tough expected pulling equal weight thats exactly easy rigorous sport alina simonepri new york chinese freemasons athletic club hosts oldest liondance troupe new york citys chinatown typical weekly rehearsal begins 12 hours kung fu practice lasts four hours alina simonepri
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<p>People in the United States tend to think a lot of things about people with accents: they're not like us, they're dangerous, they're not really American, they’re dumb.</p>
<p>It was a really painful thing to watch when I was young —&#160;people speaking slowly and loudly to my parents, who were among the first Indian immigrants to Iowa. Perhaps that’s why my dad always told me and my sister that communication —&#160;making yourself understood —&#160;is the most important tool to being successful in America. That’s part of the reason I became a reporter.</p>
<p>Movies and TV shows, though —&#160;that’s the ultimate level of&#160;communication. They’re like the mirror American society&#160;looks into to understand itself. I didn’t really see myself in that reflection until Aziz Ansari’s show, “Master of None.”</p>
<p>On the surface, the show is about an Indian American actor in New York City who&#160;tussles&#160;with universal issues&#160;like dating. A little deeper, it’s about the children of immigrants who balance their parents’ culture and the one they were born into, while not really belonging to either. It’s a tricky stance that’s tough to master, and I’ve long wanted to explore how the experience shapes people —&#160;because there are a lot of us: the US opened its doors to its fourth major wave of immigration in the 1960s and 70s, and the kids that came with them, or the kids they had when they got here, are now all grown up – and they’re (we’re) shaping the American future.</p>
<p>Just like the Italians and Irish before us, we are the generation that’s changing American culture to include our parents’ culture —&#160;so that, in Aziz Ansari’s case, Indian things seep into the American mainstream and maybe in the next generation, become American. “Master of None” explains some of the tensions cropping up in that process. Seeing those issues aired in a mainstream venue is, frankly, freeing.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Strangers around the world gave Aziz Ansari the most intimate details of their romantic lives - their text messages.</a></p>
<p>I happened to talk to Arun Rath about it. Until recently Rath was (as far as he and I can tell) the only Asian NPR host, based in California and anchoring Weekend All Things Considered.</p>
<p>“I feel like I’ve been waiting for this show for —&#160;I don’t know, it feels dramatic to say my whole life, but there’s not been a show about an Indian guy like this my whole life,” he says.</p>
<p>Rath now sits one cubicle&#160;away from me in the WGBH newsroom in Boston. “Master of None” resonated deeply with him too. It made him realize he’s been on a journey when it comes to expecting mainstream representation.</p>
<p>When he was younger, Rath’s expectations were so low that he was what he calls an “Apu Apologist,” derived from the character on "The&#160;Simpsons." Rath thought Apu presented a more well rounded, informed picture than anything else out there at the time. As a young production assistant at NPR, Rath was the highest-ranking Asian available to attend an&#160;Asian American journalists convention. When NPR asked him to go, he admits he was surprised —&#160;he didn’t know there was an Asian American Journalists Association.</p>
<p>Then, when he was in his late 20s, Rath went through a realization phase that Ansari summed up in one quick scene that was over before an episode’s opening title screen. Aziz Ansari’s character’s father asks for help with his tablet. Ansari says he doesn’t want to be late for a movie. The camera zooms in on the father, and then we’re in a flashback of his harsh childhood in a dusty Indian village when a bully smashed his only toy. We zoom back out, out of the flashback, and the father is regarding Ansari with resigned&#160;disappointment.</p>
<p>“I went through exactly something like that with my father,” Rath says.</p>
<p>This is the “burden” the children of immigrants carry. (And don’t get me wrong, we are fortunate to carry it.) We were the purpose of our parents’ epic struggle through their original, harsh culture into a new, confusing one in this country that often begins with a long period of poverty. And when we fully realize that, we also realize a weighty&#160;responsibility&#160;to make that litany of bitter hardships worth it.</p>
<p>I've talked to a lot of first-generation Americans who, because of that realization, propelled themselves into careers where they could give back and help change this country for the better. Some sought to specifically help African Americans, as the people who did the work of the Civil Rights movement and prepared the country for an unprecedented wave of diverse immigration.</p>
<p>For Rath, it became important to him to make Weekend All Things Considered as diverse as possible. He scrounged through decades worth of material to make sure his children had TV shows and movies to watch that represented people like them. And he started noticing the small “microagressions” that make people wonder how much race is involved in how they’re treated.</p>
<p>“There are all these things where you wonder —&#160;where it’s not quite clear,” Rath says.&#160;“Dave Chappelle has this bit about it —&#160;‘is that person racist or are they an asshole?’ ‘Do they have it in for me because I’m brown or some other reason,’ you’re trying to suss out what it is.”</p>
<p>Rath talked to me about all of that, and more, and we recorded it for a new podcast called “Otherhood”&#160;I'm creating in an attempt to prove that this is an important point in history to explore and understand. A huge group of people are adding new ingredients to the collective American melting pot with their individual decisions. I want to ask them so many questions: Did you want to marry someone of your same ethnicity? How’d that work out? Are you worried about passing your culture to your children? Have you gone back to your parents’ country? How’d that feel?</p>
<p>There are a lot of things I think we need to talk about – like who the term “first generation” refers to, why that’s disputed, and why it’s so important. I have theories I’d like to check – for example, I think the children of immigrants are drawn together across races, are perhaps the most integrated segment of American society, and could play a key role in helping everyone move more in that direction.</p>
<p>Learning about first-generation people might help us approach the heterogeneous American future with an&#160;exhilarated&#160;spirit. Because —&#160;I can’t think of a&#160;less corny way to say it —&#160;diversity is fun. For me, the best example of that is India. The country has a lot of problems, but it’s also the most diverse place I’ve ever been – people of thousands of ethnicities and languages live practically on top of each other. You can pass people of five different religions crossing the street. And, most of the time, there’s an implicit air of understanding and tolerance. My own Hindu grandmother used to stand me in her window so her friends in the next building over, three Muslim wives, could check out her strange American granddaughter. And it was awesome. It could be here, too —&#160;and shows like “Master of None,” and maybe a scrappy podcast called Otherhood, can&#160;help communicate that.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn-113a.kxcdn.com/programs/otherhood?qt-latest_content=2" type="external">Otherhood</a>&#160;is a podcast&#160;about the people who came to the United States as children or are the children of immigrants.&#160;Share your thoughts and ideas&#160; <a href="http://www.twitter.com/otherhoodpod" type="external">@OtherhoodPod</a>.&#160;Is there a question you wanted answered in this story? Let&#160; <a href="http://www.twitter.com/RupaShenoy" type="external">Rupa Shenoy</a>&#160;know. Subscribe to the Otherhood podcast <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/otherhood-podcast/id1073152905?mt=2" type="external">here.</a></p>
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people united states tend think lot things people accents theyre like us theyre dangerous theyre really american theyre dumb really painful thing watch young 160people speaking slowly loudly parents among first indian immigrants iowa perhaps thats dad always told sister communication 160making understood 160is important tool successful america thats part reason became reporter movies tv shows though 160thats ultimate level of160communication theyre like mirror american society160looks understand didnt really see reflection aziz ansaris show master none surface show indian american actor new york city who160tussles160with universal issues160like dating little deeper children immigrants balance parents culture one born really belonging either tricky stance thats tough master ive long wanted explore experience shapes people 160because lot us us opened doors fourth major wave immigration 1960s 70s kids came kids got grown theyre shaping american future like italians irish us generation thats changing american culture include parents culture 160so aziz ansaris case indian things seep american mainstream maybe next generation become american master none explains tensions cropping process seeing issues aired mainstream venue frankly freeing related strangers around world gave aziz ansari intimate details romantic lives text messages happened talk arun rath recently rath far tell asian npr host based california anchoring weekend things considered feel like ive waiting show 160i dont know feels dramatic say whole life theres show indian guy like whole life says rath sits one cubicle160away wgbh newsroom boston master none resonated deeply made realize hes journey comes expecting mainstream representation younger raths expectations low calls apu apologist derived character the160simpsons rath thought apu presented well rounded informed picture anything else time young production assistant npr rath highestranking asian available attend an160asian american journalists convention npr asked go admits surprised 160he didnt know asian american journalists association late 20s rath went realization phase ansari summed one quick scene episodes opening title screen aziz ansaris characters father asks help tablet ansari says doesnt want late movie camera zooms father flashback harsh childhood dusty indian village bully smashed toy zoom back flashback father regarding ansari resigned160disappointment went exactly something like father rath says burden children immigrants carry dont get wrong fortunate carry purpose parents epic struggle original harsh culture new confusing one country often begins long period poverty fully realize also realize weighty160responsibility160to make litany bitter hardships worth ive talked lot firstgeneration americans realization propelled careers could give back help change country better sought specifically help african americans people work civil rights movement prepared country unprecedented wave diverse immigration rath became important make weekend things considered diverse possible scrounged decades worth material make sure children tv shows movies watch represented people like started noticing small microagressions make people wonder much race involved theyre treated things wonder 160where quite clear rath says160dave chappelle bit 160is person racist asshole im brown reason youre trying suss rath talked recorded new podcast called otherhood160im creating attempt prove important point history explore understand huge group people adding new ingredients collective american melting pot individual decisions want ask many questions want marry someone ethnicity howd work worried passing culture children gone back parents country howd feel lot things think need talk like term first generation refers thats disputed important theories id like check example think children immigrants drawn together across races perhaps integrated segment american society could play key role helping everyone move direction learning firstgeneration people might help us approach heterogeneous american future an160exhilarated160spirit 160i cant think a160less corny way say 160diversity fun best example india country lot problems also diverse place ive ever people thousands ethnicities languages live practically top pass people five different religions crossing street time theres implicit air understanding tolerance hindu grandmother used stand window friends next building three muslim wives could check strange american granddaughter awesome could 160and shows like master none maybe scrappy podcast called otherhood can160help communicate otherhood160is podcast160about people came united states children children immigrants160share thoughts ideas160 otherhoodpod160is question wanted answered story let160 rupa shenoy160know subscribe otherhood podcast
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<p>ANTARES, Brazil — “Cocaina!” a bony teenager shouts out above transparent plastic bags of white powder measured in doses and arranged neatly next to price tags on a wooden table.</p>
<p>Beside the cocaine are baggies of compressed marijuana and crack rocks also being sold to a steady stream of customers.</p>
<p>A dozen yards away, a young man drives up the dirt slum street on a motorcycle, an AR-15 assault rifle with a grenade launcher strapped to his back.</p>
<p>He makes no effort to hide the weapon. When the police come into this slum, known here as a “favela,” it’s in conspicuous, heavily armed convoys, which traffickers's scouts soon spot — giving dealers time to run, or to shoot first.</p>
<p>“We hate the police here,” says Lucas, a 28-year-old running the drug “shop.” “We are just trying to make money. They are murderers.”</p>
<p>This surreal scene in the favela known as Antares, on the far edge of sprawling Rio de Janeiro, is a side of Brazil the government doesn’t want tourists to see when they come in the hundreds of thousands this month for the World Cup.</p>
<p>Rio’s favelas, home to about a million people, have long been used for drug dealing, providing a steady income for some of Brazil’s poorest citizens.</p>
<p>It’s a big market: Brazil has become the world’s second biggest consumer of cocaine after the United States. Brazilians smoke or snort about 90 tons of the disco powder a year, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.</p>
<p>Until recent years, open drug selling was common much closer to the heart of Rio — in favelas such as the Pavao Pavaozinho, which snakes up the city’s hills a stone’s throw from the celebrated Copacabana beach.</p>
<p>But police have pushed out much of this blatant flouting of the law with a so-called pacification program, in which they storm into the favelas with overwhelming force and establish a permanent presence.</p>
<p>The offensive started in 2008, the year after Brazil was awarded hosting rights for the 2014 World Cup, and has steadily spread.</p>
<p>Homicides are down by 65 percent in ‘pacified’ areas, according to Rio's state government.</p>
<p>In March and April this year, police backed by armored vehicles and helicopters swarmed into the Mare, a massive favela complex that’s hosted intense firefights between traffickers and police.</p>
<p>Rio de Janeiro’s state government is hailing the pacification as a success, reporting that homicides dropped by 65 percent in those areas from 2008 to 2012.</p>
<p>In central favelas — which tourists might see — traffickers can no longer sell coke and pot so openly or carry assault rifles. One has to travel far out in the urban jungle to reach such scenes like the one in Antares.</p>
<p>At the same time, there’s been limited gentrification of some favelas, with middle-class Brazilians and foreigners buying a few properties around and inside them.</p>
<p>However, the pacification program has been criticized, with police accused of murdering some of the residents they are meant to be protecting.</p>
<p>In April, a well-known dancer, Douglas Rafael da Silva, was shot dead in the Pavao Pavaozinho favela, provoking protests that turned into clashes.</p>
<p>Pacification police patrol next to a mural of slain dancer Douglas Rafael da Silva in Pavao Pavaozinho. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)</p>
<p>Police claim they were returning fire with drug traffickers at the time of da Silva’s death and weren’t sure whose bullet hit him. But witnesses in the Pavao Pavaozinho favela told GlobalPost that officers had shot at unarmed youths because they were smoking marijuana.</p>
<p>“Police are totally unprepared for working in this community,” says Paulo dos Santos, a neighbor and actor, who worked with da Silva.</p>
<p>“They are the law, but they don’t respect it. We don’t want these type of cops.”</p>
<p>One problem is that the authorities are failing to meet a promise to pair police suppression with new schools and investment in the slums, activists say.</p>
<p>“There is no social aspect to it,” says Andre Fernandes, who runs a favela news network. “It is a project of power that just criminalizes the poor.”</p>
<p>Another complaint is that pacification doesn’t stop the drug trade, but merely shifts it.</p>
<p>Even in “pacified” favelas, some dealers still sell cocaine, just more discreetly, says police commander Rodrigo Oliveira of the elite CORE unit.</p>
<p>“The problem is that the drug dealers still exist in these areas,” says Oliveira, who has a bullet embedded in his head from a confrontation with traffickers. “Police occupy the territory but they haven’t arrested the drug dealers or taken their weapons.”</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the most hardened gangsters can take refuge in “unpacified” favelas such as Antares, which is controlled by a gang called the Comando Vermelho, or Red Command.</p>
<p>Back at the drug shop, Lucas oversees sales to dozens of customers handing over crumpled bills for bags or vials.</p>
<p>With tired eyes, Lucas says he is finishing a 24-hour shift. The drug point takes in thousands of dollars each day, he says, but as an employee of the Red Command he only makes a small percentage.</p>
<p>“This may look easy but it is hard, stressful work,” Lucas says. “That’s why I look like I am much older.”</p>
<p>Lucas says he has been involved in the drug trade since he was 12 and has been in countless gunfights with police.</p>
<p>He tried to get out for a while, hoping to be a professional soccer goalkeeper. But he suffered an injury and took refuge back in the gang.</p>
<p>“I want to get out, to find a proper job, but it’s hard,” Lucas says. “I know this life only leads to jail or the cemetery.”</p>
<p>As night falls in the Antares, residents arrange stacks of speakers for a dance party to electronic music, known as a “baile funk,” which Lucas says the drug dealers have paid for.</p>
<p>Young and old come out of ragged homes and shake their bodies to pulsating, distorted beats.</p>
<p>Several gang members stand openly with their rifles, some dancing as they hold them.</p>
<p>A song comes on with lyrics cheering the drug dealers. The traffickers raise their rifles in the air, shouting along: “Red Command! Red Command! Red Command!”</p>
| false | 3 |
antares brazil cocaina bony teenager shouts transparent plastic bags white powder measured doses arranged neatly next price tags wooden table beside cocaine baggies compressed marijuana crack rocks also sold steady stream customers dozen yards away young man drives dirt slum street motorcycle ar15 assault rifle grenade launcher strapped back makes effort hide weapon police come slum known favela conspicuous heavily armed convoys traffickerss scouts soon spot giving dealers time run shoot first hate police says lucas 28yearold running drug shop trying make money murderers surreal scene favela known antares far edge sprawling rio de janeiro side brazil government doesnt want tourists see come hundreds thousands month world cup rios favelas home million people long used drug dealing providing steady income brazils poorest citizens big market brazil become worlds second biggest consumer cocaine united states brazilians smoke snort 90 tons disco powder year according united nations office drugs crime recent years open drug selling common much closer heart rio favelas pavao pavaozinho snakes citys hills stones throw celebrated copacabana beach police pushed much blatant flouting law socalled pacification program storm favelas overwhelming force establish permanent presence offensive started 2008 year brazil awarded hosting rights 2014 world cup steadily spread homicides 65 percent pacified areas according rios state government march april year police backed armored vehicles helicopters swarmed mare massive favela complex thats hosted intense firefights traffickers police rio de janeiros state government hailing pacification success reporting homicides dropped 65 percent areas 2008 2012 central favelas tourists might see traffickers longer sell coke pot openly carry assault rifles one travel far urban jungle reach scenes like one antares time theres limited gentrification favelas middleclass brazilians foreigners buying properties around inside however pacification program criticized police accused murdering residents meant protecting april wellknown dancer douglas rafael da silva shot dead pavao pavaozinho favela provoking protests turned clashes pacification police patrol next mural slain dancer douglas rafael da silva pavao pavaozinho mario tamagetty images police claim returning fire drug traffickers time da silvas death werent sure whose bullet hit witnesses pavao pavaozinho favela told globalpost officers shot unarmed youths smoking marijuana police totally unprepared working community says paulo dos santos neighbor actor worked da silva law dont respect dont want type cops one problem authorities failing meet promise pair police suppression new schools investment slums activists say social aspect says andre fernandes runs favela news network project power criminalizes poor another complaint pacification doesnt stop drug trade merely shifts even pacified favelas dealers still sell cocaine discreetly says police commander rodrigo oliveira elite core unit problem drug dealers still exist areas says oliveira bullet embedded head confrontation traffickers police occupy territory havent arrested drug dealers taken weapons meanwhile hardened gangsters take refuge unpacified favelas antares controlled gang called comando vermelho red command back drug shop lucas oversees sales dozens customers handing crumpled bills bags vials tired eyes lucas says finishing 24hour shift drug point takes thousands dollars day says employee red command makes small percentage may look easy hard stressful work lucas says thats look like much older lucas says involved drug trade since 12 countless gunfights police tried get hoping professional soccer goalkeeper suffered injury took refuge back gang want get find proper job hard lucas says know life leads jail cemetery night falls antares residents arrange stacks speakers dance party electronic music known baile funk lucas says drug dealers paid young old come ragged homes shake bodies pulsating distorted beats several gang members stand openly rifles dancing hold song comes lyrics cheering drug dealers traffickers raise rifles air shouting along red command red command red command
| 594 |
<p>Jaylani Hussein had a busy Tuesday.</p>
<p>In the morning, he took meetings and began crafting a press release to show solidarity with protesters who were shot at the night before. Then he went out to join them.</p>
<p>By about 1 p.m., he is standing in the bed of a red truck outside the 4th Precinct police station in Minneapolis. People fill the block, which protesters have turned into a camp as they seek justice for Jamar Clark, shot and killed by a police officer on Nov. 15. Hussein is in a line of speakers who rally the growing crowd. Midwesterners like to avoid conflict, he says through a loudspeaker, but now it's time to stand up. He cites the Quran.</p>
<p>"If you save an innocent life, it's as if you save mankind," he tells them. When people agitate against police brutality they are advocating for the rights all of us. Sure, "all lives matter," he says, "but if there is no justice for one group, there's no justice for all of us."</p>
<p>On Monday night, the camp was attacked by gunmen who fired into the crowd and wounded five people. Still, the group's numbers swelled to many hundreds&#160;Tuesday afternoon as residents and supporters reaffirmed that they would not be intimidated. One demonstrator who was shot in the leg joined the protests again the next day, this time using a cane.</p>
<p>"It's raw emotion here," says Jayson Morris, a 25-year-old veteran who completed his military service in February. He joined the protests last Wednesday. He grew up in the neighborhood and lives just a few blocks from where Clark was killed. On Monday night, he was trying to calm things down when the shooting at the camp occurred.</p>
<p>"I heard they were saying racist stuff, so I advised them to leave. I told them, I'd watch their backs so they could leave," he says. When he turned his back to the men — pop, pop, pop. Then he saw bodies on the ground. One demonstrator had an abdominal wound. Morris tried to stop the bleeding and keep him conscious until an ambulance came.</p>
<p />
<p>Jayson Morris has been protesting the police shooting of Jamar Clark since Wednesday. On Monday evening,&#160;armed men shot into the camp.&#160;Morris&#160;says he will keep fighting.</p>
<p>Angilee Shah/PRI</p>
<p>Monday evening, before the shooting, Morris spent time around a fire talking with four immigrants from Somalia. They discussed religion and society and what it's like to be black and Muslim in American. The hostility is so bad that some of them, he says, feel like going back to Somalia. Morris gives a small laugh and says he considered asking them to take him along. He is Muslim too, but he's never been to Somalia before.</p>
<p>Hussein immigrated to the US from Somalia with his family in 1993. He was in elementary school. As a child, he says, he learned very quickly what it means to be not just African in Minnesota, but an African American. He grew up in north Minneapolis, the largely African American neighborhood where the protests are happening now, and spent his freshman year at North High School.</p>
<p>"I felt welcomed. The only community that wanted me here, that accepted me here, were African Americans," he says. They greeted him with "Hey brother" and "How you doing, brother?" As a newcomer, he remembers, he really appreciated that kind of warmth.</p>
<p>In sixth grade, Hussein's teacher assigned the 1971 novel " <a href="http://www.powells.com/book/autobiography-of-miss-jane-pittman-9780553263572/62-0" type="external">The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman</a>," which helped him imagine African American history and the power of abolitionists through the Civil War. The book increased his appetite for history and poetry and writing. He came to love "The Autobiography of Malcolm X," which brought the Muslim and African American struggles together.</p>
<p>"I had an early wakening to history that taught me a lesson in identifying myself as an African American. As part of the history of this country," he says.</p>
<p>In January, Hussein, now 33, <a href="http://www.cairmn.com/press-releases/303-cair-mn-welcomes-jaylani-hussein-as-executive-director.html" type="external">became executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations</a>. His focus is on educating people about extremism and continually dispelling myths about Muslims. He works&#160;on individual civil rights cases to ensure Muslims freedom to practice their faith. But the issue of police brutality and getting involved with other social justice organizations was already part of CAIR's work. And now, the Black Lives Matter struggle in Minnesota is coming to the fore.</p>
<p>Since last week, Hussein has spent at least one hour every day with the protesters. For the last two Friday prayers, he's given sermons that connect what is happening to Muslims in France with the Black Lives Matter cause. He is working to create regular roundtables to help local social justice organizations to communicate and mobilize together.</p>
<p>By 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Hussein has marched to downtown Minneapolis. Between City Hall and the courthouse, demonstrators are joined by office workers, in suits and heels, and high school students who walked out of class. They are flanked by police cars, the loud echoes of helicopters hovering overhead. He was surprised by the turnout. "I thought people would be afraid to show up because of the violence," he says. Organizers said the crowd numbered to as many as 1,000.</p>
<p>An hour later, we're in my car, going in circles around downtown traffic. Hussein's mind is running from topic to topic, but his voice is calm as he fields calls from colleagues who are worried that he won't make it to his next event. We're at least 20 minutes from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He makes rough estimates of his arrival time — maybe 15 minutes? — and keeps his voice even. In between, he talks about his childhood, FBI activity in Minneapolis, and <a href="http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/11/06/applebees-attack-victim" type="external">the case of a woman who was attacked for speaking in Swahili</a>. He transitions into foreign policy and the nature of the media.</p>
<p>Just after 6 p.m., he's speaking in front of a crowd of several hundred people, mostly Muslim students and their classmates. It's the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, but the hall is still close to full. As Hussein talks, organizers open a balcony area of the auditorium to accommodate more people. Hussein discusses the lives of Muslims and the hate they have endured since the attacks in Paris last week — and in American history. Thomas Jefferson, he says, was the first president to be accused of being a Muslim. He says that everyone needs to speak up to counter misinformation.</p>
<p />
<p>Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, speaks to students about everyday Muslims and fighting hate at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, on Nov. 24, 2015.</p>
<p>Angilee Shah</p>
<p>But he also implores the students to join the Black Lives Matter movement. "The way I look at Blacks Lives Matters is as Civil Rights 2.0.," he says. It's an iteration of history. That peaceful protesters were hit by gunfire should light a fire in our conscience, he says.</p>
<p>Back at the Fourth Precinct, Morris stays with the camp. He stayed through Monday night, before and after the shooting, and will remain again through Tuesday. He helps keep the fires going for warmth, as supporters drop off wood, hot beverages, food and supplies. He looks at the new people who have joined the protest, who he's never seen before and admits he is worried about how to keep everyone safe.</p>
<p>"It could be an Aryan [Nation person], it could be anyone," he says. But he does not want his fear to make him stereotype people. Morris stays because he wants to see justice for Jamar Clark, but he's also there for his own healing. There is a community at the 4th precinct, a group of people who understand the trauma of witnessing violence.</p>
<p>"If we leave this little street, am I going to get shot like Jamar?" Morris asks. "It's a damn shame, but we feel safe in the street. More than in our own homes."</p>
<p>By the end of the day, <a href="http://www.startribune.com/police-searching-for-suspects-who-fired-into-crowd-at-blm-protest-outside-4th-precinct/353154811/" type="external">Minneapolis police say they have arrested three men in connection with the shooting</a>.</p>
<p>It's almost 9 p.m. and Hussein is still fielding questions from students, even though the event has officially been over for an hour. He tells them they can join Morris and the other demonstrators at the Fourth Precinct, if they want. They would be welcomed.</p>
| false | 3 |
jaylani hussein busy tuesday morning took meetings began crafting press release show solidarity protesters shot night went join 1 pm standing bed red truck outside 4th precinct police station minneapolis people fill block protesters turned camp seek justice jamar clark shot killed police officer nov 15 hussein line speakers rally growing crowd midwesterners like avoid conflict says loudspeaker time stand cites quran save innocent life save mankind tells people agitate police brutality advocating rights us sure lives matter says justice one group theres justice us monday night camp attacked gunmen fired crowd wounded five people still groups numbers swelled many hundreds160tuesday afternoon residents supporters reaffirmed would intimidated one demonstrator shot leg joined protests next day time using cane raw emotion says jayson morris 25yearold veteran completed military service february joined protests last wednesday grew neighborhood lives blocks clark killed monday night trying calm things shooting camp occurred heard saying racist stuff advised leave told id watch backs could leave says turned back men pop pop pop saw bodies ground one demonstrator abdominal wound morris tried stop bleeding keep conscious ambulance came jayson morris protesting police shooting jamar clark since wednesday monday evening160armed men shot camp160morris160says keep fighting angilee shahpri monday evening shooting morris spent time around fire talking four immigrants somalia discussed religion society like black muslim american hostility bad says feel like going back somalia morris gives small laugh says considered asking take along muslim hes never somalia hussein immigrated us somalia family 1993 elementary school child says learned quickly means african minnesota african american grew north minneapolis largely african american neighborhood protests happening spent freshman year north high school felt welcomed community wanted accepted african americans says greeted hey brother brother newcomer remembers really appreciated kind warmth sixth grade husseins teacher assigned 1971 novel autobiography miss jane pittman helped imagine african american history power abolitionists civil war book increased appetite history poetry writing came love autobiography malcolm x brought muslim african american struggles together early wakening history taught lesson identifying african american part history country says january hussein 33 became executive director minnesota chapter council americanislamic relations focus educating people extremism continually dispelling myths muslims works160on individual civil rights cases ensure muslims freedom practice faith issue police brutality getting involved social justice organizations already part cairs work black lives matter struggle minnesota coming fore since last week hussein spent least one hour every day protesters last two friday prayers hes given sermons connect happening muslims france black lives matter cause working create regular roundtables help local social justice organizations communicate mobilize together 430 pm tuesday hussein marched downtown minneapolis city hall courthouse demonstrators joined office workers suits heels high school students walked class flanked police cars loud echoes helicopters hovering overhead surprised turnout thought people would afraid show violence says organizers said crowd numbered many 1000 hour later car going circles around downtown traffic husseins mind running topic topic voice calm fields calls colleagues worried wont make next event least 20 minutes university st thomas st paul makes rough estimates arrival time maybe 15 minutes keeps voice even talks childhood fbi activity minneapolis case woman attacked speaking swahili transitions foreign policy nature media 6 pm hes speaking front crowd several hundred people mostly muslim students classmates tuesday thanksgiving hall still close full hussein talks organizers open balcony area auditorium accommodate people hussein discusses lives muslims hate endured since attacks paris last week american history thomas jefferson says first president accused muslim says everyone needs speak counter misinformation jaylani hussein executive director minnesota chapter council americanislamic relations speaks students everyday muslims fighting hate university st thomas st paul nov 24 2015 angilee shah also implores students join black lives matter movement way look blacks lives matters civil rights 20 says iteration history peaceful protesters hit gunfire light fire conscience says back fourth precinct morris stays camp stayed monday night shooting remain tuesday helps keep fires going warmth supporters drop wood hot beverages food supplies looks new people joined protest hes never seen admits worried keep everyone safe could aryan nation person could anyone says want fear make stereotype people morris stays wants see justice jamar clark hes also healing community 4th precinct group people understand trauma witnessing violence leave little street going get shot like jamar morris asks damn shame feel safe street homes end day minneapolis police say arrested three men connection shooting almost 9 pm hussein still fielding questions students even though event officially hour tells join morris demonstrators fourth precinct want would welcomed
| 747 |
<p>Most principals responding to a survey say they still think their schools are not being cleaned well enough by privatized custodial services, but CPS officials say that an independent audit found virtually all campuses are at “ordinary tidiness”–the level aspired to.</p>
<p>The survey by the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association is the latest round in the&#160;ongoing discord between many principals and CPS leaders about the custodial services managed since last year by Aramark and SodexoMAGIC. Association President Clarice Berry is now calling on the contract to be voided, as have some outspoken principals in the past. About 260 principals of 522 at district-run schools responded.</p>
<p>“It has been an utter catastrophe,” Berry&#160;said at a press conference, where she also called for the contract with the two companies to be voided.</p>
<p>The survey found that more than 90 percent of principals say they and their local school councils think the school was cleaner before Aramark and SodexoMAGIC took over. They also say they are not satisfied with the equipment the two companies have provided. In addition, more than 90 percent reported that dealing with the companies’ staff consumes time that they otherwise would use to focus on instructional issues.</p>
<p>CPS, however, points to an independent audit of some 300 schools that found the vast majority of them were at a Level 2, scoring at least 80 points on a 100-point scale, according to CPS. The definition of Level 2: Clean floors with no more than two days’ worth of dust or dirt; &#160;no noticeable fingerprints or marks on walls or desks; washrooms clean and odor free; and trash containers that have only a day’s-worth of garbage inside.</p>
<p>Last year, before the contracts were awarded, the average was 78 on the 100 point scale. In a statement, CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett characterized the schools as “significantly cleaner.”</p>
<p>“After a&#160;bumpy&#160;transition, they (officials from Aramark and SodexoMAGIC) met with principals,&#160;worked&#160;collaboratively&#160;to address their concerns&#160;and adjusted&#160;staffing&#160;to meet the needs of our&#160;schools,” Byrd-Bennett said.</p>
<p>Catalyst Chicago had previously submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for the audit, but only received the information on Thursday following the principals’ association press conference.</p>
<p>CPS spokesman Bill McCaffrey says district leaders had no idea that principals were still concerned about conditions in their buildings.</p>
<p>Offered up by CPS as a principal who would vouch for Aramark, Agassiz Principal Mira Weber said she could not speak to the cleanliness of her building. However, she has been impressed by the responsiveness of the site manager. “There were some hiccups early on, but there has definitely been an improvement,” she says.</p>
<p>$340 million contracts</p>
<p>Last March, Aramark was given a three-year contract for $260 million to provide custodial services for most schools and SodexoMAGIC was given an $80 million contract to provide all facilities management, including custodial and engineering services, at about 30 schools. CPS leaders said that the private companies will save CPS some $40 million a year by centralizing purchasing of supplies and buying new equipment that would allow them to lay off staff but also keep the schools cleaner.</p>
<p>Chief Administrative Officer Tim Cawley promised spiffy Zambonis would replace mops and the private companies would be super-responsive to principals, as quick as Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, a chain restaurant whose motto is “freaky fast delivery.”</p>
<p>But over the summer, <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2014/09/dirty-schools-norm-privatizing-custodians-principals/" type="external">principals voiced concerns</a> that the schools were filthy and that too few staff were being provided to adequately do the job. They also were frustrated that they no longer were responsible for supervising the cleaning and engineering staff. They said Aramark and SodexoMAGIC &#160;added a layer of bureaucracy.</p>
<p>After a torrent of principal complaints convinced them that there was an issue, CPS leaders and Mayor Rahm Emanuel said they were addressing concerns and, if schools weren’t brought up to par, the companies would be penalized.</p>
<p>In addition to the survey results, the principal’s association released comments from 121 principals, many of whom call the Aramark and SodexoMAGIC take over a “disaster.” “My school is filthy,” one comments. “I have met with people over 10 times regarding this issue.”</p>
<p>Another commented: “Thanks to Aramark, our school is in a state of health, safety and sanitation crisis.”</p>
<p>Berry says that three or four small schools reported that they thought SodexoMAGIC was doing a good job. But she says the survey proves that the majority are not happy. She noted that the association doesn’t usually have press conferences and instead airs their complaints at meetings with CPS administrators twice a month. But she said the association released the survey because they feel as though CPS leaders are not taking the complaints of the principals seriously. “We are being ignored,” she said.</p>
<p>Jennie Biggs, a parent representing the advocacy group Raise Your Hand, says one problem is that the Zamboni can’t be carried up the four flights of stairs at her children’s school, Sheridan Math and Science Academy. Therefore, it is not used. Given that mops have been banned, the custodian use Swiffer wet-jet type contraptions, she says.</p>
<p>She adds that the custodians don’t see wiping down desks as part of their jobs, so the children and students do it. “We have quite a nice collection of wipes with black handprints,” she says.</p>
<p>Another complaint is that the supplies that Aramark is buying are sub-par or not replenished enough.</p>
<p>While Berry focused on the custodian contract at the press conference, the survey also asked principals about their opinions on student-based budgeting, the accountability system and whether they feel as though they are on a level playing field as charters. According to the survey, many principals feel the accountability system is unfair and that district testing requirements “have negatively impacted instructional time.” Also, few think they are dealt with fairly compared with charter schools.</p>
<p>Student-based budgeting received split reviews.</p>
<p>Photo: <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-244876813/stock-photo-full-length-of-silhouette-man-with-broom-cleaning-office-corridor.html?src=csl_recent_image-2" type="external">Janitor cleaning</a>/Shutterstock</p>
| false | 3 |
principals responding survey say still think schools cleaned well enough privatized custodial services cps officials say independent audit found virtually campuses ordinary tidinessthe level aspired survey chicago principals administrators association latest round the160ongoing discord many principals cps leaders custodial services managed since last year aramark sodexomagic association president clarice berry calling contract voided outspoken principals past 260 principals 522 districtrun schools responded utter catastrophe berry160said press conference also called contract two companies voided survey found 90 percent principals say local school councils think school cleaner aramark sodexomagic took also say satisfied equipment two companies provided addition 90 percent reported dealing companies staff consumes time otherwise would use focus instructional issues cps however points independent audit 300 schools found vast majority level 2 scoring least 80 points 100point scale according cps definition level 2 clean floors two days worth dust dirt 160no noticeable fingerprints marks walls desks washrooms clean odor free trash containers daysworth garbage inside last year contracts awarded average 78 100 point scale statement ceo barbara byrdbennett characterized schools significantly cleaner a160bumpy160transition officials aramark sodexomagic met principals160worked160collaboratively160to address concerns160and adjusted160staffing160to meet needs our160schools byrdbennett said catalyst chicago previously submitted freedom information act request audit received information thursday following principals association press conference cps spokesman bill mccaffrey says district leaders idea principals still concerned conditions buildings offered cps principal would vouch aramark agassiz principal mira weber said could speak cleanliness building however impressed responsiveness site manager hiccups early definitely improvement says 340 million contracts last march aramark given threeyear contract 260 million provide custodial services schools sodexomagic given 80 million contract provide facilities management including custodial engineering services 30 schools cps leaders said private companies save cps 40 million year centralizing purchasing supplies buying new equipment would allow lay staff also keep schools cleaner chief administrative officer tim cawley promised spiffy zambonis would replace mops private companies would superresponsive principals quick jimmy johns gourmet sandwiches chain restaurant whose motto freaky fast delivery summer principals voiced concerns schools filthy staff provided adequately job also frustrated longer responsible supervising cleaning engineering staff said aramark sodexomagic 160added layer bureaucracy torrent principal complaints convinced issue cps leaders mayor rahm emanuel said addressing concerns schools werent brought par companies would penalized addition survey results principals association released comments 121 principals many call aramark sodexomagic take disaster school filthy one comments met people 10 times regarding issue another commented thanks aramark school state health safety sanitation crisis berry says three four small schools reported thought sodexomagic good job says survey proves majority happy noted association doesnt usually press conferences instead airs complaints meetings cps administrators twice month said association released survey feel though cps leaders taking complaints principals seriously ignored said jennie biggs parent representing advocacy group raise hand says one problem zamboni cant carried four flights stairs childrens school sheridan math science academy therefore used given mops banned custodian use swiffer wetjet type contraptions says adds custodians dont see wiping desks part jobs children students quite nice collection wipes black handprints says another complaint supplies aramark buying subpar replenished enough berry focused custodian contract press conference survey also asked principals opinions studentbased budgeting accountability system whether feel though level playing field charters according survey many principals feel accountability system unfair district testing requirements negatively impacted instructional time also think dealt fairly compared charter schools studentbased budgeting received split reviews photo janitor cleaningshutterstock
| 557 |
<p>When Brandon Jackson was in kindergarten, he was easily distracted, couldn’t focus on school work and was often unresponsive. At the end of the year, he was transferred to Buckingham Special Education Center, a Chicago public school that serves about 50 1st- through 8th-graders who have emotional and behavioral disorders. By 3rd grade, he was back in a regular school. Now, seven years later, he is a sophomore at Bogan High School and doing well.</p>
<p>“Transferring to Buckingham was the best thing that ever happened to Brandon because that led him to a regular school,” says his mother, Betty Jackson. “[Now] he’s got a C average. He’s using public transportation back and forth from school, and he’s taking driver’s ed to get his license. I think that if he had stayed in special education, he would not have thrived. Instead, he was given a second chance.”</p>
<p>Brandon Jackson is one of dozens of special education students who have received a second chance through an 8-year-old partnership between Buckingham and Sullivan Elementary, a regular elementary school three miles away in South Chicago. Under the partnership, Buckingham students who have made significant improvement in their behavior are transferred to Sullivan, and the special services they received at Buckingham go with them.</p>
<p>“These kids are usually either very bright or only slightly behind academically,” says Sullivan Principal Robert Esenberg. “What hurts them is their behavior; it impedes them academically and socially. If they can get that together, usually most of them do well.”</p>
<p>Since the program began in 1992, about 90 Buckingham students were transferred to Sullivan, graduated from there and went on to regular high school programs. Only two were sent back to Buckingham.</p>
<p>Unique in the city, the program was created by Buckingham’s former principal, Myron Berger, now principal of Near North Special Education Learning Center.</p>
<p>“I always felt that a special education school was a dead-end situation for kids,” says Berger. “It’s very restrictive. At the same time, it’s often very difficult to re-integrate kids into regular classrooms after they’ve been identified with these kind of problems. They’re labeled troublemakers. But I kept thinking about it, and thought it would be great if we could give students that opportunity, but also give them a safety net if they couldn’t make it.”</p>
<p>Berger took his idea to Thomas Hehir, then head of special education for the Chicago Public Schools. (Hehir went on to direct the special education office of the U.S. Department of Education and is now retired.) Hehir supported the idea. Berger then found another receptive ear in Esenberg.</p>
<p>“To make this program work, you have to develop trusting relationships between people, with another principal and another staff,” stresses Berger. “That’s key.”</p>
<p>Initially, Esenberg’s staff was less than enthusiastic. “They didn’t know if they wanted to take on students who had emotional or behavioral problems,” he recalls.</p>
<p>What eventually won them over was a plan to have two full-time Buckingham staff members work at Sullivan with both transferred and regular students. “I had to remind them that we also had students who exhibited behavioral problems,” notes Esenberg. “They just hadn’t been identified, and we had no one trained to work with them. If they agreed to the program, they’d have help.”</p>
<p>Sullivan staff also received training in inclusion practices through the Chicago Board of Education. “Hehir was big on inclusion, so there were lots of free workshops and conferences for schools, and we took advantage of that,” Berger recalls. “Staff development for the receiving school was crucial. At Buckingham, we already knew what we were faced with.”</p>
<p>Later, when Buckingham received a CPS inclusion grant, Sullivan staff were included in the staff development.</p>
<p>“This is strictly a teacher-driven program,” says Roscoe Beach, Buckingham’s current principal. “If teachers were not willing to make adjustments and work together, this would not happen.”</p>
<p>Who gets to go</p>
<p>Every year, Buckingham has about 45 students, and Sullivan sets aside 16 seats for its transfer students.</p>
<p>“We don’t just throw kids over there,” says Beach. “Our team—the therapists, teachers, social worker, psychologist—does a lot of talking about what we see and if a child is ready for inclusion. Is the student internalizing control, is he getting along better with peers and using human resources before fighting, is he learning not to act impulsively and thinking actions through? This is what we look for.”</p>
<p>Once students are selected, both schools work to make sure the transition is smooth and the students are supported. The team from Buckingham is in frequent communication with Sullivan’s staff. The student’s Buckingham teacher talks to the receiving teacher at Sullivan, and both help write the student’s new individualized education plan (IEP). Parents are part of the process from the start.</p>
<p>Betty Jackson, Brandon’s mom, recalls, “We had an intake meeting. They told me what their goals were for Brandon and what they expected.”</p>
<p>As soon as Buckingham students arrive at Sullivan, they begin seeing Buckingham’s transplanted staff, Michael Litow and his assistant, Earline Williams, who keep track of how they are doing academically and how well they manage their behavior.</p>
<p>A teacher, counselor and former assistant principal, Litow is the founder of The Education Center, a 20-year-old counseling and referral center for children and young adults, ages 4 through 20. The center has offices in Oak Park and Naperville.</p>
<p>“If anyone should get accolades for making this program successful, it’s Michael Litow,” says Berger. “His skills are central to what makes this program great.”</p>
<p>Litow helps teachers modify lessons to accommodate the special needs of the special students, does classroom observations, keeps up with special students’ progress and works one-on-one with students inside and outside the classroom.</p>
<p>“Dr Litow is fantastic,” says Amanda Kernagis, a 5th-grade teacher at Sullivan. “He has given me a lot of support in the classroom and taught me things like how to manage my students’ behaviors and get the best from them.”</p>
<p>In Brandon’s case, Litow helped teachers understand his personality and what they should do when he was distracted or had difficulty moving from one task to another. For instance, because Brandon was artistic and had a flair for decorating, his teachers built an educational program around those interests, which helped keep him focused.</p>
<p>Tricia Cusack, a 5th-grade reading and social studies teacher, recalls Litow’s help with a regular student. “I was having a problem with one of the Sullivan students,” she says. “This child would go off and start swearing. Her mother was up here all the time. She was very difficult until Dr. Litow taught me how to pick my battles. Now, it’s like having a new child in the classroom. She’s much calmer. Her grades were low, but they have come up a little.”</p>
<p>Litow says students typically succeed when two conditions have been met: They want to succeed, and they know there are people who will help them.</p>
<p>“I had one student that Mother Theresa would have slapped,” laughs Litow. “But he was sharp as a pin, and we never stopped working with him. Finally, he decided to improve. In his last year, his reading went from a 6.3 to a 9.1. He is now at Dunbar, in the ROTC and getting A’s and B’s. If that kid hadn’t been in this program, he probably would have remained in special education throughout his educational life.”</p>
<p>The next level</p>
<p>Last year, Sullivan received an Education Connection grant from CPS; it will start an inclusion program for its own special education students next fall. Currently, 35 Sullivan students are in self-contained classes in the primary grades and 18 in the intermediate and upper grades. Their disabilities range from learning and cognitive problems to emotional and behavioral disorders. Many of them already attend one or two regular classes each day.</p>
<p>“We’d like to mimic the program we have with Buckingham, that is, working together as a team and carefully screening students that we think will do well,” says Esenberg. He adds with a chuckle, “and we still plan on using the services of Dr. Litow and Ms. Williams. We think of them as more our staff than Buckingham’s anyway.”</p>
<p>Esenberg is a bit of an evangelist for the Buckingham-Sullivan partnership. “Every region in the system needs a Buckingham and a program like ours,” he says. “I think it would be worth it to the board.”</p>
<p>Beach is optimistic, “With the Corey H lawsuit settlement, schools know they have to create more inclusive programs. I think they will be taking a closer look at programs like ours.”</p>
<p>Berger of Near North says he’s been trying to duplicate the program on the North Side. “I tried one, and it didn’t fly. But I haven’t given up.”</p>
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brandon jackson kindergarten easily distracted couldnt focus school work often unresponsive end year transferred buckingham special education center chicago public school serves 50 1st 8thgraders emotional behavioral disorders 3rd grade back regular school seven years later sophomore bogan high school well transferring buckingham best thing ever happened brandon led regular school says mother betty jackson hes got c average hes using public transportation back forth school hes taking drivers ed get license think stayed special education would thrived instead given second chance brandon jackson one dozens special education students received second chance 8yearold partnership buckingham sullivan elementary regular elementary school three miles away south chicago partnership buckingham students made significant improvement behavior transferred sullivan special services received buckingham go kids usually either bright slightly behind academically says sullivan principal robert esenberg hurts behavior impedes academically socially get together usually well since program began 1992 90 buckingham students transferred sullivan graduated went regular high school programs two sent back buckingham unique city program created buckinghams former principal myron berger principal near north special education learning center always felt special education school deadend situation kids says berger restrictive time often difficult reintegrate kids regular classrooms theyve identified kind problems theyre labeled troublemakers kept thinking thought would great could give students opportunity also give safety net couldnt make berger took idea thomas hehir head special education chicago public schools hehir went direct special education office us department education retired hehir supported idea berger found another receptive ear esenberg make program work develop trusting relationships people another principal another staff stresses berger thats key initially esenbergs staff less enthusiastic didnt know wanted take students emotional behavioral problems recalls eventually plan two fulltime buckingham staff members work sullivan transferred regular students remind also students exhibited behavioral problems notes esenberg hadnt identified one trained work agreed program theyd help sullivan staff also received training inclusion practices chicago board education hehir big inclusion lots free workshops conferences schools took advantage berger recalls staff development receiving school crucial buckingham already knew faced later buckingham received cps inclusion grant sullivan staff included staff development strictly teacherdriven program says roscoe beach buckinghams current principal teachers willing make adjustments work together would happen gets go every year buckingham 45 students sullivan sets aside 16 seats transfer students dont throw kids says beach teamthe therapists teachers social worker psychologistdoes lot talking see child ready inclusion student internalizing control getting along better peers using human resources fighting learning act impulsively thinking actions look students selected schools work make sure transition smooth students supported team buckingham frequent communication sullivans staff students buckingham teacher talks receiving teacher sullivan help write students new individualized education plan iep parents part process start betty jackson brandons mom recalls intake meeting told goals brandon expected soon buckingham students arrive sullivan begin seeing buckinghams transplanted staff michael litow assistant earline williams keep track academically well manage behavior teacher counselor former assistant principal litow founder education center 20yearold counseling referral center children young adults ages 4 20 center offices oak park naperville anyone get accolades making program successful michael litow says berger skills central makes program great litow helps teachers modify lessons accommodate special needs special students classroom observations keeps special students progress works oneonone students inside outside classroom dr litow fantastic says amanda kernagis 5thgrade teacher sullivan given lot support classroom taught things like manage students behaviors get best brandons case litow helped teachers understand personality distracted difficulty moving one task another instance brandon artistic flair decorating teachers built educational program around interests helped keep focused tricia cusack 5thgrade reading social studies teacher recalls litows help regular student problem one sullivan students says child would go start swearing mother time difficult dr litow taught pick battles like new child classroom shes much calmer grades low come little litow says students typically succeed two conditions met want succeed know people help one student mother theresa would slapped laughs litow sharp pin never stopped working finally decided improve last year reading went 63 91 dunbar rotc getting bs kid hadnt program probably would remained special education throughout educational life next level last year sullivan received education connection grant cps start inclusion program special education students next fall currently 35 sullivan students selfcontained classes primary grades 18 intermediate upper grades disabilities range learning cognitive problems emotional behavioral disorders many already attend one two regular classes day wed like mimic program buckingham working together team carefully screening students think well says esenberg adds chuckle still plan using services dr litow ms williams think staff buckinghams anyway esenberg bit evangelist buckinghamsullivan partnership every region system needs buckingham program like says think would worth board beach optimistic corey h lawsuit settlement schools know create inclusive programs think taking closer look programs like berger near north says hes trying duplicate program north side tried one didnt fly havent given
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<p>America is obsessed with race. Slavery has been gone for 150 years. Segregation crumbled in the 1960s and ’70s. Relationships have improved between the races yet race remains a defining issue in so many phases of American life.</p>
<p>Virginia Baptists have their own story of cultivating relationships between whites and blacks. There were black members of Virginia Baptist churches at least as early as the 1750s and likely earlier. Before the war of 1861-65, black and white Baptists in Virginia for the most part were in mixed congregations except for a few separate and somewhat independent black Baptist churches. Baptist churches appealed to most of the slaves and freedmen. William Sands, editor of the Religious Herald, contended in 1837 that the blacks “followed the Baptist preachers because no others seemed to care for their souls.” For certain, many non-Baptist slaveholders sent their slaves to the Baptist meetings for their religious education; and Baptists espoused a certain degree of freedom and respect for each individual.</p>
<p />
<p>Immediately after the war, blacks — who comprised some 57 percent of members of Baptist General Association of Virginia churches — left mixed churches in droves. Almost immediately separate organizations were established which somewhat mirrored existing ones:&#160; black Baptist district and state associations, a black Baptist newspaper, a black Baptist seminary.&#160; Separateness was institutionalized.</p>
<p>In the 1930s Virginia Woman’s Missionary Union led the way with inter-racial conferences, the inclusion of a prominent black Baptist woman on programs and the hiring of a black woman on their staff to promote inter-racial cooperation. At the same time the BGAV appointed a standing Inter-racial Committee and appointed specialists to provide educational training for black pastors and churches.&#160;</p>
<p>Year after year, the BGAV’s Inter-racial Committee displayed what one contemporary described as “an earnest effort, an intelligent understanding of the nature of the problems involved and a courageous, crusading spirit.” In 1938 the committee decried the disparity in public school funding in Southern states, where an average of $44 was spent per white child compared to $12.57 per black child. Messengers were informed about housing for blacks which was “unfit for human habitation,” about exploitation of labor including paying black boys “ten cents an hour for work which would ordinarily require the services of a man,” and the shockingly inadequate availability for health care and hospitalization for blacks.&#160;</p>
<p>In 1939 the BGAV approved a recommendation that local Baptist ministerial organizations invite black Baptist pastors to meet with them on a monthly basis and “that the Religious Herald be asked to devote one issue during the coming year to information concerning the Negro situation in Virginia.”</p>
<p>In 1941 the Inter-racial Committee studied education in Virginia and reported that 64 of the 100 counties had no public high school for blacks, that Nansemond County with a population that was 67 percent black had no school buses for black children but 20 for whites, that black teachers were paid at a rate of three-fourths the salary of their white counterparts.</p>
<p>In 1942 BGAV messengers approved recommendations to promote “Inter-racial Goodwill Sunday” and to support “equalization of the salaries of white and Negro teachers.” The wartime meeting also recognized contributions made by blacks to the war effort and “opposed to racial discrimination in the national defense program.”</p>
<p>In 1946 Wesley Shrader, pastor of First Baptist Church of Lynchburg and a newcomer to Virginia, was chair of the committee. He studied the committee’s reports over the previous 10 years and made the following bold assertion: “During the past 10 years no other body in the entire United States — civic, political, social or educational — has endorsed such strong, outspoken, specific recommendations for the overcoming of racial discrimination and the equalization of privileges irrespective of race or color as has the Baptist General Association of Virginia.” &#160; The committee’s report for ’46 took the matter of race relations to where the rubber hits the road. Instead of addressing the shortcomings of state and national governments, the committee turned to individuals in the pews. The committee urged that racial attitudes be changed by practicing common courtesy to fellow human beings. On behalf of the committee Wesley Shrader stated, “To the Negro physician, teacher and minister we shall address him as we do others of similar standing and to the Negro maiden we shall say ‘Miss’ and to the Negro lady ‘Mrs.,’ and to both we shall tip our hats.”</p>
<p>It was the above statement — the concluding sentence of the report — which raised the hackles of some messengers. One called for that part of the report to be stricken, but the motion to rescind failed. Immediately after the report, M. Jackson White, pastor of Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Richmond, moved that the BGAV join representatives from black Baptist state associations towards the establishment of an orphanage for blacks. The result was the children’s home at Ettrick, Va., which until recent history was a joint effort of black and white Baptists.</p>
<p>Virginia Baptists — black and white — were finally working together. In the 1970s the Virginia Baptist Mission Board staff gained a professional in campus ministry who was African-American and by the mid-’70s a few black churches had joined the BGAV. The VBMB staff helped integrate programs and facilities.&#160;</p>
<p>In 1975, on the eve of the nation’s bicentennial, an unprecedented joint meeting was held between representatives of four state Baptist organizations: the BGAV, the General Convention, the Goodwill Convention and the State Convention. The last three were black Baptist statewide organizations. All four of these Baptist bodies had two words in common somewhere in their full and formal names:&#160; Virginia and Baptist.&#160;</p>
<p>The joint meeting was held Nov. 11, 1975, in the Robins Center at the University of Richmond. Some 6,000 Baptists attended and the Lord’s Supper was served. The theme of the gathering was “The New Humanity in Christ.”</p>
<p>Since then, churches of various ethnic identities have joined the BGAV and persons of various ethnicities serve on the VBMB and its staff.&#160; And this November, 36 years after “The New Humanity” meeting, the BGAV elected Mark Croston, an African-American, as its president. The New Humanity eventually may supplant race as a defining issue.&#160;</p>
<p>Fred Anderson ( <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>) is executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies.</p>
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america obsessed race slavery gone 150 years segregation crumbled 1960s 70s relationships improved races yet race remains defining issue many phases american life virginia baptists story cultivating relationships whites blacks black members virginia baptist churches least early 1750s likely earlier war 186165 black white baptists virginia part mixed congregations except separate somewhat independent black baptist churches baptist churches appealed slaves freedmen william sands editor religious herald contended 1837 blacks followed baptist preachers others seemed care souls certain many nonbaptist slaveholders sent slaves baptist meetings religious education baptists espoused certain degree freedom respect individual immediately war blacks comprised 57 percent members baptist general association virginia churches left mixed churches droves almost immediately separate organizations established somewhat mirrored existing ones160 black baptist district state associations black baptist newspaper black baptist seminary160 separateness institutionalized 1930s virginia womans missionary union led way interracial conferences inclusion prominent black baptist woman programs hiring black woman staff promote interracial cooperation time bgav appointed standing interracial committee appointed specialists provide educational training black pastors churches160 year year bgavs interracial committee displayed one contemporary described earnest effort intelligent understanding nature problems involved courageous crusading spirit 1938 committee decried disparity public school funding southern states average 44 spent per white child compared 1257 per black child messengers informed housing blacks unfit human habitation exploitation labor including paying black boys ten cents hour work would ordinarily require services man shockingly inadequate availability health care hospitalization blacks160 1939 bgav approved recommendation local baptist ministerial organizations invite black baptist pastors meet monthly basis religious herald asked devote one issue coming year information concerning negro situation virginia 1941 interracial committee studied education virginia reported 64 100 counties public high school blacks nansemond county population 67 percent black school buses black children 20 whites black teachers paid rate threefourths salary white counterparts 1942 bgav messengers approved recommendations promote interracial goodwill sunday support equalization salaries white negro teachers wartime meeting also recognized contributions made blacks war effort opposed racial discrimination national defense program 1946 wesley shrader pastor first baptist church lynchburg newcomer virginia chair committee studied committees reports previous 10 years made following bold assertion past 10 years body entire united states civic political social educational endorsed strong outspoken specific recommendations overcoming racial discrimination equalization privileges irrespective race color baptist general association virginia 160 committees report 46 took matter race relations rubber hits road instead addressing shortcomings state national governments committee turned individuals pews committee urged racial attitudes changed practicing common courtesy fellow human beings behalf committee wesley shrader stated negro physician teacher minister shall address others similar standing negro maiden shall say miss negro lady mrs shall tip hats statement concluding sentence report raised hackles messengers one called part report stricken motion rescind failed immediately report jackson white pastor woodland heights baptist church richmond moved bgav join representatives black baptist state associations towards establishment orphanage blacks result childrens home ettrick va recent history joint effort black white baptists virginia baptists black white finally working together 1970s virginia baptist mission board staff gained professional campus ministry africanamerican mid70s black churches joined bgav vbmb staff helped integrate programs facilities160 1975 eve nations bicentennial unprecedented joint meeting held representatives four state baptist organizations bgav general convention goodwill convention state convention last three black baptist statewide organizations four baptist bodies two words common somewhere full formal names160 virginia baptist160 joint meeting held nov 11 1975 robins center university richmond 6000 baptists attended lords supper served theme gathering new humanity christ since churches various ethnic identities joined bgav persons various ethnicities serve vbmb staff160 november 36 years new humanity meeting bgav elected mark croston africanamerican president new humanity eventually may supplant race defining issue160 fred anderson fredandersonvbmborg executive director virginia baptist historical society center baptist heritage studies
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<p>Editor's note: Somalia defines the term failed state. This GlobalPost series includes accounts of being <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/kenya/100201/inside-somalia-under-fire-in-mogadishu" type="external">under fire in Mogadishu</a> and on guard duty with <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/100209/inside-somalia-with-african-union-forces" type="external">African Union peacekeepers</a>, a look at <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/100210/inside-somalia-where-poetry-revered" type="external">Somalia's revered poetry</a> and an analysis of <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/100210/inside-somalia-when-will-it-improve" type="external">when Somalia will improve</a>.</p>
<p>MOGADISHU, Somalia — Al Shabaab, Somalia’s Islamist insurgent group, declared its allegiance to Al Qaeda this week, confirming suspicions long held by Western intelligence agencies that the two groups were linked.</p>
<p>“We have agreed to join the international jihad of Al Qaeda,” the group said in a statement posted on a website and signed by its leader.</p>
<p>Harakat Al-Shabaab — meaning "Youth Movement" — emerged in 2005 as the armed wing of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), a group that defeated clan warlords and brought peace to Somalia for a few brief months in 2006.</p>
<p>When U.S.-backed Ethiopian troops invaded and forced the Islamic Courts out, Al Shabaab won popular support by fighting a guerrilla war against the Christian invaders.</p>
<p>Many of Al Shabaab’s top leaders are radical Somali veterans of the Afghanistan wars. In 2008 Ahmed Abdi Godane, known as Abu Zubeyr, replaced the group’s first commander, Aden Hashi Ayro, after he was killed by a U.S. air strike in May that year. Three months earlier the U.S. had designated Al Shabaab as a terrorist organisation.</p>
<p />
<p>Godane is believed to have fought in Afghanistan in the 1980s and is described by one observer as “a hardcore jihadi.” He is advised by a 10-man "shura" council.</p>
<p>Other senior commanders enjoying a large degree of autonomy are Mukhtar Ali Robow, a.k.a. Abu Mansoor, an experienced fighter who ran the training camp from which Al Shabaab emerged, and Ibrahim Haji Jaama, who won his nom-de-guerre Al-Afghani during years fighting in Afghanistan and Kashmir.</p>
<p>Under growing military pressure in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, hundreds of foreign fighters have flocked to Somalia in recent years to join the battle against Sheikh Sharif Ahmed’s U.N.- and U.S.-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG).</p>
<p>Hardened foreign fighters have brought with them a radical ideology of global jihad and some — such as a white U.S. citizen known as Al-Amriki — have taken prominent field commander roles.</p>
<p>Foreign fighters and even suicide bombers have joined Al Shabaab from the Somali diaspora in the United States and Europe. More than 20 young men from Minnesota are believed to have joined Al Shabaab. One of them, 26-year-old Shirwa Ahmed, blew himself up in a suicide attack in the northern Somali region of Puntland in 2008.</p>
<p>The man responsible for another deadly suicide bombing in Mogadishu in early December 2009 was a young Somali man from Denmark. A former Al Shabaab fighter told GlobalPost he had met Americans while he was a member of the armed group.</p>
<p>This foreign influence is changing Al Shabaab from a local insurgent group with national ambitions into a growing player in the wider battle between Islam and the West. Al Shabaab's announcement that it is allied with Al Qaeda will cement the group’s extremist reputation.</p>
<p>In areas under Al Shabaab control alleged adulterers have been publicly stoned to death, those accused of theft have had hands and feet chopped off. The group has banned bras, soccer, musical ringtones and PlayStations. Last year the young winner of a Koran recital competition was given an AK47 rifle and an anti-tank mine.</p>
<p>Yet not every Al Shabaab member is a committed zealot. In fact the rank-and-file foot soldiers are more often hired guns, conscripts or desperate volunteers.</p>
<p>In Mogadishu a young man who had left the group after his leg was blown off in a mortar attack told GlobalPost: “In our country there are three paths: you can join Al Shabaab, you can join [the government forces] or you can go abroad.</p>
<p>“Me, I don’t have money to go away so I join Al Shabaab,” said Ismail Mohamed Ishaaq simply.</p>
<p>The 21-year-old is neither a jihadist nor an extremist, neither murderous nor stupid. Rather he is a young Muslim man with an education but no opportunities in a country that has been at war for as long as he has lived.</p>
<p>During last year’s failed rains when food was scarce and Al Shabaab was in the ascendancy Ismael joined up.</p>
<p>“I didn’t have anywhere to stay or anything to do. My friends, some of them were Al Shabaab and they would tell me that TFG [the Transitional Federal Government] is not Muslim, but Al Shabaab is Muslim,” explained Ishaaq.</p>
<p>In Mogadishu Ismael lived with other young Al Shabaab fighters in a shared house in Bakara Market, an Islamist stronghold. He would wait for a call then take up his AK47 and go into battle. “I was mujahidin for real,” he said.</p>
<p>Four months after joining Al Shabaab a mortar mangled Ismael’s leg and left him bleeding into the dusty street.</p>
<p>GlobalPost caught up with the president of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, late last year in Chicago:</p>
<p />
<p>African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM) picked Ismael up and took him to their tented hospital close to the sea. Sitting on a camp bed a few months later he rubbed the bandaged stump where his left leg used to be.</p>
<p>“My leg, it is a small wound only,” he said with an ironic smile.</p>
<p>He is grateful to AMISOM for saving his life and said he has even now renounced Al Shabaab. As he spoke he turned a leather-bound Koran over and over in his hands: He has given up the violence of the Islamist insurgency but remains a pious Muslim.</p>
<p>“I would like my country to be at peace but I don’t know how." he said. "How many years have we been fighting now? Twenty? Me, I cannot see any peace, just fighting.”</p>
<p>Inside Somalia: The series</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/kenya/100201/inside-somalia-under-fire-in-mogadishu" type="external">Life in hell: under fire in Mogadishu</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/100209/inside-somalia-with-african-union-forces" type="external">Peacekeeping: on the ground with African Union forces</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/100210/inside-somalia-where-poetry-revered" type="external">A nation of poets: poetry is a political tool as powerful as the gun</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/100210/inside-somalia-when-will-it-improve" type="external">Opinion: When will Somalia improve?</a></p>
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editors note somalia defines term failed state globalpost series includes accounts fire mogadishu guard duty african union peacekeepers look somalias revered poetry analysis somalia improve mogadishu somalia al shabaab somalias islamist insurgent group declared allegiance al qaeda week confirming suspicions long held western intelligence agencies two groups linked agreed join international jihad al qaeda group said statement posted website signed leader harakat alshabaab meaning youth movement emerged 2005 armed wing islamic courts union icu group defeated clan warlords brought peace somalia brief months 2006 usbacked ethiopian troops invaded forced islamic courts al shabaab popular support fighting guerrilla war christian invaders many al shabaabs top leaders radical somali veterans afghanistan wars 2008 ahmed abdi godane known abu zubeyr replaced groups first commander aden hashi ayro killed us air strike may year three months earlier us designated al shabaab terrorist organisation godane believed fought afghanistan 1980s described one observer hardcore jihadi advised 10man shura council senior commanders enjoying large degree autonomy mukhtar ali robow aka abu mansoor experienced fighter ran training camp al shabaab emerged ibrahim haji jaama nomdeguerre alafghani years fighting afghanistan kashmir growing military pressure pakistan afghanistan iraq hundreds foreign fighters flocked somalia recent years join battle sheikh sharif ahmeds un usbacked transitional federal government tfg hardened foreign fighters brought radical ideology global jihad white us citizen known alamriki taken prominent field commander roles foreign fighters even suicide bombers joined al shabaab somali diaspora united states europe 20 young men minnesota believed joined al shabaab one 26yearold shirwa ahmed blew suicide attack northern somali region puntland 2008 man responsible another deadly suicide bombing mogadishu early december 2009 young somali man denmark former al shabaab fighter told globalpost met americans member armed group foreign influence changing al shabaab local insurgent group national ambitions growing player wider battle islam west al shabaabs announcement allied al qaeda cement groups extremist reputation areas al shabaab control alleged adulterers publicly stoned death accused theft hands feet chopped group banned bras soccer musical ringtones playstations last year young winner koran recital competition given ak47 rifle antitank mine yet every al shabaab member committed zealot fact rankandfile foot soldiers often hired guns conscripts desperate volunteers mogadishu young man left group leg blown mortar attack told globalpost country three paths join al shabaab join government forces go abroad dont money go away join al shabaab said ismail mohamed ishaaq simply 21yearold neither jihadist extremist neither murderous stupid rather young muslim man education opportunities country war long lived last years failed rains food scarce al shabaab ascendancy ismael joined didnt anywhere stay anything friends al shabaab would tell tfg transitional federal government muslim al shabaab muslim explained ishaaq mogadishu ismael lived young al shabaab fighters shared house bakara market islamist stronghold would wait call take ak47 go battle mujahidin real said four months joining al shabaab mortar mangled ismaels leg left bleeding dusty street globalpost caught president somalia sheikh sharif ahmed late last year chicago african union peacekeepers amisom picked ismael took tented hospital close sea sitting camp bed months later rubbed bandaged stump left leg used leg small wound said ironic smile grateful amisom saving life said even renounced al shabaab spoke turned leatherbound koran hands given violence islamist insurgency remains pious muslim would like country peace dont know said many years fighting twenty see peace fighting inside somalia series life hell fire mogadishu peacekeeping ground african union forces nation poets poetry political tool powerful gun opinion somalia improve
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<p>As a booming metropolitan city, Delhi draws Indians from around the country. Students and young professionals converge on the capital for opportunities they cannot access in their hometowns, but finding work is often not the hardest thing for these people.</p>
<p>Finding apartments is worse.</p>
<p>Delhi lacks high-rise apartment buildings, so people have to find property owners who rent out apartments in their own house. These landlords often pick tenants based on their own biases against professions, religions, ethnicities, class&#160;and even diets.</p>
<p>“We were going to see an apartment in Delhi, and this person looked at us from the balcony and refused to open the door,” said Priya Konsam, a banker who is now based in Mumbai. “They said they won’t rent to people from the northeast.”</p>
<p>Indians from different regions are often recognizable by their facial characteristics, and people from northeastern states suffer discrimination and harassment in Delhi.</p>
<p>Konsam has also faced questions about her diet from a landlord.</p>
<p>“They asked me if I eat meat, then they asked me what kinds of meat I eat,” she said.</p>
<p>According to Sarita Bhardwaj, a broker in Delhi, landlords are also hesitant to rent to people from India’s northeast now because of stricter laws against discrimination.</p>
<p>“The law favors them if they complain so landlords are afraid to rent to them,” she said.</p>
<p>Kekuchina Nsarangbe, a marketing consultant in Delhi who also hails from that region, was told by a landlord that they only rent to “pure vegetarians” and “pure Brahmins.” The implication was that even eating eggs,&#160;or being born to&#160;a lower status than the&#160;highest Hindu caste, would not be permitted.</p>
<p>Nsarangbe also faced discrimination for being a single woman.</p>
<p>“I was climbing the stairs to see a fourth-floor apartment, when an elderly couple on the first floor asked the broker if I will be living alone,” she said.</p>
<p>The couple then went on to ask the broker if Nsarangbe would be out late, and if she would bring men to the apartment.</p>
<p>“These were not even the landlords, they were the neighbors! I refused to see the apartment,” she said.</p>
<p>Anandita Sharma, a lawyer based in Delhi, was also refused an apartment that was being rented to “families only.”</p>
<p>“I have come across apartment posts that ask tenants to be home by 10 p.m.,” she said. “My last landlord did not allow boys to go up to our apartment, so any men had to be declared ‘cousins.’”</p>
<p>Sharma bears the additional burden of being a lawyer, a profession that most landlords frown upon because they expect lawyers to be litigious.</p>
<p>“I found a great apartment, but when the broker found out what I do, he told me to say I worked at a [multinational company],” she said. When Sharma refused to lie about her job, the broker told her to find another apartment, as convincing the landlords to rent to a lawyer would be impossible.</p>
<p>Raies Ul-Haq Ahmad Sikander has been refused apartments for being a lawyer, a single man, a Muslim and a Kashmiri.</p>
<p>“I finalized an apartment and paid a reservation fee, but the landlady saw my ID and suddenly withdrew her consent,” Sikander said. When he insisted on finding out why she had a change of heart, she said she doesn’t rent to people from Kashmir.</p>
<p>“Brokers told me to say I am a student instead of a lawyer, but they still wouldn’t rent to me because I am from Srinagar [in Kashmir],” said Sikander. “They questioned why I wanted to live alone and why I didn’t have any friends to live with when I had lived in Delhi for a few years already.”</p>
<p>Another broker told Sikander not to waste his time, as many landlords won’t rent to Muslims.</p>
<p>“Even if you show your documents, police verification and local references, people suspect a single Kashmiri man,” he said. “They see single Muslims as potential terrorists.”</p>
<p>Muslim families may be shunned because they eat meat, but Sikander has found the opposite to be true too.</p>
<p>“Muslim landlords will often not rent to non-Muslims, because they suspect tenants would drink alcohol and eat pork,” Sikander said. He was even turned away by a fellow Kashmiri Muslim, because he is single.</p>
<p>“People think bachelors are unstable and undisciplined,” Sikander&#160;said. “No one is there to look after them and they have no one to look after, so they will party, host strangers, keep late hours.”</p>
<p>He has found that even neighbors and shopkeepers keep tabs on opposite-sex visitors of single men and women, while no one questions a married man.</p>
<p>Bhardwaj concurs that four out of five landlords will turn away single men because “they disturb the family atmosphere.”</p>
<p>“Nowadays single women do that too, there is no difference,” Bhardwaj said. “They drink and they party, so landlords avoid them as well.”</p>
<p>Kanika Jha, a development professional in Delhi, had heard many anecdotes about unmarried couples facing trouble while looking for apartments. Her fiancé made it clear to every broker and landlord that Jha would only move in once they were married in October.</p>
<p>“We told the landlord that we are happy to share our wedding card and our parents’ phone number if you want it,” Jha said. “We were overly cautious because we didn’t want to miss out on the good apartments.”</p>
<p>Many apartment listings specify that they are for “expats only,” renting exclusively to non-Indian tenants.</p>
<p>“A broker inquired if I was an Indian American, because that would be the only way I could rent an expat-only apartment I was interested in,” said Sharma.</p>
<p>Bhardwaj explained that landlords think foreign nationals are more reliable for regular rent payments. They pay for repair work themselves and the home suffers lesser wear because they tend to stay out and travel more. The rent, of course, is higher for expat apartments.</p>
<p>However, all foreigners are not viewed with favor. Delhi’s rampant <a href="" type="internal">racism</a> seeps into apartment leasing as well.</p>
<p>“I had finalized an apartment and when I went to meet the landlady to sign the contract, she said the apartment was no longer available,” said a man from West Africa who works with an international NGO in Delhi. His broker later told him the apartment was available, but the landlady hadn’t realized he was black until she met him.</p>
<p>One landlord shouted at the broker from the balcony for bringing “a black” the moment he got out of the car, and another rejected the man because he eats meat. One landlord began lecturing him about what was expected of him.</p>
<p>“He told me I shouldn’t bring women home, I shouldn’t drink alcohol and I shouldn’t host parties,” he said. “He lectured me like I was a kid and threatened to call the police directly if I violated any of his rules — that was very frustrating.”</p>
<p>Racist stereotypes fuel this discrimination against African nationals.</p>
<p>Such extreme discrimination has caused the formation of black and Afghan neighborhoods in Delhi, as the apartment options are limited.</p>
<p>“Only those who are poor and own old houses rent to these people, as their entire income is now dependent on rent,” said Bhardwaj.</p>
<p>Nimisha Jaiswal reported this story from Delhi.</p>
| false | 3 |
booming metropolitan city delhi draws indians around country students young professionals converge capital opportunities access hometowns finding work often hardest thing people finding apartments worse delhi lacks highrise apartment buildings people find property owners rent apartments house landlords often pick tenants based biases professions religions ethnicities class160and even diets going see apartment delhi person looked us balcony refused open door said priya konsam banker based mumbai said wont rent people northeast indians different regions often recognizable facial characteristics people northeastern states suffer discrimination harassment delhi konsam also faced questions diet landlord asked eat meat asked kinds meat eat said according sarita bhardwaj broker delhi landlords also hesitant rent people indias northeast stricter laws discrimination law favors complain landlords afraid rent said kekuchina nsarangbe marketing consultant delhi also hails region told landlord rent pure vegetarians pure brahmins implication even eating eggs160or born to160a lower status the160highest hindu caste would permitted nsarangbe also faced discrimination single woman climbing stairs see fourthfloor apartment elderly couple first floor asked broker living alone said couple went ask broker nsarangbe would late would bring men apartment even landlords neighbors refused see apartment said anandita sharma lawyer based delhi also refused apartment rented families come across apartment posts ask tenants home 10 pm said last landlord allow boys go apartment men declared cousins sharma bears additional burden lawyer profession landlords frown upon expect lawyers litigious found great apartment broker found told say worked multinational company said sharma refused lie job broker told find another apartment convincing landlords rent lawyer would impossible raies ulhaq ahmad sikander refused apartments lawyer single man muslim kashmiri finalized apartment paid reservation fee landlady saw id suddenly withdrew consent sikander said insisted finding change heart said doesnt rent people kashmir brokers told say student instead lawyer still wouldnt rent srinagar kashmir said sikander questioned wanted live alone didnt friends live lived delhi years already another broker told sikander waste time many landlords wont rent muslims even show documents police verification local references people suspect single kashmiri man said see single muslims potential terrorists muslim families may shunned eat meat sikander found opposite true muslim landlords often rent nonmuslims suspect tenants would drink alcohol eat pork sikander said even turned away fellow kashmiri muslim single people think bachelors unstable undisciplined sikander160said one look one look party host strangers keep late hours found even neighbors shopkeepers keep tabs oppositesex visitors single men women one questions married man bhardwaj concurs four five landlords turn away single men disturb family atmosphere nowadays single women difference bhardwaj said drink party landlords avoid well kanika jha development professional delhi heard many anecdotes unmarried couples facing trouble looking apartments fiancé made clear every broker landlord jha would move married october told landlord happy share wedding card parents phone number want jha said overly cautious didnt want miss good apartments many apartment listings specify expats renting exclusively nonindian tenants broker inquired indian american would way could rent expatonly apartment interested said sharma bhardwaj explained landlords think foreign nationals reliable regular rent payments pay repair work home suffers lesser wear tend stay travel rent course higher expat apartments however foreigners viewed favor delhis rampant racism seeps apartment leasing well finalized apartment went meet landlady sign contract said apartment longer available said man west africa works international ngo delhi broker later told apartment available landlady hadnt realized black met one landlord shouted broker balcony bringing black moment got car another rejected man eats meat one landlord began lecturing expected told shouldnt bring women home shouldnt drink alcohol shouldnt host parties said lectured like kid threatened call police directly violated rules frustrating racist stereotypes fuel discrimination african nationals extreme discrimination caused formation black afghan neighborhoods delhi apartment options limited poor old houses rent people entire income dependent rent said bhardwaj nimisha jaiswal reported story delhi
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<p><a href="" type="internal" />MARCH 9, 2012</p>
<p>By DAVE ROBERTS</p>
<p>A food fight has broken out between a liberal Democratic assemblyman and a liberal Democratic San Francisco supervisor over the banning of food vending trucks near schools. It’s a battle of nanny government officials&#160;— with the collateral damage being the livelihoods of mostly minority business people and the appetites of kids who just want something tasty to eat.</p>
<p>Last month <a href="http://asmdc.org/members/a27/" type="external">Assemblyman Bill Monning</a>, D-Carmel, introduced <a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_1651-1700/ab_1678_bill_20120214_introduced.pdf" type="external">AB 1678</a>, which keeps food trucks at least 1,500 feet away from elementary and secondary school campuses from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. when school is in session. The bill’s argument states that food and beverages from the trucks “are calorie rich, nutrient poor, and contribute to negative health outcomes like being overweight and obesity.” The trucks should not be allowed to compete with school-provided breakfasts and lunches, “which are often more nutritious than meals brought from home or served elsewhere.”</p>
<p>In <a href="http://asmdc.org/members/a27/news-room/press-releases/item/3217-legislation-to-curb-mobile-food-vending-near-schools-is-introduced" type="external">a press release</a> Monning said, “All students deserve access to healthful food. The mobile vending of unhealthful snacks like ice cream, chips and sugar-sweetened beverages near school campuses undermines efforts to provide students with the nutrition they need. At a time when childhood obesity is at epidemic levels, we must ensure that our school environments foster student wellness.”</p>
<p>AB 1678 will likely go before the <a href="http://ahea.assembly.ca.gov/" type="external">Assembly Health Committee</a>, which Monning chairs, in late March or early April.</p>
<p>Normally such legislation would be wholeheartedly embraced by San Francisco politicians, who made national headlines in 2010 for <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/02/business/la-fi-happy-meals-20101103" type="external">banning McDonald’s Happy Meals</a>. But this week <a href="http://www.sfbos.org/index.aspx?page=11325" type="external">Supervisor Scott Wiener</a>, who became a minor sensation himself last year with legislation requiring nude San Franciscans to place a towel under themselves before sitting in public, introduced <a href="http://www.sfbos.org/ftp/uploadedfiles/bdsupvrs/bosagendas/materials/bag030612_120205.pdf" type="external">a resolution opposing AB 1678</a>.</p>
<p>The resolution points out that food trucks contribute to the diversity of San Francisco’s “thriving food scene,” and&#160;provide “a way for people without access to significant capital to enter the food industry,” particularly women and immigrants. It notes that in a densely populated city with numerous schools, the 1,500-foot ban, which is about three city blocks, “would dramatically reduce the locations available for food trucks,” placing some neighborhoods largely off-limits and result in a concentration of food trucks in a few areas like the downtown.</p>
<p>The resolution also points out that the 1,500-foot no-food-truck zone is 2½ times larger than the 600 feet that state law requires medical marijuana dispensaries to be away from schools.</p>
<p>“We should be making those decisions locally in San Francisco based on the needs of our urban, dense city,” said Wiener at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. “Sacramento should not be imposing a one-size-fits-all solution that applies equally in San Francisco, Orinda, Anaheim. Eighty to 90 percent of the city would be off limits to food trucks if AB 1678 were to pass. It’s critically important that San Francisco make clear that the current form of the legislation is not acceptable to us.”</p>
<p>Wiener decided to postpone consideration of his resolution to March 13, however, to allow time for school officials to weigh in. No school officials spoke at the meeting, but a number of food truck owners, most of whom have Hispanic or Asian accents, did. A woman, who owns what she called “an organic and sustainable food truck,” said, “We do give healthy options. AB 1678 unfairly points out that we are not helping the children and contribute to obesity. I don’t feel that that’s the case. San Francisco needs to be able to make its own choices. This bill does not fit what San Francisco needs.”</p>
<p>San Francisco already has a 1,500-foot no-food-truck zone around middle and high schools. AB 1678 would expand that to include elementary schools. Wiener said he is considering legislation to reduce the distance from high schools to about 500 feet or one city block. He also questions why middle schools should have a no-food-truck zone because they are all closed campuses.</p>
<p>Some compromise may be found. Wiener’s resolution, which calls for the state Legislature to reject AB 1678 or at least allow San Francisco and other cities to opt out, may be watered down before it comes back to the board. And Monning, who told the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/29/MNLF1NDH3E.DTL" type="external">San Francisco Chronicle</a>, “The goal here is not being food Nazis,” said he’s open to tweaking his proposal.</p>
<p>While the fate of AB 1678 has yet to be determined, the larger question is why food trucks, which charge for their food, are viewed as so much of a threat to school breakfasts and lunches, which are provided for free or at minimal cost. The reason is that for several years there has been an effort in California&#160;— and now nationwide, thanks to Michelle Obama and the nutrition elite&#160;— to force kids to eat “healthy” food, which doesn’t always mean tasty food.</p>
<p>Hot dogs and hamburgers on white buns, pizza with white dough and fatty cheese, baloney sandwiches on white bread, chicken nuggets, corn dogs and nachos&#160;— all washed down with chocolate milk&#160;— are either <a href="http://www.usda.gov/documents/cnr_chart.pdf" type="external">verboten or on the endangered food list</a>. Soft drinks and candy have, of course, been illegal on most campuses for years.</p>
<p>Instead the kids must make do with the likes of whole wheat pizza with low-fat cheese and low-sodium sauce, whole wheat spaghetti, whole grain fish nuggets, black bean burgers, jicama, broccoli, kiwi, cauliflower, green beans, carrots and tofu.</p>
<p>There was a student rebellion in Los Angeles schools last fall when jambalaya, vegetable curry, pad Thai, lentil and brown rice cutlets, and quinoa and black-eyed pea salads were introduced, according to a <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/17/local/la-me-food-lausd-20111218" type="external">Los Angeles Times article</a>. Participation in the school lunch program reportedly dropped by thousands of students and underground markets in chips, candy and fast-food burgers sprung up. The article said that as a result of the uprising, the menu was being revised, eliminating some of the more exotic fare and bringing back pizza and daily hamburgers.</p>
<p>The article was inaccurate and overblown, according to <a href="http://cafe-la.lausd.net/" type="external">Los Angeles Unified School District Food Services</a> Director Dennis Barrett. He acknowledged there were problems early in the fall getting delivery of meat dishes from the district’s food suppliers, resulting in a predominance of vegetarian offerings. The rollout of more exotic fare went through extensive testing and only those dishes receiving 75 percent approval from 30,000 tasters were approved.</p>
<p>“I have never had a year go by that a couple of times a year a group of student say ‘We want this,’” said Barrett in reference to fast-food type offerings. “We really try to work with kids and give them what they want. The number one thing we are working on now is staying with very healthy meals, that’s a direction we will maintain.”</p>
<p>Most kids, of course, prefer tasty food to healthy food. In addition to the common criticism that whole wheat pizza tends to taste like cardboard, there’s the problem that most school food is prepared in a factory, frozen, stored in a warehouse, shipped to the schools and then heated up to eat. No matter how well done, it’s bound to have less flavor and texture than fresh food made with fresh ingredients, even if it’s provided out of a truck.</p>
<p>So, unless they bring their own food from home, if AB 1678 passes, many students will be forced to eat food they don’t like in the school cafeteria, or buy from an underground candy/fast-food dealer, or walk the three blocks off campus (assuming they’re allowed to leave) in an attempt to find a food truck. If food trucks are banned from school zones, will fast-food restaurants be next?</p>
<p>None of which appears to be a concern of Michelle Obama, et al. Last month the federal government finalized <a href="http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Legislation/nutritionstandards.htm" type="external">new nutrition standards</a> starting in the 2012-2013 school year for nearly 32 million students. They require schools to serve more fruits and vegetables (including legumes, dark green and orange vegetables every week), switch to whole grains and limit the sodium and calories in each meal.</p>
<p>“As parents, we try to prepare decent meals, limit how much junk food our kids eat, and ensure they have a reasonably balanced diet,” said <a href="http://usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2012/01/0023.xml&amp;navid=NEWS_RELEASE&amp;navtype=RT&amp;parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&amp;edeployment_action=retrievecontent" type="external">Michelle Obama</a>. “And when we’re putting in all that effort the last thing we want is for our hard work to be undone each day in the school cafeteria. When we send our kids to school, we expect that they won’t be eating the kind of fatty, salty, sugary foods that we try to keep them from eating at home. We want the food they get at school to be the same kind of food we would serve at our own kitchen tables.”</p>
<p>But it’s likely that many students will not stomach the changes. When the requirements were being drafted, <a href="http://usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2012/01/0023.xml&amp;navid=NEWS_RELEASE&amp;navtype=RT&amp;parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&amp;edeployment_action=retrievecontent" type="external">430 people registered their opposition</a>, predicting the following:</p>
<p>* They would result in decreased participation in the meal programs because the food offered would not be acceptable to students. Decreased participation rates would lead to decreased revenues, which could lead some schools to stop offering meal service.</p>
<p>* They would result in increased plate waste because of increased portions and the proposed requirement that a reimbursable meal must include a fruit or a vegetable.</p>
<p>*&#160;Increased plate waste, increased produce requirements and increased whole grain requirements would result in increased costs for schools which would result in schools having to raise meal prices, which may impact participation rates.</p>
<p>Whether the nannies are in San Francisco, Sacramento or the White House, the governmental meddling in people’s lives&#160;— right down to what they put in their mouths&#160;— will continue to escalate. You might want to stock up on those Snickers bars before they go the way the way of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-out_of_incandescent_light_bulbs" type="external">incandescent lightbulb</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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march 9 2012 dave roberts food fight broken liberal democratic assemblyman liberal democratic san francisco supervisor banning food vending trucks near schools battle nanny government officials160 collateral damage livelihoods mostly minority business people appetites kids want something tasty eat last month assemblyman bill monning dcarmel introduced ab 1678 keeps food trucks least 1500 feet away elementary secondary school campuses 6 6 pm school session bills argument states food beverages trucks calorie rich nutrient poor contribute negative health outcomes like overweight obesity trucks allowed compete schoolprovided breakfasts lunches often nutritious meals brought home served elsewhere press release monning said students deserve access healthful food mobile vending unhealthful snacks like ice cream chips sugarsweetened beverages near school campuses undermines efforts provide students nutrition need time childhood obesity epidemic levels must ensure school environments foster student wellness ab 1678 likely go assembly health committee monning chairs late march early april normally legislation would wholeheartedly embraced san francisco politicians made national headlines 2010 banning mcdonalds happy meals week supervisor scott wiener became minor sensation last year legislation requiring nude san franciscans place towel sitting public introduced resolution opposing ab 1678 resolution points food trucks contribute diversity san franciscos thriving food scene and160provide way people without access significant capital enter food industry particularly women immigrants notes densely populated city numerous schools 1500foot ban three city blocks would dramatically reduce locations available food trucks placing neighborhoods largely offlimits result concentration food trucks areas like downtown resolution also points 1500foot nofoodtruck zone 2½ times larger 600 feet state law requires medical marijuana dispensaries away schools making decisions locally san francisco based needs urban dense city said wiener tuesdays board supervisors meeting sacramento imposing onesizefitsall solution applies equally san francisco orinda anaheim eighty 90 percent city would limits food trucks ab 1678 pass critically important san francisco make clear current form legislation acceptable us wiener decided postpone consideration resolution march 13 however allow time school officials weigh school officials spoke meeting number food truck owners hispanic asian accents woman owns called organic sustainable food truck said give healthy options ab 1678 unfairly points helping children contribute obesity dont feel thats case san francisco needs able make choices bill fit san francisco needs san francisco already 1500foot nofoodtruck zone around middle high schools ab 1678 would expand include elementary schools wiener said considering legislation reduce distance high schools 500 feet one city block also questions middle schools nofoodtruck zone closed campuses compromise may found wieners resolution calls state legislature reject ab 1678 least allow san francisco cities opt may watered comes back board monning told san francisco chronicle goal food nazis said hes open tweaking proposal fate ab 1678 yet determined larger question food trucks charge food viewed much threat school breakfasts lunches provided free minimal cost reason several years effort california160 nationwide thanks michelle obama nutrition elite160 force kids eat healthy food doesnt always mean tasty food hot dogs hamburgers white buns pizza white dough fatty cheese baloney sandwiches white bread chicken nuggets corn dogs nachos160 washed chocolate milk160 either verboten endangered food list soft drinks candy course illegal campuses years instead kids must make likes whole wheat pizza lowfat cheese lowsodium sauce whole wheat spaghetti whole grain fish nuggets black bean burgers jicama broccoli kiwi cauliflower green beans carrots tofu student rebellion los angeles schools last fall jambalaya vegetable curry pad thai lentil brown rice cutlets quinoa blackeyed pea salads introduced according los angeles times article participation school lunch program reportedly dropped thousands students underground markets chips candy fastfood burgers sprung article said result uprising menu revised eliminating exotic fare bringing back pizza daily hamburgers article inaccurate overblown according los angeles unified school district food services director dennis barrett acknowledged problems early fall getting delivery meat dishes districts food suppliers resulting predominance vegetarian offerings rollout exotic fare went extensive testing dishes receiving 75 percent approval 30000 tasters approved never year go couple times year group student say want said barrett reference fastfood type offerings really try work kids give want number one thing working staying healthy meals thats direction maintain kids course prefer tasty food healthy food addition common criticism whole wheat pizza tends taste like cardboard theres problem school food prepared factory frozen stored warehouse shipped schools heated eat matter well done bound less flavor texture fresh food made fresh ingredients even provided truck unless bring food home ab 1678 passes many students forced eat food dont like school cafeteria buy underground candyfastfood dealer walk three blocks campus assuming theyre allowed leave attempt find food truck food trucks banned school zones fastfood restaurants next none appears concern michelle obama et al last month federal government finalized new nutrition standards starting 20122013 school year nearly 32 million students require schools serve fruits vegetables including legumes dark green orange vegetables every week switch whole grains limit sodium calories meal parents try prepare decent meals limit much junk food kids eat ensure reasonably balanced diet said michelle obama putting effort last thing want hard work undone day school cafeteria send kids school expect wont eating kind fatty salty sugary foods try keep eating home want food get school kind food would serve kitchen tables likely many students stomach changes requirements drafted 430 people registered opposition predicting following would result decreased participation meal programs food offered would acceptable students decreased participation rates would lead decreased revenues could lead schools stop offering meal service would result increased plate waste increased portions proposed requirement reimbursable meal must include fruit vegetable 160increased plate waste increased produce requirements increased whole grain requirements would result increased costs schools would result schools raise meal prices may impact participation rates whether nannies san francisco sacramento white house governmental meddling peoples lives160 right put mouths160 continue escalate might want stock snickers bars go way way incandescent lightbulb 160
| 960 |
<p>GLASGOW, UK — Mairia Cahill was Irish republican royalty. Her great-uncle, Joe Cahill, was a moving spirit in the creation of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, the IRA, in 1969, just as British-ruled Northern Ireland was descending into violent chaos.</p>
<p>Mairia grew up in west Belfast, the part of Northern Ireland’s capital where Irish tricolor flags lined the streets, pro-IRA murals adorned the walls and her family name was a byword for staunch allegiance to republican Ireland during the three-decade-long “Troubles.”</p>
<p>But now Mairia Cahill is putting Sinn Fein, the IRA’s political wing, and its leadership firmly under the spotlight for another reason.</p>
<p>Earlier this month, the 33-year-old former Sinn Fein youth official broke a code of silence by going public with claims that a prominent IRA member raped her in 1997, when she was 16.</p>
<p>At the time, IRA paramilitaries conducted a secret inquiry into her account, acquitting her alleged attacker and warning her not to go to the police, Cahill told a <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-29613064" type="external">BBC documentary</a>.</p>
<p>She said the IRA repeatedly questioned her allegations for months before calling her to a meeting in 2000 with the man she accused.</p>
<p>Such IRA-led extrajudicial investigations were part of life in west Belfast during the Troubles. Nevertheless, the revelations have rocked Irish politics on both sides of the border, dealing a potentially serious blow to Sinn Fein’s ambitions to become the largest party in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.</p>
<p>Since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which brought the Troubles to an end, Sinn Fein has enjoyed a stellar rise, topping the polls in Northern Ireland during May’s European Parliament elections and winning huge gains south of the border. Recent polls also had the party ascending in the Republic of Ireland.</p>
<p>But now Sinn Fein and its leadership are struggling to answer questions about Cahill’s treatment and the failure to deal with sexual abuse within its ranks.</p>
<p>Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has denied her claim that she confronted him about her ordeal, but also said that in the past, the IRA has expelled and even shot suspected sex offenders in republican areas.</p>
<p>Political leaders in the Republic of Ireland have accused Adams — whose brother, Liam, was recently jailed for 16 years for raping his own daughter — of orchestrating a cover-up. The Irish parliament, the Dail, is due to debate the abuse allegations this week.</p>
<p>The controversy comes after another <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/united-kingdom/140501/northern-ireland-uk-gerry-adams-jean-mcconville-boston-college-tapes" type="external">scandal</a>earlier this year, when Gerry Adams was briefly arrested in connection with the 1972 murder of a woman wrongly suspected of informing on the Irish Republican Army.</p>
<p>The latest scandal is making waves partly because Sinn Fein is renowned for its party discipline thanks to the challenges of operating in what was effectively a war footing for almost 30 years.</p>
<p>By the late 1990s, when Cahill’s alleged abuse occurred, west Belfast was effectively a state within a state under the control of Sinn Fein and the IRA.</p>
<p>But now exercising such tight restraint on dissent is becoming a problem.</p>
<p>“The main threat to Irish republicanism in the age of the peace process has not come from the government,” says Paddy Hoey, a lecturer in media at Edge Hill University. “It has come from within the republican movement, from control and abuse and cover-up.”</p>
<p>How much Cahill’s allegations will hurt Sinn Fein politically is unclear. It remains the Republic of Ireland’s most popular party, according to <a href="" type="external">opinion polls</a> published last weekend.</p>
<p>Sinn Fein, which effectively controls half of the power-sharing government in Belfast, is widely expected to consolidate its position as the dominant nationalist party in Northern Ireland during next May’s general elections across the United Kingdom.</p>
<p>The biggest question now, says Mick Fealty, a Northern Irish political commentator, is how much the Cahill case will damage the party in the Republic of Ireland.</p>
<p>“This really caught Sinn Fein off guard,” he says. “It was a bit of a blow to the solar plexus.”</p>
<p>He believes Sinn Fein is lucky that the scandal hit when other groups in Irish politics are weak.</p>
<p>“Nobody can make them really pay for this,” he says. “In six months’ time, we may not even notice any effect from this.”</p>
<p>Unlike in Northern Ireland, politics in the Republic of Ireland have become remarkably fluid. Although the economy has started to pick up after the country’s banking crisis and collapse of the so-called Celtic Tiger, the recovery has been uneven. Anger at mainstream political parties has grown since the last general election in 2011.</p>
<p>Sinn Fein, historically a marginal force in Dublin politics, has capitalized on that mood, positioning itself as a party on the left opposed to costly bank bailouts, swinging cuts to public services, and plans to introduce water charges, which prompted tens of thousands onto Irish streets last weekend.</p>
<p>But even before the Cahill allegations broke, signs were showing that Irish voters may be looking beyond the republicans for political salvation.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/141031/ukraine-elections-parliament-reformers-monumental-tasks" type="external">This is what Ukraine’s new reformers are facing</a></p>
<p>Last month, Sinn Fein lost a local Dublin vote it was widely predicted to win to an anti-austerity socialist candidate. In another election on the same day, a little-liked independent took a rural seat expected to be won by Fianna Fail, the party that ruled Ireland for most of its post-independence history before being thrown out in 2011.</p>
<p>Fealty believes that may show that Sinn Fein’s rise isn’t Ireland’s most significant political development.</p>
<p>“It is the seeping away of support from [established] political parties full stop,” he says. “It’s exactly the scenario that [Irish poet WB] Yeats talked about in ‘The Second Coming’: ‘the center cannot hold.’”</p>
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glasgow uk mairia cahill irish republican royalty greatuncle joe cahill moving spirit creation provisional irish republican army ira 1969 britishruled northern ireland descending violent chaos mairia grew west belfast part northern irelands capital irish tricolor flags lined streets proira murals adorned walls family name byword staunch allegiance republican ireland threedecadelong troubles mairia cahill putting sinn fein iras political wing leadership firmly spotlight another reason earlier month 33yearold former sinn fein youth official broke code silence going public claims prominent ira member raped 1997 16 time ira paramilitaries conducted secret inquiry account acquitting alleged attacker warning go police cahill told bbc documentary said ira repeatedly questioned allegations months calling meeting 2000 man accused iraled extrajudicial investigations part life west belfast troubles nevertheless revelations rocked irish politics sides border dealing potentially serious blow sinn feins ambitions become largest party republic ireland northern ireland since 1998 good friday agreement brought troubles end sinn fein enjoyed stellar rise topping polls northern ireland mays european parliament elections winning huge gains south border recent polls also party ascending republic ireland sinn fein leadership struggling answer questions cahills treatment failure deal sexual abuse within ranks sinn fein leader gerry adams denied claim confronted ordeal also said past ira expelled even shot suspected sex offenders republican areas political leaders republic ireland accused adams whose brother liam recently jailed 16 years raping daughter orchestrating coverup irish parliament dail due debate abuse allegations week controversy comes another scandalearlier year gerry adams briefly arrested connection 1972 murder woman wrongly suspected informing irish republican army latest scandal making waves partly sinn fein renowned party discipline thanks challenges operating effectively war footing almost 30 years late 1990s cahills alleged abuse occurred west belfast effectively state within state control sinn fein ira exercising tight restraint dissent becoming problem main threat irish republicanism age peace process come government says paddy hoey lecturer media edge hill university come within republican movement control abuse coverup much cahills allegations hurt sinn fein politically unclear remains republic irelands popular party according opinion polls published last weekend sinn fein effectively controls half powersharing government belfast widely expected consolidate position dominant nationalist party northern ireland next mays general elections across united kingdom biggest question says mick fealty northern irish political commentator much cahill case damage party republic ireland really caught sinn fein guard says bit blow solar plexus believes sinn fein lucky scandal hit groups irish politics weak nobody make really pay says six months time may even notice effect unlike northern ireland politics republic ireland become remarkably fluid although economy started pick countrys banking crisis collapse socalled celtic tiger recovery uneven anger mainstream political parties grown since last general election 2011 sinn fein historically marginal force dublin politics capitalized mood positioning party left opposed costly bank bailouts swinging cuts public services plans introduce water charges prompted tens thousands onto irish streets last weekend even cahill allegations broke signs showing irish voters may looking beyond republicans political salvation globalpost ukraines new reformers facing last month sinn fein lost local dublin vote widely predicted win antiausterity socialist candidate another election day littleliked independent took rural seat expected fianna fail party ruled ireland postindependence history thrown 2011 fealty believes may show sinn feins rise isnt irelands significant political development seeping away support established political parties full stop says exactly scenario irish poet wb yeats talked second coming center hold
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<p>In early 2001, Associate Editor Debra Williams caught up with nine students who had their sights set on a college degree. They ranged from high school juniors to college sophomores. Recruited by Future Teachers of Chicago/Illinois, they agreed to share their experiences for two years. Though uncharted, their journeys wound up illuminating many of the challenges that minority students face in getting a college education. Although keeping track of them proved to be a challenge in and of itself, Williams is happy to report that all are still in school. She believes that all of them will make it. Ditto for her own son, Derrick Jr., a sophomore at Western Illinois University.</p>
<p>Adam Ramirez: Chance paid off</p>
<p>Hubbard High School graduate Adam Ramirez has almost achieved his goal of becoming a teacher. Once he has that degree in hand, he’ll be a hot commodity: a male Latino prepared for a field that is desperate to get more Latinos at the head of increasingly Latino classrooms.</p>
<p>In this era of strict standards, Adam is lucky to have gotten this far. In high school, he had poor grades and scored only 16 on the ACT college entrance exam, a score that generally is considered too low for college-level work. After rejections from several colleges, he finally was accepted by Roosevelt University under a special scholarship program for aspiring minority teachers. Even that program had to waive a key standard.</p>
<p>“Students should have a 3.25 GPA, which Adam didn’t have,” says Linda Pincham, who runs the Scholars Teach and Reach (STAR) program. “But Adam’s recommendations from his teachers were glowing, and they spoke so highly of him that we looked beyond those scores.”</p>
<p>Adam did not disappoint. Now in his senior year, he is an A student with a passion for teaching and helping young people. For the last two years, he has volunteered in classrooms at Pulaski Elementary in Logan Square.</p>
<p>“I almost don’t recognize him,” says his mother, Maria Ramirez. “I am so proud of him. He is doing so well in school.”</p>
<p>Pincham believes that because of the teacher shortage, universities need to take more chances on students like Adam. For example, she’d like to see Roosevelt ease the GPA required to maintain a STAR scholarship and support, which at 3.25 is higher than the 2.5 required for admission to Roosevelt’s College of Education. Since STAR was launched in 1999, it has lost 15 of 43 students because of low GPAs, she says.</p>
<p>A few of these students dropped out of school completely, some transferred to other institutions, and some remained at Roosevelt as education majors but with other financial aid, she says.</p>
<p>“I had one Hispanic male with a 2.8 GPA,” Pincham recalls. “But he was determined to teach. He worked with kids every day. He loved doing it. So he worked out some other financial aid package with the university. This young man was serious about teaching.”</p>
<p>But other students can’t get along without the STAR scholarship. “We need to step back and look at this [GPA requirement], especially since there is a teaching shortage,” she says.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Adam already is revising his lesson plans. Last summer he was one of 20 applicants out of 1,300 who were accepted for a summer leadership development program sponsored by the Civil Rights Projects at Harvard University. The lectures and discussions with civil rights leaders and government officials gave him a better understanding of how the government and country operate.</p>
<p>“I’ll probably teach the Constitution differently now,” he says. “I don’t want my kids to just memorize facts, but really understand the politics, the decision-making process, how it works, how it affects people. I want to be a civic-minded teacher.”</p>
<p>The experience also increased Adam’s appetite for more study. “When I get my undergrad degree, I think I’ll keep on going,” he says.</p>
<p>Angela Serrano: ‘Floating around’</p>
<p>Angela Serrano had big career dreams. She loved animals and wanted to become a veterinarian. But she started working toward that goal too late. Now, two years after graduating from Hubbard High School, she is trying to figure out what to do instead.</p>
<p>“I’m just floating around taking classes,” she says.</p>
<p>In high school, Angela did not fully explore career options and requirements and, therefore, did not take the kinds of courses or do the kind of work that would put her on track to veterinary school, which requires high grades, especially in math and science, for admission.</p>
<p>The first sign of trouble came when the University of Illinois at Chicago, the only college she applied to, rejected her application. Undeterred, Angela decided to enroll in Morton Community College in Cicero, bring up her grades and reapply to UIC. But even at Morton, she started out behind, with a remedial math class. Later, she failed her first college-level math course, which she plans to retake this fall.</p>
<p>“I think becoming a vet will be too much of challenge for me,” says Angela, who attends Morton part time. Joan Klaus, who oversees a Bank One program to help Chicago Public Schools students get into and succeed in college, says students should begin as early as 6th grade to set career goals and make plans to achieve them. That will put them in the “college mind set” and keep their options open, she explains. “Schools need to help kids do this,” Klaus adds. “There is an assumption that this is being done in the home. Well, the home is not doing it.”</p>
<p>In Angela’s case, home indeed was not doing it. Her mother, an immigrant from Mexico who didn’t graduate from high school, had put a damper on Angela’s college aspirations, telling her she didn’t have enough money or good enough grades. It was a co-worker at her job who rekindled Angela’s interest in college, but that was not until her senior year at Hubbard.</p>
<p>Klaus says students also need mentoring throughout their schooling. “Culturally, some kids don’t know how to ask for help. They are told not to ask questions,” says Klaus. “But it’s hard to find the right path if you don’t have adults to help along the way. We tell our kids all the time, ‘You have to raise your hand and ask; don’t wait until you sink.'”</p>
<p>Klaus could have been talking about Angela, who is shy and did not ask for help from counselors. High schools need to do a better job of preparing kids in math and science, Klaus adds. “Math and science are gateways, and there is a whole world that is ineligible to students if they are not strong in these areas.”</p>
<p>“If you want to become a vet, you have to have a passion for science and be strong in math,” says Mary Kelm, assistant dean for academic and student affairs at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. “After all, you are becoming a doctor.”</p>
<p>But students like Angela, who love animals but do not have strong academic backgrounds, can come close to their dreams by becoming certified veterinary technicians, she adds.</p>
<p>The job requires only a two-year associate’s degree. Duties include drawing blood, assisting in surgeries, overseeing an animal’s recovery and performing community outreach. Joliet Junior College and Parkland Community College in Champaign both offer the degree.</p>
<p>“And they are in high demand,” Kelm adds.</p>
<p>Informed of that option, Angela got excited. “Wow, that’s awesome,” she said. “I’m very interested in that. I’d heard about techs, but I thought you had to have math and science for that too. I didn’t know who to talk to about it. Now I’m going to look into it next semester.”</p>
<p>Ana Salinas: Last-minute reprieve</p>
<p>During her first three years at Loyola University, Ana Salinas saw her grades go down and up and down and up. For most of the summer, she feared they would go down again because of a new and lengthy commute to classes.</p>
<p>She and other upperclassmen living in dorms and campus housing were told they had to move to make room for a surge in freshman enrollment. Ana couldn’t find an apartment nearby and decided to move back home to Pilsen, which would put her on public transportation for up to three hours a day. That, plus a part-time job, would leave little time for studying.</p>
<p>Then, three days before classes began in August, university staff notified Ana that they had found her an apartment. She was elated. “I have my own space, my own desk for studying that I don’t have at home. I have access to a computer lab. If I need extra help, I’m closer to tutoring.”</p>
<p>Being on campus will keep her on track, says Ana, who is studying to become a teacher. One Loyola professor agrees. Commuter students lose not only time but also an important network of support, says Isiaah Crawford, chair of Loyola’s psychology department.</p>
<p>“Being connected to the campus allows students to share information, study habits and have access to information,” he explains. “Students learn from each other. They talk informally about professors’ styles, what classes they should be taking. They share coping skills. Commuter students, especially minority students, miss out on this, and this is very important.”</p>
<p>He adds that it is important for minority students in particular to be around others with a shared interest. When Ana graduated from Juarez High School, she thought college would be smooth sailing. She had gotten A’s and B’s, and her teachers told her she was an excellent student. But she didn’t feel like one her first year at Loyola. “I thought everyone was smarter than me,” she recalls. “I didn’t feel like I fit in.”</p>
<p>Ana quickly learned that, indeed, she was not as prepared as she had thought. So she worked harder, which brought her decent grades. But then she took a full-time job, and her grades took a plunge. So she cut back her hours, and last semester, she earned all A’s.</p>
<p>“Being on campus is the best thing for me” she says.</p>
<p>Brooke Ray: GPA from 4.0 to 2.8</p>
<p>Brooke Ray had a grade-point average of 4.0 when she graduated last year as valedictorian at Orr High School, a school on “intervention” for its low test scores.</p>
<p>Not surprisingly, the prestigious University of Southern California in Los Angeles proved to be a bit of a shock. As a freshman there, Brooke found herself in a situation that’s not uncommon for star students from poorly performing high schools.</p>
<p>Struggling with a demanding curriculum, she finished her first year with a GPA, 2.8, that is respectable but short of what she was accustomed to.</p>
<p>“Students were much more advanced and more prepared than I was,” she says. “They were used to taking notes, had read a lot more books, had great writing skills and were more familiar with computer technology. In high school, most of the time my homework was easy enough to complete at school. However, when I studied at home, I probably put in 8 to 10 hours a week. At USC, I study 24 / 7.”</p>
<p>Writing was one of Brooke’s toughest challenges. She had to do many more papers, and the papers had to be research-based, something that Orr had not taught.</p>
<p>A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education in 1999 found that the quality of the high school curriculum—not test scores, class rank or grade-point average—is the most important factor in determining whether a student gets through college successfully.</p>
<p>“When bright students who have done well in these kinds of high schools get to college, it is a shock,” says Sandra Blau, executive director of the George M. Pullman Foundation. “That’s the idea behind college bridge programs, to prepare kids for college and show them what is expected.”</p>
<p>Pullman piloted such a program in 1993 at Fenger High School, another poorly performing Chicago school. The program, which no longer exists, offered guidance and optional tutoring. Like Brooke, many of the participating students were accepted into college but struggled once they got there.</p>
<p>“The way these students made it was through tutoring or by acknowledging ‘Wow, I’m really behind. I have to work a lot harder,'”says Blau, who is convinced that “the best way to help kids make it through college is to create better high schools.”</p>
<p>So far, Brooke has not been shy about seeking help.</p>
<p>“Most of my classes required a lot of reading, and writing 12- to 15-page papers,” she relates. “When I didn’t understand something I read, I went to my professors or to the TA [teaching assistant]. When I needed help with a paper, I went to the writing center.”</p>
<p>Brooke, who plans to major in international business, and her mother, Jean Ray, are finding college financially demanding as well. Brooke’s first year at USC cost $36,000, and Ray is still paying off $10,000 of that. Brooke also took out a $3,500 loan this year and is working part time to help out. In retrospect, Brooke wishes she had been more aggressive looking for scholarships; she says she will be during this school year.</p>
<p>Still, Brooke returned to USC in August with ambitious goals for her sophomore year. Without hesitation, she says, “I’m going to be more involved in activities, meet more people, and although I expect harder work, I’m also expecting to make a 4.0 this year and get my GPA back up.”</p>
<p>She pauses and laughs, “I also expect to have plenty of debt.”</p>
<p>Lekena Figueroa-Forman: Dropping teaching</p>
<p>For the past three years, Lekena Figueroa-Forman has been attending Northeastern Illinois University in the hopes of becoming a teacher. Last month, she decided to switch to business. Slow to evolve, her decision was based on time and money.</p>
<p>First, as a bank teller, Lekena learned she could make more money in business. “I see what new teachers make, and they don’t get paid enough,” she says. “The ones that make the money are old and gray. But young business people are depositing good money.”</p>
<p>Despite this discovery last year, Lekena had planned to stick with teaching. At the time, she was working at a bank that had late hours, which would have allowed her to student teach during the day. But then she took a higher-paying job at another bank, one that does not stay open late.</p>
<p>“Student teaching [involves] being in a classroom during the day,” Lekena notes. “I’m getting financial aid for school, but I have rent, a car, car insurance and other bills to pay. I have to have a full-time job.”</p>
<p>“We’ve heard this problem since forever, especially from adults returning to school,” says Patricia Walsh, acting dean of the College of Education. “Still, student teaching is full time. That’s how it is structured, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”</p>
<p>“We know it’s difficult,” she adds, “but I’m always amazed what students do so they can student teach.”Stockpiling money, taking out loans, working in the evening and living with parents to reduce expenses are among the creative solutions.</p>
<p>Student teaching was not imminent for Lekena, who had not yet applied.</p>
<p>In late August, she was still straddling the fence. “If I get a teaching degree, I can come out of school and be guaranteed a job,” she reasoned. “But if I study business, the business world is kind of shaky after September 11, and I may not be able to find a job. I don’t know what I want to do.”</p>
<p>She acknowledged she could move back home if she “had to.” She left because of “family problems.”But then she calculated that she could graduate sooner if she switched majors. At her current pace of accumulating required credits, she couldn’t get a teaching degree until 2005, but she could get a business degree in the spring of 2004. (Lekena had dropped a number of courses to avoid failing them.) By mid-September, Lekena had made up her mind and scheduled a meeting to talk with a counselor in the College of Business.</p>
<p>“I’m tired of going to school,” she explains. “I talked to my advisor, and she told me that if business is what I wanted to do, then that’s what I should do. I like what I’m doing now [working at the bank]. Teaching is still an option, but not something I’ll do right now.”</p>
<p>James Snowden: Living his dream</p>
<p>As a freshman at Chicago Vocational Career Academy, James Snowden was determined to go to college. Not just any college. A very good college. He studied hard, earned good grades and participated in clubs and sports to build leadership skills and position himself for athletic scholarships.</p>
<p>His determination paid off: In May, a month before he graduated as valedictorian, James won a four-year, need-based grant that will cover almost 70 percent of his tuition at the University of Chicago, one of the nation’s most prestigious institutions. The grant, $18,500 a year, came from the university itself, which charges $27,324 a year in tuition.</p>
<p>With the addition of federal and state grants, a federal loan, work-study funds and a scholarship from the George M. Pullman Foundation, James amassed $35,870 to cover total annual costs of $39,454. Even so, the $3,584 difference will be a challenge for him and his mother to raise.</p>
<p>Most of James’ financial aid is renewable all four years. To fill the gap in the future, he will seek additional scholarships and take out more loans if necessary, he says.</p>
<p>With his finances largely under control, James shifted his sights to academics, learning quickly that despite a stellar high school record, he is starting out behind.</p>
<p>James was among nine incoming freshmen invited to participate this summer in U of C’s Chicago Academic Achievement Program (CAAP), a special program just for Chicago students. The instructors didn’t mince words about what students had to do, he says. “One instructor told us, ‘You guys are behind, but that can be cured. It can be worked on. You can make it, and that’s what we’re here to help you do,'” James relates.</p>
<p>The six-week program ran eight hours a day, five days a week. It included readings and discussions that mirrored the undergraduate curriculum, lectures on special topics and sessions on basics such as using the university library and computer system. Students were also given paying jobs on campus.</p>
<p>“It’s not a mandatory program, but we tell students, ‘If you are about to attend U of C, this program will help smooth the transition,'” says Andre Phillips, an associate director in admissions.</p>
<p>The students studied humanities, math, chemistry and physics, and attended a special lecture on biochemistry. There was substantial reading; James got seven books the first day and says he read “about 16 or 17” during the six weeks.</p>
<p>Like many new college students, James had the toughest time with writing. “I thought I had my writing down, but I found out I didn’t,” says James. “I have good ideas, but my writing was vague, and I had problems with organization. When I showed my friends my papers, full of corrections, they were also surprised and told me, ‘But we thought you were a good writer.'”</p>
<p>“I know I’m coming from a public school to one of the best schools in the country,” he says. “It will be a challenge, and I’m a little nervous. But I know I’m going to have to really, really work—and other than that, I try not to think about it too much. It would kill me.”</p>
<p>Vernon Payne: Trying again</p>
<p>Vernon Payne was a so-so student at Morgan Park High School. “[He] just didn’t take his work seriously,” according to one former teacher. However, when he began studying art at Columbia College last fall, he vowed to buckle down and do better.</p>
<p>He didn’t follow through. With a poor attendance record, Vernon had to drop courses to keep from failing them. (Columbia College policy allows students three absences due to illness or another emergency; after the third absence, a student earns a failing grade.)</p>
<p>“The first semester, I felt I was focused. But the second semester, I didn’t make the commitment to get there,” Vernon admits. “I work, and I found it hard to get to class. I knew I wasn’t doing well, so I dropped my classes. I’m a little disappointed in my first year.”</p>
<p>With its new demands for setting priorities and managing time, freshman year typically is the toughest for college students, experts say. As an open-admissions school, Columbia College gets students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including some “who didn’t do so well in high school [and] need to be academically challenged,” notes Mark Kelly, acting vice president of student affairs.</p>
<p>Three years ago, Columbia, which focuses on media and the arts, opened a Freshman Center to help students with academics and the tasks that can seem overwhelming to new students, like filling out paperwork, choosing classes and managing a schedule. It also helps them overcome a transition hurdle that appears to be unique to performing-arts students, says center director Timothy Gordon.</p>
<p>“Many of our kids are leaving environments that say, ‘Hey, painting or drawing is not really a career,'” says Gordon. “We may be the place where, for the first time, they are told that their careers are serious business, and we have different expectations here. We tell them, ‘This is a professional environment. You have to get to class. You have to turn in assignments.'”</p>
<p>“We think the center is having an impact,” says Kelly. Last year, 85 percent of freshmen sought help from it, he notes, and the freshman retention rate rose to 83 percent, up three percentage points from 1999.</p>
<p>“We expect our graduation rate to rise to 30 or 40 percent over the next six years,” he adds. The average for the past six years has been 27 percent.</p>
<p>“We ask students to see us twice a semester,” says Bob Blinn, Vernon’s advisor. “Vernon has been in once or twice this year. There are tons of things we can do to stop a student from failing. We talk to teachers. We can get a student a note-taker. We get tutors. The problem is, students don’t come in. They find other things to do.”</p>
<p>Vernon acknowledges he could have done more, and again, he is vowing to make school his top priority. “I’m going to go to school full time,” he says. “I’m going to quit my job. My mom says she’ll take care of school for me financially. This time, I want to get good grades and stay focused.”</p>
<p>Dannielle Dungey: To teach or not to teach</p>
<p>Dannielle Dungey has been riding an emotional roller coaster at Northern Illinois University. In her first year, her biggest problem was feeling isolated on a mostly white campus. In her second year, she found a new group of friends in her dorm and developed an active social life.</p>
<p>Now in her third year, Dannielle is questioning her goal of becoming a high school history teacher.</p>
<p>“If I could have done things differently, I would not go into education,” says Dannielle, a history and political science major who is now interested in the law. “In high school [Hazel Crest High], I really didn’t look at a broader area of career choices. I wish I had done more research on other careers.”</p>
<p>Despite her misgivings, Dannielle is still on the teaching track, largely because of the teaching obligations that came with scholarships. The Golden Apple Foundation, which gave her $5,000, requires five years of teaching in Illinois; the Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Program, which gave her $2,500, requires one.</p>
<p>“I feel like I’m stuck in this profession now,” says Dannielle. “If I change my major, the money that I got turns into loans, something I’ve been trying to avoid. And, I’m almost there, so I’m going to teach. Still, more than half of history majors at my school are going into law.”</p>
<p>It’s the prospect of higher pay elsewhere that turned Dannielle’s head. “I talked to friends from high school who were saying that when they come out of school, they’d start off making $50,000 because of the careers they’d chosen,” she says. “One was going to be a pharmacist, and others were business majors. I thought, my grades are good, and I’m smart, and they’ll be making more than me.”</p>
<p>The average starting salary for teachers is $28,986, according to the American Federation of Teachers. That’s slightly higher than starting salaries in hotel and restaurant management ($26,255), advertising ($26,667), the humanities ($27,017) and architectural design ($28,156) but less than starting salaries in business administration ($33,790), civil engineering ($36,160), computer science ($44,345) and pharmacy ($59,276), according to data published by the trade publication Employment Review.</p>
<p>“We may be losing teachers before they even get into schools,” laments Debby Pope, communications director for the Chicago Teachers Union. “And we [already] have a teacher shortage, which didn’t come out of thin air. It developed out of how teachers have been treated professionally and financially.”</p>
<p>Margee Myles, the director of advisement services at Northern, says it’s not unusual for education majors to switch career choices.</p>
<p>“We find that sometimes teaching is not a student’s first choice, but a fallback choice. They’ll have a job when the graduate. They’ll have summers off. It will be a piece of cake,” she explains. “Then they find out, especially if they’d done some student teaching, that it’s not a piece of cake. You have to prepare for the next day. You grade papers at night. It’s hard work.”</p>
<p>Dannielle’s current game plan is to start her professional life as a teacher and then move into law or at least up the education ladder.</p>
<p>“I’m still going to teach because I’d planned to do this,” she says. “But once I get into it, I’m not going to stay in the classroom. I see myself moving into administration. Staying in a classroom until I retire, that’s unrealistic for me.”</p>
<p>However, Myles says that if Dannielle “really feels strongly about it, she shouldn’t pursue teaching. It’s better to make the change now than after a student finishes school. Yes, it’s hard. Students may have to pay back loans, but they get through it.”</p>
<p>Aaron Price: College a breeze</p>
<p>After cruising through his first year at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Kenwood High School graduate Aaron Price was set to be inducted this September into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.</p>
<p>“I was really pleased with myself, ” says Aaron, who ended the year with a grade-point average of 3.41. “The work wasn’t that hard, and I went in feeling pretty confident.”</p>
<p>Aaron’s achievements show the difference that preparation makes in college success. At Kenwood, his teachers pushed him academically, and counselors helped him research careers, choose and apply to schools and find financial aid.</p>
<p>He notes that his high school math teachers, for example, tutored him after school and gave him plenty of one-on-one help. He began college as a math major, but switched to business, with a concentration in accounting. “I still get to work with numbers, but business and accounting are more profitable,” he says with a chuckle.</p>
<p>Aaron also had supportive parents, both college-educated, who expected him to go on to college and guided him through the entire process. His mother, Pamela Price, put in long hours to find $65,000 in scholarships to help cover the cost of tuition, room and board for four years, a total of about $83,500. For the coming year, Aaron is adding another United Negro College Fund scholarship and $3,000 from South Shore Bank.</p>
<p>Without all that help and encouragement, Aaron says, “I wouldn’t have made it so far. Because of what people did for me, I hope to be successful so that I can give back and do for others.”</p>
<p>Aaron’s greatest challenge last year was social: He had to adjust to his roommate. “We had our differences,” he says. “He was a party animal. I’m quiet.”</p>
<p>This school year, Aaron plans to broaden his horizons. As a freshman, he stayed away from extracurricular activities to focus on schoolwork, but this year he plans to become active in student government and pledge Omega Psi Phi, his father’s fraternity.</p>
<p>Over the summer, Aaron worked as an assistant manager for food operations at the Atlanta Zoo, where he picked up a valuable lesson. “I learned I need a college degree. I realized I would not look forward to doing what I did over the summer as a career. The experience will make me work even harder. I can’t wait to go back to school.”</p>
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early 2001 associate editor debra williams caught nine students sights set college degree ranged high school juniors college sophomores recruited future teachers chicagoillinois agreed share experiences two years though uncharted journeys wound illuminating many challenges minority students face getting college education although keeping track proved challenge williams happy report still school believes make ditto son derrick jr sophomore western illinois university adam ramirez chance paid hubbard high school graduate adam ramirez almost achieved goal becoming teacher degree hand hell hot commodity male latino prepared field desperate get latinos head increasingly latino classrooms era strict standards adam lucky gotten far high school poor grades scored 16 act college entrance exam score generally considered low collegelevel work rejections several colleges finally accepted roosevelt university special scholarship program aspiring minority teachers even program waive key standard students 325 gpa adam didnt says linda pincham runs scholars teach reach star program adams recommendations teachers glowing spoke highly looked beyond scores adam disappoint senior year student passion teaching helping young people last two years volunteered classrooms pulaski elementary logan square almost dont recognize says mother maria ramirez proud well school pincham believes teacher shortage universities need take chances students like adam example shed like see roosevelt ease gpa required maintain star scholarship support 325 higher 25 required admission roosevelts college education since star launched 1999 lost 15 43 students low gpas says students dropped school completely transferred institutions remained roosevelt education majors financial aid says one hispanic male 28 gpa pincham recalls determined teach worked kids every day loved worked financial aid package university young man serious teaching students cant get along without star scholarship need step back look gpa requirement especially since teaching shortage says meanwhile adam already revising lesson plans last summer one 20 applicants 1300 accepted summer leadership development program sponsored civil rights projects harvard university lectures discussions civil rights leaders government officials gave better understanding government country operate ill probably teach constitution differently says dont want kids memorize facts really understand politics decisionmaking process works affects people want civicminded teacher experience also increased adams appetite study get undergrad degree think ill keep going says angela serrano floating around angela serrano big career dreams loved animals wanted become veterinarian started working toward goal late two years graduating hubbard high school trying figure instead im floating around taking classes says high school angela fully explore career options requirements therefore take kinds courses kind work would put track veterinary school requires high grades especially math science admission first sign trouble came university illinois chicago college applied rejected application undeterred angela decided enroll morton community college cicero bring grades reapply uic even morton started behind remedial math class later failed first collegelevel math course plans retake fall think becoming vet much challenge says angela attends morton part time joan klaus oversees bank one program help chicago public schools students get succeed college says students begin early 6th grade set career goals make plans achieve put college mind set keep options open explains schools need help kids klaus adds assumption done home well home angelas case home indeed mother immigrant mexico didnt graduate high school put damper angelas college aspirations telling didnt enough money good enough grades coworker job rekindled angelas interest college senior year hubbard klaus says students also need mentoring throughout schooling culturally kids dont know ask help told ask questions says klaus hard find right path dont adults help along way tell kids time raise hand ask dont wait sink klaus could talking angela shy ask help counselors high schools need better job preparing kids math science klaus adds math science gateways whole world ineligible students strong areas want become vet passion science strong math says mary kelm assistant dean academic student affairs university illinois college veterinary medicine becoming doctor students like angela love animals strong academic backgrounds come close dreams becoming certified veterinary technicians adds job requires twoyear associates degree duties include drawing blood assisting surgeries overseeing animals recovery performing community outreach joliet junior college parkland community college champaign offer degree high demand kelm adds informed option angela got excited wow thats awesome said im interested id heard techs thought math science didnt know talk im going look next semester ana salinas lastminute reprieve first three years loyola university ana salinas saw grades go summer feared would go new lengthy commute classes upperclassmen living dorms campus housing told move make room surge freshman enrollment ana couldnt find apartment nearby decided move back home pilsen would put public transportation three hours day plus parttime job would leave little time studying three days classes began august university staff notified ana found apartment elated space desk studying dont home access computer lab need extra help im closer tutoring campus keep track says ana studying become teacher one loyola professor agrees commuter students lose time also important network support says isiaah crawford chair loyolas psychology department connected campus allows students share information study habits access information explains students learn talk informally professors styles classes taking share coping skills commuter students especially minority students miss important adds important minority students particular around others shared interest ana graduated juarez high school thought college would smooth sailing gotten bs teachers told excellent student didnt feel like one first year loyola thought everyone smarter recalls didnt feel like fit ana quickly learned indeed prepared thought worked harder brought decent grades took fulltime job grades took plunge cut back hours last semester earned campus best thing says brooke ray gpa 40 28 brooke ray gradepoint average 40 graduated last year valedictorian orr high school school intervention low test scores surprisingly prestigious university southern california los angeles proved bit shock freshman brooke found situation thats uncommon star students poorly performing high schools struggling demanding curriculum finished first year gpa 28 respectable short accustomed students much advanced prepared says used taking notes read lot books great writing skills familiar computer technology high school time homework easy enough complete school however studied home probably put 8 10 hours week usc study 24 7 writing one brookes toughest challenges many papers papers researchbased something orr taught study conducted us department education 1999 found quality high school curriculumnot test scores class rank gradepoint averageis important factor determining whether student gets college successfully bright students done well kinds high schools get college shock says sandra blau executive director george pullman foundation thats idea behind college bridge programs prepare kids college show expected pullman piloted program 1993 fenger high school another poorly performing chicago school program longer exists offered guidance optional tutoring like brooke many participating students accepted college struggled got way students made tutoring acknowledging wow im really behind work lot hardersays blau convinced best way help kids make college create better high schools far brooke shy seeking help classes required lot reading writing 12 15page papers relates didnt understand something read went professors ta teaching assistant needed help paper went writing center brooke plans major international business mother jean ray finding college financially demanding well brookes first year usc cost 36000 ray still paying 10000 brooke also took 3500 loan year working part time help retrospect brooke wishes aggressive looking scholarships says school year still brooke returned usc august ambitious goals sophomore year without hesitation says im going involved activities meet people although expect harder work im also expecting make 40 year get gpa back pauses laughs also expect plenty debt lekena figueroaforman dropping teaching past three years lekena figueroaforman attending northeastern illinois university hopes becoming teacher last month decided switch business slow evolve decision based time money first bank teller lekena learned could make money business see new teachers make dont get paid enough says ones make money old gray young business people depositing good money despite discovery last year lekena planned stick teaching time working bank late hours would allowed student teach day took higherpaying job another bank one stay open late student teaching involves classroom day lekena notes im getting financial aid school rent car car insurance bills pay fulltime job weve heard problem since forever especially adults returning school says patricia walsh acting dean college education still student teaching full time thats structured theres nothing know difficult adds im always amazed students student teachstockpiling money taking loans working evening living parents reduce expenses among creative solutions student teaching imminent lekena yet applied late august still straddling fence get teaching degree come school guaranteed job reasoned study business business world kind shaky september 11 may able find job dont know want acknowledged could move back home left family problemsbut calculated could graduate sooner switched majors current pace accumulating required credits couldnt get teaching degree 2005 could get business degree spring 2004 lekena dropped number courses avoid failing midseptember lekena made mind scheduled meeting talk counselor college business im tired going school explains talked advisor told business wanted thats like im working bank teaching still option something ill right james snowden living dream freshman chicago vocational career academy james snowden determined go college college good college studied hard earned good grades participated clubs sports build leadership skills position athletic scholarships determination paid may month graduated valedictorian james fouryear needbased grant cover almost 70 percent tuition university chicago one nations prestigious institutions grant 18500 year came university charges 27324 year tuition addition federal state grants federal loan workstudy funds scholarship george pullman foundation james amassed 35870 cover total annual costs 39454 even 3584 difference challenge mother raise james financial aid renewable four years fill gap future seek additional scholarships take loans necessary says finances largely control james shifted sights academics learning quickly despite stellar high school record starting behind james among nine incoming freshmen invited participate summer u cs chicago academic achievement program caap special program chicago students instructors didnt mince words students says one instructor told us guys behind cured worked make thats help james relates sixweek program ran eight hours day five days week included readings discussions mirrored undergraduate curriculum lectures special topics sessions basics using university library computer system students also given paying jobs campus mandatory program tell students attend u c program help smooth transition says andre phillips associate director admissions students studied humanities math chemistry physics attended special lecture biochemistry substantial reading james got seven books first day says read 16 17 six weeks like many new college students james toughest time writing thought writing found didnt says james good ideas writing vague problems organization showed friends papers full corrections also surprised told thought good writer know im coming public school one best schools country says challenge im little nervous know im going really really workand try think much would kill vernon payne trying vernon payne soso student morgan park high school didnt take work seriously according one former teacher however began studying art columbia college last fall vowed buckle better didnt follow poor attendance record vernon drop courses keep failing columbia college policy allows students three absences due illness another emergency third absence student earns failing grade first semester felt focused second semester didnt make commitment get vernon admits work found hard get class knew wasnt well dropped classes im little disappointed first year new demands setting priorities managing time freshman year typically toughest college students experts say openadmissions school columbia college gets students wide range academic backgrounds including didnt well high school need academically challenged notes mark kelly acting vice president student affairs three years ago columbia focuses media arts opened freshman center help students academics tasks seem overwhelming new students like filling paperwork choosing classes managing schedule also helps overcome transition hurdle appears unique performingarts students says center director timothy gordon many kids leaving environments say hey painting drawing really career says gordon may place first time told careers serious business different expectations tell professional environment get class turn assignments think center impact says kelly last year 85 percent freshmen sought help notes freshman retention rate rose 83 percent three percentage points 1999 expect graduation rate rise 30 40 percent next six years adds average past six years 27 percent ask students see us twice semester says bob blinn vernons advisor vernon twice year tons things stop student failing talk teachers get student notetaker get tutors problem students dont come find things vernon acknowledges could done vowing make school top priority im going go school full time says im going quit job mom says shell take care school financially time want get good grades stay focused dannielle dungey teach teach dannielle dungey riding emotional roller coaster northern illinois university first year biggest problem feeling isolated mostly white campus second year found new group friends dorm developed active social life third year dannielle questioning goal becoming high school history teacher could done things differently would go education says dannielle history political science major interested law high school hazel crest high really didnt look broader area career choices wish done research careers despite misgivings dannielle still teaching track largely teaching obligations came scholarships golden apple foundation gave 5000 requires five years teaching illinois minority teachers illinois scholarship program gave 2500 requires one feel like im stuck profession says dannielle change major money got turns loans something ive trying avoid im almost im going teach still half history majors school going law prospect higher pay elsewhere turned dannielles head talked friends high school saying come school theyd start making 50000 careers theyd chosen says one going pharmacist others business majors thought grades good im smart theyll making average starting salary teachers 28986 according american federation teachers thats slightly higher starting salaries hotel restaurant management 26255 advertising 26667 humanities 27017 architectural design 28156 less starting salaries business administration 33790 civil engineering 36160 computer science 44345 pharmacy 59276 according data published trade publication employment review may losing teachers even get schools laments debby pope communications director chicago teachers union already teacher shortage didnt come thin air developed teachers treated professionally financially margee myles director advisement services northern says unusual education majors switch career choices find sometimes teaching students first choice fallback choice theyll job graduate theyll summers piece cake explains find especially theyd done student teaching piece cake prepare next day grade papers night hard work dannielles current game plan start professional life teacher move law least education ladder im still going teach id planned says get im going stay classroom see moving administration staying classroom retire thats unrealistic however myles says dannielle really feels strongly shouldnt pursue teaching better make change student finishes school yes hard students may pay back loans get aaron price college breeze cruising first year morehouse college atlanta kenwood high school graduate aaron price set inducted september national society collegiate scholars really pleased says aaron ended year gradepoint average 341 work wasnt hard went feeling pretty confident aarons achievements show difference preparation makes college success kenwood teachers pushed academically counselors helped research careers choose apply schools find financial aid notes high school math teachers example tutored school gave plenty oneonone help began college math major switched business concentration accounting still get work numbers business accounting profitable says chuckle aaron also supportive parents collegeeducated expected go college guided entire process mother pamela price put long hours find 65000 scholarships help cover cost tuition room board four years total 83500 coming year aaron adding another united negro college fund scholarship 3000 south shore bank without help encouragement aaron says wouldnt made far people hope successful give back others aarons greatest challenge last year social adjust roommate differences says party animal im quiet school year aaron plans broaden horizons freshman stayed away extracurricular activities focus schoolwork year plans become active student government pledge omega psi phi fathers fraternity summer aaron worked assistant manager food operations atlanta zoo picked valuable lesson learned need college degree realized would look forward summer career experience make work even harder cant wait go back school
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<p>This year’s trial admissions process for selective enrollment and magnet schools did not spur dramatic shifts in their racial makeup, but CEO Ron Huberman admitted there’s room for improvement, with some of the city’s best schools struggling to hold onto their black student population.&#160;</p>
<p>“We have lost some ground,” said Huberman at a press briefing on Tuesday. In addition to announcing preliminary results from the admissions process, he announced a blue-ribbon committee of parent activists, lawmakers and lawyers to review what happened under the policy this year and make recommendations about possible improvement.</p>
<p />
<p>This year’s trial admissions process for selective enrollment and magnet schools did not spur dramatic shifts in their racial makeup, but CEO Ron Huberman admitted there’s room for improvement, with some of the city’s best schools struggling to hold onto their black student population.&#160;</p>
<p>“We have lost some ground,” said Huberman at a press briefing on Tuesday. In addition to announcing preliminary results from the admissions process, he announced a blue-ribbon committee of parent activists, lawmakers and lawyers to review what happened under the policy this year and make recommendations about possible improvement.</p>
<p>Public forums on the process will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on July 27, Aug. 3 and Aug. 10. Locations have not yet been determined.</p>
<p>Huberman noted that actual enrollment could be different from the acceptance figures presented Tuesday. For example, Latino students appear to be accepting more spots at King and Lindblom, two selective high schools in predominantly black neighborhoods.</p>
<p>“We will have to see who walks in the door on the first day, but I have doubts about the Hispanic students,” Huberman says.</p>
<p>Another big unknown is the level of bus service that the district will provide to elementary magnet, gifted and classical schools. Currently, children living between 1.5 to 6 miles get free busing. But the district is grappling with a $370 million deficit and may have to do away with, or limit, this busing. Huberman said he won’t commit to anything until the district publishes a budget in early August.</p>
<p>He also stressed that the admissions policy is a work in progress. After a federal judge released CPS from a 20-year-old desegregation consent decree last September, the district was forced into a tricky position: Maintaining racial diversity without considering race in school admissions.</p>
<p>The district spent more than $1 million on consultants who devised a process using the socioeconomic status of families—determined by the census tract where they live—as a factor in admissions. Factors that determine a census tract’s socioeconomic status include income levels, the number of two-parent families and the percent of the population speaking a language other than English.</p>
<p>The result was a complicated process in which 40 percent of seats in selective enrollment elementary schools and high schools were awarded to students based on test scores and 40 percent of seats in magnet schools were doled out to students living within 1.5 miles of the school. Also, entering kindergarteners who had siblings in magnet schools automatically got a seat.</p>
<p>The rest of the seats were divided up by socioeconomic tier.&#160;</p>
<p>Using this process, Huberman became concerned that some of the selective enrollment high schools would lose African American population. In March, he added 25 seats to four selective schools, reserved them for the best students from the worst schools (the vast majority of which are black) and gave these schools $250,000 each to provide support for the additional students.&#160;</p>
<p>As a result, Jones, Whitney Young and Walter Payton accepted enough black students to remain on par with previous years. Northside Prep might even admit a few more.</p>
<p>But Huberman admits that these students will need a lot of supports to do well and that some of them may not actually show up on the first day.</p>
<p>Other interesting points revealed by the data:</p>
<p>Students in socioeconomic tier 4—the most well-off—are over-represented, making up almost 40 percent of students projected to enroll at selective enrollment and magnet high schools and elementary schools. This was also the case in 2009, when CPS was still using a race-based admissions system.</p>
<p>As many predicted, white students captured a bigger share of the seats in magnet elementary schools. They now make up 21 percent of students in such schools as LaSalle Language Academy, Drummond and Hawthorne Scholastic. Some of this can be attributed to the set-asides for students who live nearby and for siblings, since many of the higher-performing magnet schools are located in predominantly white, North Side neighborhoods.</p>
<p>There was an up-tick in the number of Latino students projected to enroll in selective enrollment high schools, gifted and classical elementary schools and magnet schools. Huberman notes that the number of Latino students in CPS is growing, while the number of black students is decreasing.</p>
<p>The Asian student population dropped among all those admitted to the different types of schools. CPS General Counsel Patrick Rocks noted that under the consent decree, Asian students were considered minorities and their enrollment was not capped, as it was for white students. Now, mixed with all other groups of students, there’s been some attrition in the numbers.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/34610420/Changes-in-Magnet-and-Selective-Schools" type="external">Changes in Magnet and Selective School Enrollment</a></p>
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years trial admissions process selective enrollment magnet schools spur dramatic shifts racial makeup ceo ron huberman admitted theres room improvement citys best schools struggling hold onto black student population160 lost ground said huberman press briefing tuesday addition announcing preliminary results admissions process announced blueribbon committee parent activists lawmakers lawyers review happened policy year make recommendations possible improvement years trial admissions process selective enrollment magnet schools spur dramatic shifts racial makeup ceo ron huberman admitted theres room improvement citys best schools struggling hold onto black student population160 lost ground said huberman press briefing tuesday addition announcing preliminary results admissions process announced blueribbon committee parent activists lawmakers lawyers review happened policy year make recommendations possible improvement public forums process held 7 pm 9 pm july 27 aug 3 aug 10 locations yet determined huberman noted actual enrollment could different acceptance figures presented tuesday example latino students appear accepting spots king lindblom two selective high schools predominantly black neighborhoods see walks door first day doubts hispanic students huberman says another big unknown level bus service district provide elementary magnet gifted classical schools currently children living 15 6 miles get free busing district grappling 370 million deficit may away limit busing huberman said wont commit anything district publishes budget early august also stressed admissions policy work progress federal judge released cps 20yearold desegregation consent decree last september district forced tricky position maintaining racial diversity without considering race school admissions district spent 1 million consultants devised process using socioeconomic status familiesdetermined census tract liveas factor admissions factors determine census tracts socioeconomic status include income levels number twoparent families percent population speaking language english result complicated process 40 percent seats selective enrollment elementary schools high schools awarded students based test scores 40 percent seats magnet schools doled students living within 15 miles school also entering kindergarteners siblings magnet schools automatically got seat rest seats divided socioeconomic tier160 using process huberman became concerned selective enrollment high schools would lose african american population march added 25 seats four selective schools reserved best students worst schools vast majority black gave schools 250000 provide support additional students160 result jones whitney young walter payton accepted enough black students remain par previous years northside prep might even admit huberman admits students need lot supports well may actually show first day interesting points revealed data students socioeconomic tier 4the welloffare overrepresented making almost 40 percent students projected enroll selective enrollment magnet high schools elementary schools also case 2009 cps still using racebased admissions system many predicted white students captured bigger share seats magnet elementary schools make 21 percent students schools lasalle language academy drummond hawthorne scholastic attributed setasides students live nearby siblings since many higherperforming magnet schools located predominantly white north side neighborhoods uptick number latino students projected enroll selective enrollment high schools gifted classical elementary schools magnet schools huberman notes number latino students cps growing number black students decreasing asian student population dropped among admitted different types schools cps general counsel patrick rocks noted consent decree asian students considered minorities enrollment capped white students mixed groups students theres attrition numbers changes magnet selective school enrollment
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<p>By Robert Marus Associated Baptist Press</p>
<p>A Feb. 8 news conference in Washington signaled the start of what could become a showdown over global warming between two groups of evangelical Christian leaders.</p>
<p>At stake are the hearts and minds of evangelical Americans and the politicians who listen to them-not to mention the future of the planet.</p>
<p>At the press briefing, a broad coalition of conservative, centrist and progressive evangelicals announced a campaign to raise awareness about the issue of climate change in the evangelical community. The campaign's leaders also say they intend to pressure government leaders to take steps to arrest or reverse global warming by cutting down on the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.</p>
<p>Scientists agree that increasing levels of carbon dioxide and other so-called “greenhouse gases” can create an effect that traps heat in the earth's atmosphere, gradually building up average air and ocean temperatures.</p>
<p>The group, which includes megachurch pastor and Purpose-Driven Life author Rick Warren and 85 other evangelical leaders, released a statement called “Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action” at the press event.</p>
<p>“For most of us, until recently this has not been treated as a pressing issue or major priority,” the statement read. “Indeed, many of us have required considerable convincing before becoming persuaded that climate change is a real problem and that it ought to matter to us as Christians. But now we have seen and heard enough to offer the following moral argument related to the matter of human-induced climate change.”</p>
<p>The statement asserts that: 1. global warming is real; 2. it will likely produce effects-such as droughts, rising sea levels and more intense tropical storms-that will hurt the poor most; 3. Christian theology demands a response; and 4. a response is needed urgently.</p>
<p>“This statement is groundbreaking; it lays a foundation in our community for building a consensus on the need for action in addressing global warming,” said Jim Ball, a Baptist who is director of the Washington-based Evangelical Environmental Network. EEN brought the leaders together.</p>
<p>“There is a theological and moral set of motives behind the signatories,” said Duane Litfin, president of Wheaton College and a signer of the statement. “As we see the unfolding effects of the degradation of our environment, the ones who will be impacted the most egregiously … are those people-those nations-who are most vulnerable.”</p>
<p>Many meteorologists and other earth scientists have theorized that increasing global air and water temperatures could lead to more extreme weather events-such as larger hurricanes, more severe droughts and more intense heat waves. Several statement supporters cited Christians' biblical mandate to defend the poor and powerless.</p>
<p>“Recently we have not only seen a significant increase in the numbers of people who are caught in the midst of the storms of life's disasters-such as homelessness, hunger and poverty-but we have seen in recent years a significant increase in the numbers of people who are caught in the storms of natural disaster,” said statement signer Todd Bassett, national commander for the Salvation Army. “My involvement in this campaign … is because of my belief that our Lord looks upon the needy with love and compassion.”</p>
<p>Among the signers are several Baptist college presidents-including David Dockery of Union University in Tennessee, David Black of Eastern University in Pennsylvania, Douglas Hodo of Houston Baptist University, and Lee Royce of Mississippi College.</p>
<p>But consensus doesn't exist on the issue for another group of evangelicals. Just a week before the EEN announcement, the National Association of Evangelicals said it would not be taking a stand on the issue of global warming, disappointing many Christian environmentalists.</p>
<p>In 2004, leaders of the NAE approved a statement asserting that Christians have “a sacred responsibility to steward the Earth and not a license to abuse the creation of which we are a part.” NAE, an umbrella group for evangelical denominations and congregations, claims 30 million members.</p>
<p>In January the group's president, Ted Haggard, received a letter from a group of politically connected evangelical luminaries urging NAE not to take a position on global warming. The 22 signatories of that letter included Focus on the Family head James Dobson, Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship, conservative Presbyterian televangelist James Kennedy and Republican activist and Religious Right author David Barton.</p>
<p>The letter said that Christians “disagree about the cause, severity and solutions to the global warming issue” and asked NAE not to go beyond its previous statements by taking a position on climate change.</p>
<p>“Global warming is not a consensus issue, and our love for the Creator and respect for his creation does not require us to take a position,” the letter said. “We are evangelicals and we care about God's creation. However, we believe there should be room for Bible-believing evangelicals to disagree about the cause, severity and solutions to the global warming issue.”</p>
<p>Land debated EEN's Ball on CNN the day after the press conference. Land said there is not a consensus among Southern Baptists that global warming is real, and scientists differ as well.</p>
<p>Calvin Beisner of Knox Theological Seminary, who helped organize the NAE's opposition, challenged the assumptions behind the EEN statement. He said that, while virtually every earth scientist agrees that average temperatures have increased somewhat in recent years, not all are agreed that human carbon-dioxide emissions are the cause, that global warming will have catastrophic effects, or that cutting CO2 emissions would even be able to reverse the temperature trends-or do more harm than good.</p>
<p>Beisner-a professor of social ethics at the conservative Presbyterian seminary in Florida-cited a handful of scientists who are skeptical about the prevailing wisdom in the scientific community on global warming. Critics in the scientific community have called these scientists outliers, noting that many of the studies discounting global warming's existence and effects were either funded by oil-related industries or that they came from scientific bodies closely associated with fossil-fuel producers.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, Beisner said, enough doubts exist that supporting drastic measures to curb global warming could do more economic harm than good-thus hurting the poor.</p>
<p>“Part of the actual regime for reducing [greenhouse-gas] emissions is putting additional taxes on the consumption of energy-[namely], making it more expensive to use,” Beisner said. “When you do that, you are going to increase costs.”</p>
<p>Since the poor spend virtually all their income on basics-food, shelter, transportation-the prices of which are dependent on energy costs, Beisner said, “If we increase basic costs to them, we can put millions of them over the brink.”</p>
<p>However, the statement from the Evangelical Environmental Network called for legislation to reduce emissions “through cost-effective, market-based mechanisms.” In 2005, the Senate passed a bipartisan-but non-binding-resolution calling for such efforts.</p>
<p>Beisner said another potential economic cost associated with combating climate change is the government or private funding allocated to paying for the anti-warming measures themselves. “The money we spend on that cannot be spent on other efforts to help the poor,” he noted.</p>
<p>But one Christian expert on renewable energy sources said those economic arguments ring hollow. “This is probably the single biggest fallacy of renewable energy,” Peter van Walsum, an environmental studies professor at Baylor University, told Associated Baptist Press. “The best way to preserve energy is efficiency. And efficiency is not an economic cost; it's an economic benefit.”</p>
<p>Because a fossil fuel-based economy will not be viable in the future-since oil and natural gas are finite resources-van Walsum said, conserving fossil fuels and using renewable energy sources will also end up helping poor people in the long run.</p>
<p>“You're basically taking money that you would have spent on one sector of the economy and spending it on another, and you're getting benefits,” he said.</p>
<p>For example, the money spent on infrastructure for constructing solar energy plants or wind-energy plants would provide short-term economic gain. And maintenance of the plants would provide long-term jobs.</p>
<p>Relying on such resources would also reduce costs, domestically, associated with dependency on fossil fuels. “The amount of money we spend on importing oil is huge,” van Walsum noted. “The economic argument [against combating climate change], I think, is heavily lobbied by the fossil-fuel industry.”</p>
<p>He cited a theological reason for conserving fossil fuels. “Waste, to me, is a sin. Why do we take a resource that has been given to us and just squander it?” van Walsum asked. “There's plenty of biblical warnings about being good stewards, and to waste we are being bad stewards.”</p>
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robert marus associated baptist press feb 8 news conference washington signaled start could become showdown global warming two groups evangelical christian leaders stake hearts minds evangelical americans politicians listen themnot mention future planet press briefing broad coalition conservative centrist progressive evangelicals announced campaign raise awareness issue climate change evangelical community campaigns leaders also say intend pressure government leaders take steps arrest reverse global warming cutting emission carbon dioxide atmosphere scientists agree increasing levels carbon dioxide socalled greenhouse gases create effect traps heat earths atmosphere gradually building average air ocean temperatures group includes megachurch pastor purposedriven life author rick warren 85 evangelical leaders released statement called climate change evangelical call action press event us recently treated pressing issue major priority statement read indeed many us required considerable convincing becoming persuaded climate change real problem ought matter us christians seen heard enough offer following moral argument related matter humaninduced climate change statement asserts 1 global warming real 2 likely produce effectssuch droughts rising sea levels intense tropical stormsthat hurt poor 3 christian theology demands response 4 response needed urgently statement groundbreaking lays foundation community building consensus need action addressing global warming said jim ball baptist director washingtonbased evangelical environmental network een brought leaders together theological moral set motives behind signatories said duane litfin president wheaton college signer statement see unfolding effects degradation environment ones impacted egregiously peoplethose nationswho vulnerable many meteorologists earth scientists theorized increasing global air water temperatures could lead extreme weather eventssuch larger hurricanes severe droughts intense heat waves several statement supporters cited christians biblical mandate defend poor powerless recently seen significant increase numbers people caught midst storms lifes disasterssuch homelessness hunger povertybut seen recent years significant increase numbers people caught storms natural disaster said statement signer todd bassett national commander salvation army involvement campaign belief lord looks upon needy love compassion among signers several baptist college presidentsincluding david dockery union university tennessee david black eastern university pennsylvania douglas hodo houston baptist university lee royce mississippi college consensus doesnt exist issue another group evangelicals week een announcement national association evangelicals said would taking stand issue global warming disappointing many christian environmentalists 2004 leaders nae approved statement asserting christians sacred responsibility steward earth license abuse creation part nae umbrella group evangelical denominations congregations claims 30 million members january groups president ted haggard received letter group politically connected evangelical luminaries urging nae take position global warming 22 signatories letter included focus family head james dobson richard land southern baptist convention chuck colson prison fellowship conservative presbyterian televangelist james kennedy republican activist religious right author david barton letter said christians disagree cause severity solutions global warming issue asked nae go beyond previous statements taking position climate change global warming consensus issue love creator respect creation require us take position letter said evangelicals care gods creation however believe room biblebelieving evangelicals disagree cause severity solutions global warming issue land debated eens ball cnn day press conference land said consensus among southern baptists global warming real scientists differ well calvin beisner knox theological seminary helped organize naes opposition challenged assumptions behind een statement said virtually every earth scientist agrees average temperatures increased somewhat recent years agreed human carbondioxide emissions cause global warming catastrophic effects cutting co2 emissions would even able reverse temperature trendsor harm good beisnera professor social ethics conservative presbyterian seminary floridacited handful scientists skeptical prevailing wisdom scientific community global warming critics scientific community called scientists outliers noting many studies discounting global warmings existence effects either funded oilrelated industries came scientific bodies closely associated fossilfuel producers nonetheless beisner said enough doubts exist supporting drastic measures curb global warming could economic harm goodthus hurting poor part actual regime reducing greenhousegas emissions putting additional taxes consumption energynamely making expensive use beisner said going increase costs since poor spend virtually income basicsfood shelter transportationthe prices dependent energy costs beisner said increase basic costs put millions brink however statement evangelical environmental network called legislation reduce emissions costeffective marketbased mechanisms 2005 senate passed bipartisanbut nonbindingresolution calling efforts beisner said another potential economic cost associated combating climate change government private funding allocated paying antiwarming measures money spend spent efforts help poor noted one christian expert renewable energy sources said economic arguments ring hollow probably single biggest fallacy renewable energy peter van walsum environmental studies professor baylor university told associated baptist press best way preserve energy efficiency efficiency economic cost economic benefit fossil fuelbased economy viable futuresince oil natural gas finite resourcesvan walsum said conserving fossil fuels using renewable energy sources also end helping poor people long run youre basically taking money would spent one sector economy spending another youre getting benefits said example money spent infrastructure constructing solar energy plants windenergy plants would provide shortterm economic gain maintenance plants would provide longterm jobs relying resources would also reduce costs domestically associated dependency fossil fuels amount money spend importing oil huge van walsum noted economic argument combating climate change think heavily lobbied fossilfuel industry cited theological reason conserving fossil fuels waste sin take resource given us squander van walsum asked theres plenty biblical warnings good stewards waste bad stewards
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<p>The Sulabh International Toilet Museum is located in a quiet courtyard in a neighborhood far from the heart of India’s capital city, New Delhi. It may seem like an unusual place for what may be the world’s only toilet museum. After all, millions of Indians still lack access to toilets and basic sanitary facilities.</p>
<p>But if you can find your way to the museum, you’ll meet a man eager to make your trip worth it.</p>
<p>“Madam you’re welcome to the Museum of Toilets!” says Azaz Qamar, the museum’s assistant curator.</p>
<p>The museum is small, with just one long room inside a low-slung concrete building. But it is filled with exhibits that have, not surprisingly a touch of bathroom humor.</p>
<p>Qamar shows me a Japanese toy that teaches children about toilet training.</p>
<p>“They made a piggy bank, so coin will be deposited in the bank,” he explains. Once the coin is deposited, the toy makes flushing sound. That way, “children will never forget to flush,” Qamar says.</p>
<p>Across the room there is a full-size replica from the court of the French King, Louis XIII. Qamar tells me that it was both the King’s throne and his toilet. He lifts the base of the seat, revealing the commode underneath.</p>
<p>“He never hesitated to relieve himself while giving audience,” he says. “Actually he was just trying to manage his time. So instead of laughing we should appreciate it.”</p>
<p>Then there is an exhibit on the oldest example anywhere of large-scale urban sanitation. There are a series of pictures showing the remains of the Indus Valley civilization, which existed in the Indian subcontinent some 4,500 years ago. The pictures are from archaeological sites northwest of New Delhi in parts of what are now India and Pakistan.</p>
<p>This ancient civilization had brick-commodes in every home. And the commodes were connected to a network of drains so sophisticated that they could rival those in many modern Indian cities. But that technology now exists only in history books and places like this museum.</p>
<p>“Still in India, more than 600,000 people go outside for defecation,” says Bindeshwar Pathak, the man who started Sulabh International, the organization that runs the museum.</p>
<p>That means nearly half of India’s population does not have access to modern toilet facilities. And changing that is the not-so-subtle mission behind this museum. It’s part of Sulabh’s decades-long effort to improve access to sanitation in the country.</p>
<p>Pathak says India’s sanitation problems stem in part from religion. He says ancient Hindu texts instructed people not to defecate near their homes.</p>
<p>“Now from 5,000 years, Indians have been told not to have the toilet inside the house,” he says. “And now we say, please have the toilet inside the house. So there’s a gap of culture.”</p>
<p>But culture isn’t the only culprit. Millions of Indians simply can’t afford toilets. And those who can often can’t connect them to sewers, because most Indian cities don’t have them.</p>
<p>Even in many households with toilets, human waste is therefore cleaned manually and dumped into open drains and garbage dumps. That means big problems for the environment and public health, from polluted waterways to widespread diseases like tuberculosis.</p>
<p>It also comes with a big social cost. For instance, the people who do the work of cleaning human waste from homes are ostracized.</p>
<p>Nitu Goyar, a young mother from the western state of Rajasthan, says that until a few years ago, she cleaned other people’s toilets for a living.</p>
<p>“When I moved in with my in-laws after marriage, they told me their family had done this work for generations,” Goyar says. “I was told I had no choice but to do it as well.”</p>
<p>She says she sometimes had to walk for miles carrying a bucket of human waste on her head. And when it rained during the monsoons the stuff would often drip down on her. The thunder and monsoon downpour that blew through during my visit to the museum was a stark reminder of that kind of hardship.</p>
<p>Sulabh International was started 40 years ago mainly to help people like Goyar. Founder Bindeshwar Pathak figured that more and better toilets and sanitation systems would help liberate millions of untouchables. It would also help solve pollution and water supply problems at the same time.</p>
<p>Today, along with the historical curiosities inside the toilet museum the courtyard outside displays working examples of modern technologies.</p>
<p>There is a brightly painted public toilet complex hooked up to a small waste-water treatment system, and a biogas generator, which turns human waste into energy and fertilizer.</p>
<p>There are also some of Sulabh’s own inventions.</p>
<p>Resident environmental scientist Ram Chandra Jha shows off one of the designs just outside the museum’s door. “These are the models of toilets invented by Sulabh international,” he says.</p>
<p>It looks much like a standard Indian squatting toilet. But the pan below slopes downward. Jha says that it helps conserve water.</p>
<p>“Due to the slope, gravity works here,” he says. “So when we pour water in this, very little water is required, just two litres of water is sufficient for flushing here.” That is compared to the 12 liters used by most toilets.</p>
<p>But the real ingenuity of the design is in what happens below. The waste goes into two semi-porous pits, where the liquid and gases can escape. The remaining solid waste decomposes in just a year and a half, says Jha.</p>
<p>“And after decomposition, there is no smell in that and that is pathogen free almost. And because that contains, nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, so that’s a good manure also.”</p>
<p>Jha says Sulabh has installed more than a million of these toilets across India, including thousands of public toilets, which were once hard to find in this country.</p>
<p>Sulabh also runs two education and training centers where former toilet cleaners, like Nitu Goyar are learning new skills needed for other, less degrading work. India still has a long way to go to solve its massive sanitation problems.</p>
<p>But Bindeshwar Pathak says Sulabh’s work, and this toilet museum have helped start a national sanitation movement, and helped ease the old taboo against even talking about toilets.</p>
<p>“Now they talk about Sulabh toilets while having food,” says Pathak. “Maybe sometime jokingly also, they say, okay I went to Sulabh.”</p>
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sulabh international toilet museum located quiet courtyard neighborhood far heart indias capital city new delhi may seem like unusual place may worlds toilet museum millions indians still lack access toilets basic sanitary facilities find way museum youll meet man eager make trip worth madam youre welcome museum toilets says azaz qamar museums assistant curator museum small one long room inside lowslung concrete building filled exhibits surprisingly touch bathroom humor qamar shows japanese toy teaches children toilet training made piggy bank coin deposited bank explains coin deposited toy makes flushing sound way children never forget flush qamar says across room fullsize replica court french king louis xiii qamar tells kings throne toilet lifts base seat revealing commode underneath never hesitated relieve giving audience says actually trying manage time instead laughing appreciate exhibit oldest example anywhere largescale urban sanitation series pictures showing remains indus valley civilization existed indian subcontinent 4500 years ago pictures archaeological sites northwest new delhi parts india pakistan ancient civilization brickcommodes every home commodes connected network drains sophisticated could rival many modern indian cities technology exists history books places like museum still india 600000 people go outside defecation says bindeshwar pathak man started sulabh international organization runs museum means nearly half indias population access modern toilet facilities changing notsosubtle mission behind museum part sulabhs decadeslong effort improve access sanitation country pathak says indias sanitation problems stem part religion says ancient hindu texts instructed people defecate near homes 5000 years indians told toilet inside house says say please toilet inside house theres gap culture culture isnt culprit millions indians simply cant afford toilets often cant connect sewers indian cities dont even many households toilets human waste therefore cleaned manually dumped open drains garbage dumps means big problems environment public health polluted waterways widespread diseases like tuberculosis also comes big social cost instance people work cleaning human waste homes ostracized nitu goyar young mother western state rajasthan says years ago cleaned peoples toilets living moved inlaws marriage told family done work generations goyar says told choice well says sometimes walk miles carrying bucket human waste head rained monsoons stuff would often drip thunder monsoon downpour blew visit museum stark reminder kind hardship sulabh international started 40 years ago mainly help people like goyar founder bindeshwar pathak figured better toilets sanitation systems would help liberate millions untouchables would also help solve pollution water supply problems time today along historical curiosities inside toilet museum courtyard outside displays working examples modern technologies brightly painted public toilet complex hooked small wastewater treatment system biogas generator turns human waste energy fertilizer also sulabhs inventions resident environmental scientist ram chandra jha shows one designs outside museums door models toilets invented sulabh international says looks much like standard indian squatting toilet pan slopes downward jha says helps conserve water due slope gravity works says pour water little water required two litres water sufficient flushing compared 12 liters used toilets real ingenuity design happens waste goes two semiporous pits liquid gases escape remaining solid waste decomposes year half says jha decomposition smell pathogen free almost contains nitrogen phosphate potassium thats good manure also jha says sulabh installed million toilets across india including thousands public toilets hard find country sulabh also runs two education training centers former toilet cleaners like nitu goyar learning new skills needed less degrading work india still long way go solve massive sanitation problems bindeshwar pathak says sulabhs work toilet museum helped start national sanitation movement helped ease old taboo even talking toilets talk sulabh toilets food says pathak maybe sometime jokingly also say okay went sulabh
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<p>Intipucá is a small town in southeastern El Salvador that lies&#160;close to a beach popular with surfers. But&#160;the reason most outsiders know about this place&#160;has nothing to do with tourism. Intipucá is famous for the people who have left.</p>
<p>An estimated 5,000 Intipucá locals now live in and around Washington, DC.&#160;The mayor, Enrique Méndez, gave me his version of why people started leaving the town en masse for the US.</p>
<p />
<p>The statue of Sigfredo Chávez in Intipucá’s migrant’s park</p>
<p>Ruxandra Guidi</p>
<p>The mayor’s story isn’t quite right. The migration began in the late 1960s, at least 15 years before El Salvador descended into civil war.&#160;And when he says Sigfredo Chávez was the town’s first migrant, several people in his office start to disagree.</p>
<p>It turns out that the story of Intipucá’s first migrant is part reality, part gossip&#160;and part legend.</p>
<p>One person who claims to know the real&#160;story is Oscar Romero, Sigfredo Chávez’s nephew.&#160;Early on a weekday morning, before he heads out to work, Romero meets me in front of the monument erected in his uncle’s honor in Intipucá’s main plaza.</p>
<p>Looking up at the clay statue of man with a backpack slung over his shoulder, Romero is clearly filled with pride.&#160;</p>
<p>“It’s the first monument to emigrants in the world!” he says. “Nowhere else did people have the idea to praise their first migrant. So my uncle now is an international symbol!”</p>
<p>Chávez is definitely something of a folk hero&#160;in Intipucá.&#160;“He’s fit and athletic,” Romero says, pointing to the statue. “You see his character traits on his face: Confident, driven. He’s headed north, in the direction of the airport.”</p>
<p>Chávez came from a landowning family that hit some hard times after El Salvador’s agrarian reform. According to the story, his mother, an ambitious woman, pushed him to go the US to improve the family’s fortunes. Romero says his&#160;uncle left town in 1968 with a tourist visa;&#160;the first migrant from Intipucá didn’t cross the US-Mexico border illegally on foot, like so many others&#160;after him.&#160;</p>
<p>He went to Washington, DC, and&#160;his stories started filtering back a few months later. You could make a good living doing dishes and cleaning homes, he&#160;said.</p>
<p>Many locals started to follow, and within a few&#160;years, Washington became&#160;the top destination for Intipucá natives. Some people in the town say about 300 people were leaving for the US every day, though that’s clearly an exaggeration.</p>
<p />
<p>A poster&#160;in Intipucá’s cultural center celebrates the 45th anniversary since the first migrant left town for the US</p>
<p>Ruxandra Guidi</p>
<p>No matter the numbers,&#160;remittances from Washington began to flow back to Intipucá. They eventually&#160;paid for a school, a stadium&#160;and a cultural center,&#160;so having a connection to the first migrant means bragging rights here.</p>
<p>“It’s like an award. It’s like saying I win the prize because my family was the first to migrate,” says Jaqueline Portillo, director of Intipucá’s cultural center and the guardian of many of the local families’ artifacts, documents&#160;and photos. Inside her locked desk drawer are Chávez’s old passports, his divorce papers&#160;and family photos.</p>
<p>So it's no wonder&#160;Chávez's&#160;family isn’t the only one to claim the number-one spot.</p>
<p>čeština: <a href="http://cs.globalvoicesonline.org/2015/05/4368" type="external">Salvadorské město, ve kterém jsou migranti považováni za hrdiny</a></p>
<p>Malagasy: <a href="http://mg.globalvoicesonline.org/2015/05/13/70065/" type="external">Salvador: Iadian-kevitra Hatrany ny hoe Iza ao an-Tanàna no Mpifindra Monina Voalohany</a></p>
<p>Español: <a href="http://es.globalvoicesonline.org/2015/05/19/la-ciudad-salvadorena-donde-los-emigrantes-son-heroes-populares-muy-discutidos/" type="external">La ciudad salvadoreña donde los emigrantes son héroes populares muy discutidos</a></p>
<p />
<p>Alfredito Arias&#160;insists he was the first to leave, in 1967, but he won’t consent to an interview. He says he’s done trying to make his case to strangers.</p>
<p>“The Chávez family kept better documentation than Alfredito Arias,” Portillo says, “so there’s simply more weight to the story of Chávez being the first migrant.”</p>
<p>Chávez died in 2006, so he can’t tell his own story. But his widow,&#160;Elba Salinas,&#160;is still alive&#160;in the US. Her nephew, Hugo Salinas, says she should be credited as the first migrant — Chávez wouldn’t have left for the US if it hadn't been for her.</p>
<p>“He left with Elba!” Salinas insists. “Elba told me so!”</p>
<p>Salinas is collecting the details of his aunt’s story, and those of many other Intipucá migrants as well. He and Jaqueline Portillo are planning a big event for the 50th anniversary of migration in Intipucá, which is coming up in 2018.</p>
<p>“I want to create a positive image of my town, because no one was collecting these personal stories,” Salinas says. “Stories like the one of Mr. Martin Lazo, who would lend you a suit to get on a flight&#160;because you had to dress nicely back then. Or the story of ‘Travel Today, Pay Later,'&#160;which would give you a loan so you could pay for your US visa.”</p>
<p />
<p>Intipucá’s town center. Remittance money has flowed in, but the population has flowed out.</p>
<p>Ruxandra Guidi</p>
<p>Salinas is worried these stories about immigration and Intipucá will be forgotten in the next few generations. Today, an estimated half of the town’s population is living in US. The streets are largely empty. Even Sigredo Chavez’s home is abandoned, another monument to a town that celebrates its own exodus. &#160;</p>
<p>Ruxandra's story was produced in association with <a href="http://www.roundearthmedia.org/" type="external">Round Earth Media</a>.&#160;Jimmy Alvarado of El Faro contributed to the reporting.</p>
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intipucá small town southeastern el salvador lies160close beach popular surfers but160the reason outsiders know place160has nothing tourism intipucá famous people left estimated 5000 intipucá locals live around washington dc160the mayor enrique méndez gave version people started leaving town en masse us statue sigfredo chávez intipucás migrants park ruxandra guidi mayors story isnt quite right migration began late 1960s least 15 years el salvador descended civil war160and says sigfredo chávez towns first migrant several people office start disagree turns story intipucás first migrant part reality part gossip160and part legend one person claims know real160story oscar romero sigfredo chávezs nephew160early weekday morning heads work romero meets front monument erected uncles honor intipucás main plaza looking clay statue man backpack slung shoulder romero clearly filled pride160 first monument emigrants world says nowhere else people idea praise first migrant uncle international symbol chávez definitely something folk hero160in intipucá160hes fit athletic romero says pointing statue see character traits face confident driven hes headed north direction airport chávez came landowning family hit hard times el salvadors agrarian reform according story mother ambitious woman pushed go us improve familys fortunes romero says his160uncle left town 1968 tourist visa160the first migrant intipucá didnt cross usmexico border illegally foot like many others160after him160 went washington dc and160his stories started filtering back months later could make good living dishes cleaning homes he160said many locals started follow within few160years washington became160the top destination intipucá natives people town say 300 people leaving us every day though thats clearly exaggeration poster160in intipucás cultural center celebrates 45th anniversary since first migrant left town us ruxandra guidi matter numbers160remittances washington began flow back intipucá eventually160paid school stadium160and cultural center160so connection first migrant means bragging rights like award like saying win prize family first migrate says jaqueline portillo director intipucás cultural center guardian many local families artifacts documents160and photos inside locked desk drawer chávezs old passports divorce papers160and family photos wonder160chávezs160family isnt one claim numberone spot čeština salvadorské město kterém jsou migranti považováni za hrdiny malagasy salvador iadiankevitra hatrany ny hoe iza ao antanàna mpifindra monina voalohany español la ciudad salvadoreña donde los emigrantes son héroes populares muy discutidos alfredito arias160insists first leave 1967 wont consent interview says hes done trying make case strangers chávez family kept better documentation alfredito arias portillo says theres simply weight story chávez first migrant chávez died 2006 cant tell story widow160elba salinas160is still alive160in us nephew hugo salinas says credited first migrant chávez wouldnt left us hadnt left elba salinas insists elba told salinas collecting details aunts story many intipucá migrants well jaqueline portillo planning big event 50th anniversary migration intipucá coming 2018 want create positive image town one collecting personal stories salinas says stories like one mr martin lazo would lend suit get flight160because dress nicely back story travel today pay later160which would give loan could pay us visa intipucás town center remittance money flowed population flowed ruxandra guidi salinas worried stories immigration intipucá forgotten next generations today estimated half towns population living us streets largely empty even sigredo chavezs home abandoned another monument town celebrates exodus 160 ruxandras story produced association round earth media160jimmy alvarado el faro contributed reporting
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<p>CURWOOD: The periodic assessments from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, rely on a couple of thousand scientists from around the world. They produce a detailed appraisal of humanitys impact on the climate and what that means now and in the future. These reports are notoriously dense and hard to read. Well, NOAA scientist Greg Johnson was a lead author for part of the assessment published last fall, and he's come up with a simple, elegant way to communicate the complex scientific findings - haiku. Seas rise as they warm Rates quicken last century Melting ice joins in. CURWOOD: Oceanographer Gregory Johnson joins me now to share more of these IPCC haikus. Welcome to Living on Earth, Greg. (Gregory Johnson) JOHNSON: Hi. Thanks, Steve. CURWOOD: So how did you come up with the idea? IPCC as haiku? JOHNSON: Well, actually, I was sick one weekend, and I was really sick enough to be unable to leave the house. And so I was trying to figure out what I would do for the weekend, and for some reason, I thought I would reread the summary for policy makers from the Working Group I report to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, thats the one on the physical science basis of climate change. And like you said, they are very dense documents. So I was reading this, and I was having trouble concentrating. CURWOOD: Wait. Youd worked on this. You knew what was supposed to be there, and you couldnt stay focused? JOHNSON: Well, I was a little sick. [LAUGHS] Well, anyways, I thought it would help fix it in my mind if I tried to compose a haiku for each of the subsections of the report. But I sat down and composed these haikus. It took most of the morning and a little bit past lunch, and then my wife said, What on Earth are you doing? CURWOOD: [LAUGHS] JOHNSON: And at that point, I sort of thought, Well, what am I doing? And I realized I could make them into an illustrated booklet to share with friends and family if I added some illustrations. CURWOOD: So youre an oceanographer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and youre a lead author for the working group chapter on oceans, but this is not any kind of official document. JOHNSON: Thats correct. These are solely my own creation. Any views or opinions expressed in these are my own, and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States government, the International Governmental Panel on Climate Change or any other entity. CURWOOD: So, these poems basically go in order of the bullet points for the report. Will you read the first point as haiku please? Its called History - Earth. JOHNSON: Thats right. Big, fast carbon surge: Ice melts, oceans heat and rise. Air warms by decades. CURWOOD: So, thats essentially the recent history of the earths climate in 17 syllables? (Gregory Johnson) JOHNSON: Thats right. CURWOOD: So remind us of the rules of haiku. JOHNSON: So the rules in English are different from the rules in Japanese, but the strict rules are a syllable count of 5-7-5 in the three lines. Theyre supposed to be a reference for the season, and the Japanese have specific words for these I think. And these dont necessarily have references to seasons in them, but they do have references to change in climate, and I thought theyd give me a pass on that. And theyre also supposed to have what the Japanese call a cutting word, sort of a transition. Not all of these do have that actually, but they do all follow the 5-7-5 rule. CURWOOD: Now, will you read two more for us that are closely related? They are called Response and Attribution. JOHNSON: Yes, the first one is response. We burn more carbon Air warms for decades but seas For millennia And then Attribution: Our industry has warmed oceans, air, lands, changed rains melted ice, raised seas.. (Gregory Johnson) CURWOOD: Incredible how so few words can be so powerful. What got you going with haiku? JOHNSON: I post almost exclusively in haiku on Facebook. I find that it helps me be in the present. It tends to link my posts a little more closely to nature and whats going on around me. And it also limits the number of posts, which my friends probably like. CURWOOD: All of your poems are accompanied by a water color painting. The last one about industry goes along with a painting of an oilrig. Theres another with a painting of windmills on a rolling hill. Will you read that please? JOHNSON: Lets see. Fast, strong action will Reduce future warming but Rising seas certain CURWOOD: So, Greg, what kind of responses have you gotten so far from this project? JOHNSON: Theyve really been quite positive. I have to say, actually, it took some time, on my part, to get up the courage to put this out there. This, of course, is a distillation of, as you said, work of 209 lead authors, 50 review editors, 1,000 expert reviewers, so a huge amount of work went into this. But the response to the haikus have been remarkably positive. CURWOOD: What kind of response have you gotten from your IPCC co-authors? JOHNSON: They enjoy it. I did make a number of little booklets on my own dime, and have given them to friends and colleagues and authors, and its been a positive response from them as well. CURWOOD: Have you run out of the booklets? JOHNSON: Pretty much. Yes. CURWOOD: Whats your publisher say? JOHNSON: I dont have a publisher. These were are self-published. I cant actually profit from these in any way because theyre related to my work, and thats just one of the rules of my employer. (Gregory Johnson) CURWOOD: Well, we are just about out of time, Greg, but I wonder if you will read one final haiku for us. Perhaps the one that you titled future? JOHNSON: Alright. Forty years from now Children will live in a world Shaped by our choices. CURWOOD: Greg, you have children? JOHNSON: I have a daughter. CURWOOD: Whos how old? JOHNSON: Shes 17 now. CURWOOD: When shes 57... JOHNSON: ...the world will be a very different place, I think, and it will depend on what choices we make. Were living in a world now thats already shaped by our choices. CURWOOD: Greg Johnson is a NOAA oceanographer and lead author of the Working Group I report chapter on oceans. Thanks so much for taking the time with us today. JOHNSON: Thank you.</p>
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curwood periodic assessments intergovernmental panel climate change ipcc rely couple thousand scientists around world produce detailed appraisal humanitys impact climate means future reports notoriously dense hard read well noaa scientist greg johnson lead author part assessment published last fall hes come simple elegant way communicate complex scientific findings haiku seas rise warm rates quicken last century melting ice joins curwood oceanographer gregory johnson joins share ipcc haikus welcome living earth greg gregory johnson johnson hi thanks steve curwood come idea ipcc haiku johnson well actually sick one weekend really sick enough unable leave house trying figure would weekend reason thought would reread summary policy makers working group report intergovernmental panel climate change thats one physical science basis climate change like said dense documents reading trouble concentrating curwood wait youd worked knew supposed couldnt stay focused johnson well little sick laughs well anyways thought would help fix mind tried compose haiku subsections report sat composed haikus took morning little bit past lunch wife said earth curwood laughs johnson point sort thought well realized could make illustrated booklet share friends family added illustrations curwood youre oceanographer national oceanic atmospheric administration youre lead author working group chapter oceans kind official document johnson thats correct solely creation views opinions expressed necessarily reflect united states government international governmental panel climate change entity curwood poems basically go order bullet points report read first point haiku please called history earth johnson thats right big fast carbon surge ice melts oceans heat rise air warms decades curwood thats essentially recent history earths climate 17 syllables gregory johnson johnson thats right curwood remind us rules haiku johnson rules english different rules japanese strict rules syllable count 575 three lines theyre supposed reference season japanese specific words think dont necessarily references seasons references change climate thought theyd give pass theyre also supposed japanese call cutting word sort transition actually follow 575 rule curwood read two us closely related called response attribution johnson yes first one response burn carbon air warms decades seas millennia attribution industry warmed oceans air lands changed rains melted ice raised seas gregory johnson curwood incredible words powerful got going haiku johnson post almost exclusively haiku facebook find helps present tends link posts little closely nature whats going around also limits number posts friends probably like curwood poems accompanied water color painting last one industry goes along painting oilrig theres another painting windmills rolling hill read please johnson lets see fast strong action reduce future warming rising seas certain curwood greg kind responses gotten far project johnson theyve really quite positive say actually took time part get courage put course distillation said work 209 lead authors 50 review editors 1000 expert reviewers huge amount work went response haikus remarkably positive curwood kind response gotten ipcc coauthors johnson enjoy make number little booklets dime given friends colleagues authors positive response well curwood run booklets johnson pretty much yes curwood whats publisher say johnson dont publisher selfpublished cant actually profit way theyre related work thats one rules employer gregory johnson curwood well time greg wonder read one final haiku us perhaps one titled future johnson alright forty years children live world shaped choices curwood greg children johnson daughter curwood whos old johnson shes 17 curwood shes 57 johnson world different place think depend choices make living world thats already shaped choices curwood greg johnson noaa oceanographer lead author working group report chapter oceans thanks much taking time us today johnson thank
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<p>Washington Blade White House reporter Chris Johnson attends a briefing in the White House. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>After eight years of President Obama, there’s no denying advancements on LGBT rights have been anything short of revolutionary.</p>
<p>Reviewing the <a href="" type="internal">timeline</a> we put together for Obama on LGBT issues, I can say it just doesn’t do the past eight years justice. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts because they reflect a greater societal change and got us out of a deep hole of inequality dug by George W. Bush’s anti-gay administration and Bill Clinton signing into law the Defense of Marriage Act and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”</p>
<p>This progress on LGBT rights under Obama didn’t just happen. It followed a lot of pressure from LGBT activists seeking equality — and as the Washington Blade’s chief political and White House reporter, I played&#160;my role in seeking responses to the calls for action from the White House press secretary during the daily briefing.</p>
<p>During Obama’s first year in office, LGBT rights activists were relentless in their calls on Obama to act on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which they said was taking too long to happen, and I was among those bringing those calls to the attention of Obama’s first press secretary Robert Gibbs.</p>
<p>It took Obama until the State of the Union address at the start of his second year in office to declare he would act. The plan ended up a being a nearly year-long massive study at the Pentagon on repeal that would conclude in the lame duck of session of Congress. Obama would sign “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal, but whether he actually planned for legislative action to end the military’s gay ban during a brief window after Election Day and before Republicans took control of the U.S. House remains in question.</p>
<p>Similarly, Obama didn’t come into the White House believing gay people should enjoy the fundamental right to marry. The president only espoused that belief during the final year of his first term in 2012. By that time, I had a number of exchanges with Robert Gibbs and Jay Carney that were embarrassing for the administration because they exposed the president’s lack of support for marriage equality as he professed to support LGBT rights.</p>
<p>The period of questioning in the White House briefing room on whether Obama would sign an executive order barring federal contractors from engaging in anti-LGBT workplace discrimination was even longer. I <a href="" type="internal">first queried</a> Jay Carney about the potential order in 2011, through the time when the administration said it wouldn’t happen in 2012 and into Josh Earnest’s tenure in 2014 when Obama finally signed the directive.</p>
<p>In fact, throughout the president’s first term in office, there was a great deal of skepticism about&#160;whether he would make good on his pledge to be an LGBT ally. It’s hard to see now with so much public support for LGBT rights, but even just a few years ago during the early years of the Obama administration, society wasn’t yet where it is today. I think the Obama administration was wary about being too public in&#160;championing LGBT rights when it&#160;wanted to stay in power and accomplish other things.</p>
<p>But I can pinpoint an exact moment when that changed: Obama’s remarks during his second inauguration speech in 2013 in which he compared the Stonewall riots to Selma and declared “our journey is not compete until gay and lesbian brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law.”</p>
<p>The significance of those words cannot be overstated. First, no LGBT advocate publicly called on the president to include a commitment to LGBT rights in his speech. Second, the impact of the widely watched speech was far-reaching and gave a clear signal LGBT rights would be a top, visible commitment for Obama during his second term.</p>
<p>After that moment, there was a palpable change in the LGBT movement’s view of&#160;Obama. The sense we needed to push to make to him see us and advance our equality faded substantially and&#160;his image as an&#160;LGBT rights champion we know today started to take shape.</p>
<p>That said, activism still continued, most significantly in the form of pushing Obama to green light a Justice Department brief against California’s Proposition 8 and to sign the LGBT non-discrimination executive order (both requests were granted). But the sense Obama was an LGBT rights champion was so pervasive that when he inadvertently referred to being a gay as a “lifestyle choice” in 2015 during a <a href="" type="internal">YouTube interview</a>, the remarks barely registered in the LGBT community.</p>
<p>I could add a personal gripe that over the course of eight years, Obama never granted the Washington Blade an interview, nor did he even take a question from me any of his news conferences even though I made sure I attended just about all of them in case I had the opportunity. But as much as that disappoints me, I don’t think you’ll hear complaints in the LGBT community about the Washington Blade’s lack of access given the litany of LGBT accomplishments under the Obama presidency.</p>
<p>In the coming weeks, I’m sure you’ll hear the refrain, “Thanks, Obama” in reference to the advancements of LGBT rights under his administration. Just remember LGBT people should also thank themselves for demanding equality and pushing Obama to be the champion of LGBT rights that will endure as part of his legacy.</p>
<p>Chris Johnson is the Blade’s White House reporter. Reach him at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Barack Obama</a> <a href="" type="internal">Bill Clinton</a> <a href="" type="internal">Defense of Marriage Act</a> <a href="" type="internal">Don't Ask Don't Tell</a> <a href="" type="internal">George W. Bush</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jay Carney</a> <a href="" type="internal">LGBT</a> <a href="" type="internal">Obama Administration</a> <a href="" type="internal">Robert Gibbs</a> <a href="" type="internal">Stonewall Riot</a> <a href="" type="internal">Washington Blade</a></p>
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washington blade white house reporter chris johnson attends briefing white house washington blade photo michael key eight years president obama theres denying advancements lgbt rights anything short revolutionary reviewing timeline put together obama lgbt issues say doesnt past eight years justice whole greater sum parts reflect greater societal change got us deep hole inequality dug george w bushs antigay administration bill clinton signing law defense marriage act dont ask dont tell progress lgbt rights obama didnt happen followed lot pressure lgbt activists seeking equality washington blades chief political white house reporter played160my role seeking responses calls action white house press secretary daily briefing obamas first year office lgbt rights activists relentless calls obama act dont ask dont tell said taking long happen among bringing calls attention obamas first press secretary robert gibbs took obama state union address start second year office declare would act plan ended nearly yearlong massive study pentagon repeal would conclude lame duck session congress obama would sign dont ask dont tell repeal whether actually planned legislative action end militarys gay ban brief window election day republicans took control us house remains question similarly obama didnt come white house believing gay people enjoy fundamental right marry president espoused belief final year first term 2012 time number exchanges robert gibbs jay carney embarrassing administration exposed presidents lack support marriage equality professed support lgbt rights period questioning white house briefing room whether obama would sign executive order barring federal contractors engaging antilgbt workplace discrimination even longer first queried jay carney potential order 2011 time administration said wouldnt happen 2012 josh earnests tenure 2014 obama finally signed directive fact throughout presidents first term office great deal skepticism about160whether would make good pledge lgbt ally hard see much public support lgbt rights even years ago early years obama administration society wasnt yet today think obama administration wary public in160championing lgbt rights it160wanted stay power accomplish things pinpoint exact moment changed obamas remarks second inauguration speech 2013 compared stonewall riots selma declared journey compete gay lesbian brothers sisters treated like anyone else law significance words overstated first lgbt advocate publicly called president include commitment lgbt rights speech second impact widely watched speech farreaching gave clear signal lgbt rights would top visible commitment obama second term moment palpable change lgbt movements view of160obama sense needed push make see us advance equality faded substantially and160his image an160lgbt rights champion know today started take shape said activism still continued significantly form pushing obama green light justice department brief californias proposition 8 sign lgbt nondiscrimination executive order requests granted sense obama lgbt rights champion pervasive inadvertently referred gay lifestyle choice 2015 youtube interview remarks barely registered lgbt community could add personal gripe course eight years obama never granted washington blade interview even take question news conferences even though made sure attended case opportunity much disappoints dont think youll hear complaints lgbt community washington blades lack access given litany lgbt accomplishments obama presidency coming weeks im sure youll hear refrain thanks obama reference advancements lgbt rights administration remember lgbt people also thank demanding equality pushing obama champion lgbt rights endure part legacy chris johnson blades white house reporter reach cjohnsonwashbladecom barack obama bill clinton defense marriage act dont ask dont tell george w bush jay carney lgbt obama administration robert gibbs stonewall riot washington blade
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<p>Laughter, tambourines and native instruments fill the air of a tiny apartment as a small group of Christians gather for fervent worship. Despite the oppression they have experienced under Islam and the Soviet system, these Central Asian Christians dance and sing with joy because of the freedom they have found in Christ.</p>
<p>Their relationship with Christ is important—even more important to them than their own lives. The gospel is not just a story to study but their daily connection to hope and the message to share with their community.</p>
<p>This is contemporary Christianity.</p>
<p>During the last few years, Christian scholars like Philip Jenkins, author and professor of religion at Pennsylvania State University, have noted the center of Christianity has shifted to the Southern Hemisphere, leaving the United States and Europe and heading to Latin America, Africa and Asia, where churches have seen unprecedented growth despite persecution and opposition.</p>
<p />
<p>IMB Photo</p>
<p>Members of Resurrection Baptist Church participate in worship on a Sunday morning in Ivanovo, Russia.</p>
<p>The number of Christians in North America is smaller than the number of believers in Africa, Latin America and Asia. By 2050, China, Brazil, India, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Ethiopia and Uganda will dominate the top 10 Christian countries, according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity.</p>
<p>A mission worker in Central Asia, whose name cannot be published for security reasons, said world events outside the United States and Western Europe have served as a catalyst for the shift. After years of oppression and poverty, people are finding freedom and hope through a relationship with Christ.</p>
<p>“When you look over the past 100 years, one of the most deadly ideologies that killed more people during the 20th century was communism,” the worker said. “Yet, today in places where communism existed, we have seen some of the greatest advance of the gospel over the past 15 years.</p>
<p>“Today, radical Islam is having a similar effect in certain locations in the Muslim world. People have grown weary of living under the oppression of Islamic fundamentalism and are starting to turn to Jesus in places that we can't even report right now.”</p>
<p>Billy Kim, former pastor of the 20,000-member Suwon Central Baptist Church in South Korea, said people feel like they have to rely on God in areas with widespread poverty and persecution.</p>
<p>“As you go to affluent Europe, the United States and Australia, churches seem to decline,” Kim said. “But when there are problems of war, tragedy and poverty, like in Africa, Asia and Latin America, the church is growing and people are looking for hope.”</p>
<p>Now that Christian-ity has penetrated these societies, Christians are taking the gospel into the community, meeting people where they live instead of expecting them to come to a church building to experience a programmatic approach to religion.</p>
<p>Stan Parks, strategic catalyzer for Southeast Asia with the Global Connection Partnership Network, said South Korea is now the second-largest missionary-sending country in the world.</p>
<p>India, Brazil, Nigeria, the Philippines and China launch the next-largest missionary efforts, even sending missionaries to the United States, he noted.</p>
<p>Christians who “come out of these areas have an enthusiasm, vitality, confidence and joy because they know why they are here, where they are headed and they know the message they have to share,” said David Coffey, president of the Baptist World Alliance.</p>
<p>With the influx of missionaries coming to the United States, church leaders are re-evaluating where the Western church stands. As stories of growth of the church in developing nations appear more frequently, the decline of Western Christianity becomes more evident.</p>
<p>Scholars cite many reasons why the West has shifted from the Christian center, but all agree new approaches must be taken for the West to turn around.</p>
<p />
<p>IMB Photo</p>
<p>Children listen and pray in Sunday school at Jesus the Savior Church in Chisinau, Moldova. The church was the first Romanian-speaking church in Chisinau.</p>
<p>Rob Sellers, the Connally professor of missions at Hardin-Simmons University, said the West lackadaisically has slipped into a state of secularism, leading to postmodernity, causing an atmosphere of spiritual indifference.</p>
<p>“Postmodernity as a cultural phenomenon in the West has influenced the way that people perceive and accept systems of thought—be they religious, political or otherwise—that claim to have the ‘definitive answer' to the problem,” Sellers said.</p>
<p>“A lot of people in the West are much more likely to validate different religious, political or social ideas than our parents (and certainly our grandparents) were apt to do. (They) are disenchanted with the established church. They perceive the church to be rigid, legalistic, formal, out of touch, superficial and old-fashioned.”</p>
<p>Amidst the evident decline in church attendance in the West, pastors and church planters are hopeful, believing change can come through the Holy Spirit's leading and through prayer. If change happens, it will have to come through non-Western ways, some insist.</p>
<p>“We'll keep doing what we are doing until we run out of money, but it will slow down,” said Bob Roberts, church planter and pastor of Northwood Church in Keller. “We will then get desperate enough to try something different and learn from those outside of the U.S.”</p>
<p>In the West, the church does not teach people to be self-feeding in their spiritual life, said Curtis Sergeant, a church-planting strategist with e3 Partners, a church multiplication organization that equips, evangelizes and establishes connections with churches across the world. Christians need to be in prayer, Scripture and church life so that they can practice all of the “one another” commands and use their spiritual gifts, he said. The Western church currently is in a state where it has created disciples who are dependent, not capable of reproducing disciples themselves, Sergeant added.</p>
<p>“Church in essence is a movement of the Spirit,” said Bob Garrett, professor of missions at Dallas Baptist University.</p>
<p>“It's a conversion of a mindset, a complete change. (Church growth) has little to do with institutions and buildings and programs. It's happening by people going out and helping their neighbors with life problems and sharing Christ. It is a contagious element that people catch.”</p>
<p>For growth to happen, Coffey said, Western churches must be more urgent and intentional in their approach to evangelism and be led by missionary-hearted leaders in order to recover their zeal.</p>
<p>“While there are stirring examples around the world of those who are engaging creatively in mission and evangelism, I am discovering that many Baptists are unsure about how to preach the good news to the poor of our day,” Coffey said.</p>
<p>“The changing cultures alarm them, and many have lost their confidence to communicate the gospel. My conviction is that whenever there are changes in cultures, this constitutes a fresh call from the missionary God. We need to realize that a Christian mission has never evangelized a culture by avoiding it. Perhaps the starting point is a greater dependence on the strategic guidance of the Holy Spirit, who is able to lead us into places we may fear to go.”</p>
<p>The West has a giant task ahead, but Coffey encouragingly said, “Don't write the West off just yet.”</p>
<p>“Christianity does not seem to plant churches that last forever,” he said, explaining that there is a cycle of death and birth for all churches.</p>
<p>“While the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, the local and cultural expression of the community of Christ has no divine right to survival.”</p>
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laughter tambourines native instruments fill air tiny apartment small group christians gather fervent worship despite oppression experienced islam soviet system central asian christians dance sing joy freedom found christ relationship christ importanteven important lives gospel story study daily connection hope message share community contemporary christianity last years christian scholars like philip jenkins author professor religion pennsylvania state university noted center christianity shifted southern hemisphere leaving united states europe heading latin america africa asia churches seen unprecedented growth despite persecution opposition imb photo members resurrection baptist church participate worship sunday morning ivanovo russia number christians north america smaller number believers africa latin america asia 2050 china brazil india mexico nigeria philippines ethiopia uganda dominate top 10 christian countries according center study global christianity mission worker central asia whose name published security reasons said world events outside united states western europe served catalyst shift years oppression poverty people finding freedom hope relationship christ look past 100 years one deadly ideologies killed people 20th century communism worker said yet today places communism existed seen greatest advance gospel past 15 years today radical islam similar effect certain locations muslim world people grown weary living oppression islamic fundamentalism starting turn jesus places cant even report right billy kim former pastor 20000member suwon central baptist church south korea said people feel like rely god areas widespread poverty persecution go affluent europe united states australia churches seem decline kim said problems war tragedy poverty like africa asia latin america church growing people looking hope christianity penetrated societies christians taking gospel community meeting people live instead expecting come church building experience programmatic approach religion stan parks strategic catalyzer southeast asia global connection partnership network said south korea secondlargest missionarysending country world india brazil nigeria philippines china launch nextlargest missionary efforts even sending missionaries united states noted christians come areas enthusiasm vitality confidence joy know headed know message share said david coffey president baptist world alliance influx missionaries coming united states church leaders reevaluating western church stands stories growth church developing nations appear frequently decline western christianity becomes evident scholars cite many reasons west shifted christian center agree new approaches must taken west turn around imb photo children listen pray sunday school jesus savior church chisinau moldova church first romanianspeaking church chisinau rob sellers connally professor missions hardinsimmons university said west lackadaisically slipped state secularism leading postmodernity causing atmosphere spiritual indifference postmodernity cultural phenomenon west influenced way people perceive accept systems thoughtbe religious political otherwisethat claim definitive answer problem sellers said lot people west much likely validate different religious political social ideas parents certainly grandparents apt disenchanted established church perceive church rigid legalistic formal touch superficial oldfashioned amidst evident decline church attendance west pastors church planters hopeful believing change come holy spirits leading prayer change happens come nonwestern ways insist well keep run money slow said bob roberts church planter pastor northwood church keller get desperate enough try something different learn outside us west church teach people selffeeding spiritual life said curtis sergeant churchplanting strategist e3 partners church multiplication organization equips evangelizes establishes connections churches across world christians need prayer scripture church life practice one another commands use spiritual gifts said western church currently state created disciples dependent capable reproducing disciples sergeant added church essence movement spirit said bob garrett professor missions dallas baptist university conversion mindset complete change church growth little institutions buildings programs happening people going helping neighbors life problems sharing christ contagious element people catch growth happen coffey said western churches must urgent intentional approach evangelism led missionaryhearted leaders order recover zeal stirring examples around world engaging creatively mission evangelism discovering many baptists unsure preach good news poor day coffey said changing cultures alarm many lost confidence communicate gospel conviction whenever changes cultures constitutes fresh call missionary god need realize christian mission never evangelized culture avoiding perhaps starting point greater dependence strategic guidance holy spirit able lead us places may fear go west giant task ahead coffey encouragingly said dont write west yet christianity seem plant churches last forever said explaining cycle death birth churches gates hell prevail church local cultural expression community christ divine right survival
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<p>From barbershops to churches to sprawling&#160;mansions, the Austin neighborhood&#160;on the city’s West Side is home to many establishments with a long history and residents who are eager to maintain and revitalize the community.</p>
<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>Art is displayed in the window of a vacant storefront on Madison Street.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>The Austin Town Hall on Lake Street, built in 1870, originally served as the government seat of Cicero Township. Austin was annexed to the City of Chicago in 1899, and the town hall site eventually became part of the Chicago Park District.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>The Austin Town Hall Park and Cultural Center is now a fieldhouse and features an indoor swimming pool, two kitchens, a gymnasium, performance theater and fitness center.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>A mural on Lake Street near the Central stop on the Green Line depicts the Austin Town Hall.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>Across the street sits the New Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, 415 N. Central St. A boy walks by on a Sunday afternoon. Most members of New Mt. Vernon have been attending the church for more than 20 years.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>Mt. Vernon Church in Austin holds two services every Sunday, in addition to Sunday school and additional prayer meetings and Bible classes during the week.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>Jonas Underwood welcomes people as they enter on a Sunday morning. Underwood has been a member of New Mt. Vernon Church for more than 20 years and recently became the church's janitor and usher during services.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>Amiyah Harris, right, laughs with her aunt Chana Sergeant before the start of service. Amiyah's mother, Shanika Jones, has been attending New Mt. Vernon Church since the day she was born. Many members of the church arrived up to an hour early in order to make sure they were able to find good seats.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>Mother Willie L. Bryan has a place of honor in the front pew. The church was filled to capacity that Sunday.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>An American flag blows in the wind in front of a house on Race Avenue. Houses near the Austin Town Hall on Race and Midway Park avenues are all considered a part of Austin's Historic District. Many of the houses are about 100 years old, and reminiscent of a time when Austin was a sought-after neighborhood for families commuting to downtown in the early 20th century.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>A mural of prominent black historical figures at Laramie Avenue and Kinzie Street.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church on West Washington Boulevard displays a sign, "Hands up! Don't Stop Praying."</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>A little farther south at 5412 W. Madison St. sits MacArthur's Restaurant, a neighborhood staple known for its soul food. Kitchen manager Louis Mosley prepares cube steaks early every morning in preparation for the customers of the cafeteria-style restaurant. Mosley has been the kitchen manager for more than 10 years. "We run a tight schedule for preparing food," he said.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>Longtime employee Alfonso Nash pours candied yams into warming trays. "When we first opened across Madison Street, the lines were so long that the fire marshal was called and pretty soon we were forced to move to this larger location," said Vanessa Alexander, who has been a manager at MacArthur's since it opened.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>An employee prepares cornbread muffins. "Most if not all of our employees live in Austin, and we keep our prices low so all residents of the community can afford to eat," Alexander said.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>Just down the street from MacArthur's sits His and Hers Barber School, 5355 W. Madison St.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>Elaine Sappington opened the school in May 1999, and in the past year, sold the business to Eric Rochel, Jose Gardera and Jesse Salas.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>"I want this to be an outlet for youth, to empower the youth and bridge the gap between Hispanic and black communities," said Gardera, one of the new owners. "We want to teach kids who don't have guidance a trade that can give them employment."</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>Alex Lopez, 18, practices a haircut on fellow classmate Josue Blanco, also 18. The students have a certain number of training hours they have to complete in order to become licensed barbers.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>Sam Davis gets a complimentary traditional shave from student Ian Debelen, center, while instructor Alex Gonzalez, oversees his work. Davis lives in the neighborhood and has been coming to His and Her Barber School for years.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>Ian Debelen, right, has been in the training program at His and Hers for about four months.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>Art is displayed in the window of a vacant storefront on Madison Street.</p>
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<p>Photo by Grace Donnelly</p>
<p>The Austin Town Hall on Lake Street, built in 1870, originally served as the government seat of Cicero Township. Austin was annexed to the City of Chicago in 1899, and the town hall site eventually became part of the Chicago Park District.</p>
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barbershops churches sprawling160mansions austin neighborhood160on citys west side home many establishments long history residents eager maintain revitalize community photo grace donnelly art displayed window vacant storefront madison street permalink photo grace donnelly austin town hall lake street built 1870 originally served government seat cicero township austin annexed city chicago 1899 town hall site eventually became part chicago park district permalink photo grace donnelly austin town hall park cultural center fieldhouse features indoor swimming pool two kitchens gymnasium performance theater fitness center permalink photo grace donnelly mural lake street near central stop green line depicts austin town hall permalink photo grace donnelly across street sits new mt vernon missionary baptist church 415 n central st boy walks sunday afternoon members new mt vernon attending church 20 years permalink photo grace donnelly mt vernon church austin holds two services every sunday addition sunday school additional prayer meetings bible classes week permalink photo grace donnelly jonas underwood welcomes people enter sunday morning underwood member new mt vernon church 20 years recently became churchs janitor usher services permalink photo grace donnelly amiyah harris right laughs aunt chana sergeant start service amiyahs mother shanika jones attending new mt vernon church since day born many members church arrived hour early order make sure able find good seats permalink photo grace donnelly mother willie l bryan place honor front pew church filled capacity sunday permalink photo grace donnelly american flag blows wind front house race avenue houses near austin town hall race midway park avenues considered part austins historic district many houses 100 years old reminiscent time austin soughtafter neighborhood families commuting downtown early 20th century permalink photo grace donnelly mural prominent black historical figures laramie avenue kinzie street permalink photo grace donnelly st martin de porres catholic church west washington boulevard displays sign hands dont stop praying permalink photo grace donnelly little farther south 5412 w madison st sits macarthurs restaurant neighborhood staple known soul food kitchen manager louis mosley prepares cube steaks early every morning preparation customers cafeteriastyle restaurant mosley kitchen manager 10 years run tight schedule preparing food said permalink photo grace donnelly longtime employee alfonso nash pours candied yams warming trays first opened across madison street lines long fire marshal called pretty soon forced move larger location said vanessa alexander manager macarthurs since opened permalink photo grace donnelly employee prepares cornbread muffins employees live austin keep prices low residents community afford eat alexander said permalink photo grace donnelly street macarthurs sits barber school 5355 w madison st permalink photo grace donnelly elaine sappington opened school may 1999 past year sold business eric rochel jose gardera jesse salas permalink photo grace donnelly want outlet youth empower youth bridge gap hispanic black communities said gardera one new owners want teach kids dont guidance trade give employment permalink photo grace donnelly alex lopez 18 practices haircut fellow classmate josue blanco also 18 students certain number training hours complete order become licensed barbers permalink photo grace donnelly sam davis gets complimentary traditional shave student ian debelen center instructor alex gonzalez oversees work davis lives neighborhood coming barber school years permalink photo grace donnelly ian debelen right training program four months permalink photo grace donnelly art displayed window vacant storefront madison street permalink photo grace donnelly austin town hall lake street built 1870 originally served government seat cicero township austin annexed city chicago 1899 town hall site eventually became part chicago park district permalink
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<p>If Trayvon Martin had been my son or nephew, I would have been as angry as his family is. Martin is reported to have had his problems, but to wind up dead at the hands of a neighborhood watch volunteer? When George Zimmerman called the police (his 46th such call since 2001) saying he was following a suspicious-looking character, he was told, “We don’t need you to do that.” Nevertheless, he persisted in following and after a confrontation, shot and killed the 17-year-old on Feb. 26.</p>
<p>Zimmerman was taken into custody for questioning by police and released hours later with no charges filed against him. I don’t know exactly what happened that rainy night in central Florida, but I do know that a kid was killed and the taking of any life should require a careful inquiry. The initial appearance of insensitivity, even nonchalance, on the part of the police in an investigation that was certainly lacking in thoroughness gave the impression that Martin’s death was no big deal.</p>
<p />
<p>As if the circumstances were not tragic enough already, it began to become really ugly really fast. Martin’s family, reeling from shock and grief, charged that the police did not fully investigate the circumstances because he was African American. Zimmerman is Hispanic American.</p>
<p>Soon, as the story became public via the media, suspicions developed that race played a part in the killing—at least in Zimmerman’s belief that Martin was up to no good.&#160; Instances of racial profiling create suspicions that lie smoldering just beneath the surface of race relations in this country and the slightest fanning can create a flame.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, NBC’s Today Show provided the bellows when it played an edited tape of Zimmerman speaking to the police dispatcher. “This guy looks like he’s up to no good. He looks black,” he appears to say. In reality, the conversation went:</p>
<p>Zimmerman: “This guy looks like he’s up to no good. Or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.”</p>
<p>Dispatcher: “OK, and this guy—is he black, white or Hispanic?”</p>
<p>Zimmerman: “He looks black.”</p>
<p>The belief that the event had racial overtones caused movie producer Spike Lee to send what he believed was Zimmerman’s address to his 240,000 Twitter followers. But the address turned out to belong to Elaine and David McClain, a couple in their 70s, who fled their home because of the threats they received. Even if the address had been correct, how could justice have been served by sending it out?</p>
<p>As anger mounted, the governor of Florida appointed special prosecutor Angela Corey to investigate. On April 11, second-degree murder charges were filed against Zimmerman. As the investigation proceeded, the wheels of justice turned so slowly that some believed they had stopped altogether for Martin.</p>
<p>But now, Zimmerman will be tried for the shooting. Martin’s mother magnanimously maintains that the shooting was accidental, that the confrontation got out of hand and led to her son’s death. The family says they just wanted Martin’s death to matter enough to be fully investigated and for Zimmerman to be held accountable without the facts being swept under the rug.</p>
<p>Just as Martin’s family demanded justice, Zimmerman’s, too, is speaking out.&#160; They contend that the rage directed at Zimmerman is not only misdirected but makes it unlikely that he can receive a fair trial at this point.</p>
<p>Perhaps in court Zimmerman’s contention that he acted in self defense will be upheld; I don’t know.&#160; For now, however, justice requires that jurors be found who can be swayed only by the facts of the case without being caught up in hotly-held emotional convictions held by family members and their supporters on both sides.</p>
<p>As I usually do in such cases, I have applied the circumstances to the church. I can’t help it. Church is too much a part of who I am! I wonder what applications can be made to the body of Christ?</p>
<p>For starters, I have noticed some in the church who seem to believe their role in the body is as “watchers.” They are watching everybody else to see if they are up to no good. They become suspicious of and critical of others based on some perceived fault.&#160; They need to hear the Spirit say, “We don’t need you to do that.”</p>
<p>Also, have you noticed that church people tend to become emotionally charged and rally around their favorite causes and people? While it is only natural to come to the defense of those we care about, we have to be careful with the truth. A lot of church folk are like Spike Lee. They go off spreading what they believe to be true out of a sense of vengeance or justice or defending people. But there are two big problems with this kind of behavior. They may be spreading false or misleading information; and secondly, even if it is true, it doesn’t need to be spread. Something can be true and still be gossip!</p>
<p>But even worse, every church seems to have a few folks who will take information and adjust it to suit their purposes—as NBC seems to have done with its edits. When their edited version of the facts came to light, NBC News President Steve Capus issued a statement to Reuters calling it simply “a mistake.” I have known religious literalists who have no qualms spreading half-truths because they are not really lying, they seem to reason. If someone draws a false conclusion based on what they’ve said, it isn’t their problem!</p>
<p>But I have also known church leaders who didn’t do a good job of making everybody in the congregation count. Many churches have people who don’t feel valued because they don’t get the same attention as others. Like the Sanford police, leaders sometimes give the impression that they are insensitive to the pain of peripheral people. No church believes this about itself, but the rolls of most contain a good number of dropouts who didn’t feel cared for.</p>
<p>Finally, the church should learn to resist escalating conflict. Groups form around emotional issues, but the cause of Christ is hampered by those who are quick to get angry. Seek the truth which often lies somewhere between high voltage emotional extremes. Accusations and responses have a tendency to escalate and create bigger problems. The church needs cool-headed people who can keep the peace.</p>
<p>But aside from what we can learn as a church, what can we learn as a society? I know all the bumper sticker arguments. “When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.” Except Zimmerman was licensed to carry a gun and Martin was packing Skittles. So much for the outlaw argument.</p>
<p>Or, “Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.” True enough, but if Zimmerman hadn’t had a gun, Martin would, without doubt, still be alive today.</p>
<p>Jim White ( <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>) is executive editor of the Religious Herald.</p>
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trayvon martin son nephew would angry family martin reported problems wind dead hands neighborhood watch volunteer george zimmerman called police 46th call since 2001 saying following suspiciouslooking character told dont need nevertheless persisted following confrontation shot killed 17yearold feb 26 zimmerman taken custody questioning police released hours later charges filed dont know exactly happened rainy night central florida know kid killed taking life require careful inquiry initial appearance insensitivity even nonchalance part police investigation certainly lacking thoroughness gave impression martins death big deal circumstances tragic enough already began become really ugly really fast martins family reeling shock grief charged police fully investigate circumstances african american zimmerman hispanic american soon story became public via media suspicions developed race played part killingat least zimmermans belief martin good160 instances racial profiling create suspicions lie smoldering beneath surface race relations country slightest fanning create flame unfortunately nbcs today show provided bellows played edited tape zimmerman speaking police dispatcher guy looks like hes good looks black appears say reality conversation went zimmerman guy looks like hes good hes drugs something raining hes walking around looking dispatcher ok guyis black white hispanic zimmerman looks black belief event racial overtones caused movie producer spike lee send believed zimmermans address 240000 twitter followers address turned belong elaine david mcclain couple 70s fled home threats received even address correct could justice served sending anger mounted governor florida appointed special prosecutor angela corey investigate april 11 seconddegree murder charges filed zimmerman investigation proceeded wheels justice turned slowly believed stopped altogether martin zimmerman tried shooting martins mother magnanimously maintains shooting accidental confrontation got hand led sons death family says wanted martins death matter enough fully investigated zimmerman held accountable without facts swept rug martins family demanded justice zimmermans speaking out160 contend rage directed zimmerman misdirected makes unlikely receive fair trial point perhaps court zimmermans contention acted self defense upheld dont know160 however justice requires jurors found swayed facts case without caught hotlyheld emotional convictions held family members supporters sides usually cases applied circumstances church cant help church much part wonder applications made body christ starters noticed church seem believe role body watchers watching everybody else see good become suspicious critical others based perceived fault160 need hear spirit say dont need also noticed church people tend become emotionally charged rally around favorite causes people natural come defense care careful truth lot church folk like spike lee go spreading believe true sense vengeance justice defending people two big problems kind behavior may spreading false misleading information secondly even true doesnt need spread something true still gossip even worse every church seems folks take information adjust suit purposesas nbc seems done edits edited version facts came light nbc news president steve capus issued statement reuters calling simply mistake known religious literalists qualms spreading halftruths really lying seem reason someone draws false conclusion based theyve said isnt problem also known church leaders didnt good job making everybody congregation count many churches people dont feel valued dont get attention others like sanford police leaders sometimes give impression insensitive pain peripheral people church believes rolls contain good number dropouts didnt feel cared finally church learn resist escalating conflict groups form around emotional issues cause christ hampered quick get angry seek truth often lies somewhere high voltage emotional extremes accusations responses tendency escalate create bigger problems church needs coolheaded people keep peace aside learn church learn society know bumper sticker arguments guns outlawed outlaws guns except zimmerman licensed carry gun martin packing skittles much outlaw argument guns dont kill people people kill people true enough zimmerman hadnt gun martin would without doubt still alive today jim white jwhitereligiousheraldorg executive editor religious herald
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<p>This year, organizations that are trying to recruit parents and community residents to run in the upcoming local school council elections will have to sign up candidates before they receive full funding from the district for their efforts. It’s a far cry from the heyday of LSCs when private foundations fronted the money—as much as $400,000—to seed candidate recruitment.</p>
<p>Private funders have bowed out of the LSC business and the district has budgeted $135,000 for the process. Under a new pay-for-performance plan, organizations will receive only $250 in start-up grant funding. Each candidate recruited will be worth an additional $6 or $7, up to a total grant of $2,500, says Jose Alvarez, director of external affairs and LSC relations. To earn the full grant, a group would have to recruit more than 300 candidates.</p>
<p>Julie Woestehoff, executive director of Parents United for Responsible Education, says her organization received $25,000 to help recruit candidates for the 2000 election. The money allowed PURE to hire staff to recruit candidates, run election programs on cable access networks and present workshops on the basics of LSC operations.</p>
<p>This year, PURE is one of 19 recipients getting $250 up front, with more promised only under the pay-for-performance plan. But Woestehoff says, “We just don’t know what we’ll be able to do this year, given the lack of resources.” The initial $250 is enough to print flyers, but not much more.</p>
<p>Funding for LSC candidate recruitment has decreased dramatically since the late 1990s, when support for the councils was at its zenith. From 1998 to 2002, an ad-hoc fund administered by the School Leadership Cooperative through Leadership for Quality Education used money supplied by private foundations to give local organizations grants for candidate recruitment and campaign assistance. Donations peaked in 2000, with more than $400,000.</p>
<p>But support fell off quickly. The fund last operated during the 2002 election cycle; its resources then totaled only $80,000. Since then, CPS has been the source of LSC cash. During the 2006 election cycle, organizations received $2,500 grants from CPS—all delivered up front—to recruit candidates, which committed $70,000 to the effort. This year, CPS plans to spend $135,000 to fund the recruiting organizations, as well as district recruiting efforts.</p>
<p>Changing priorities</p>
<p>While Woestehoff says the pay-for-performance program undercuts her organization’s ability to recruit, Alvarez says he thinks “$7 per applicant is a fair amount on top of the startup funds that we gave them.” LSC application forms that the district distributed to organizations were numbered so his office can track who recruits candidates.</p>
<p>There are approximately 5,700 open spots on about 550 local school councils.The deadline for filing has been extended to March 24.</p>
<p>Gudelia Lopez, senior program officer in education for the Chicago Community Trust, says the foundation no longer funds LSC elections because it has narrowed its priorities.</p>
<p>“It’s an issue of where the country is, where Chicago is, in terms of student achievement,” she says. “Now it’s much more tightly focused on the curricular areas of instruction, and this is also in line with what the district has been doing since Barbara [Eason-Watkins] and Arne [Duncan] took over. They’ve been focusing more on curriculum and instruction.”</p>
<p>The Wieboldt Foundation, which also used to contribute to the election fund, has had less money to give away in recent years. It now funds community organizing groups that include education among their issues.</p>
<p>“There was always the feeling that [election funding] would be institutionalized by CPS,” says the foundation’s associate director, Carmen Prieto. “It was never going to be that private philanthropy would forever be the source of support for this. The philanthropic community felt that it should be supported by a dedicated revenue stream.”</p>
<p>Big goals</p>
<p>This pay-for-performance approach is new for the district. Alvarez expects the recipients of the $250 recruiting grants (see list on page 16) to find 20 to 25 candidates for each council. That would be a whopping 10,000 candidates, a dramatic increase over the 7,000-some that have signed up in previous years.</p>
<p>Alvarez blames the lack of LSC participation on a dearth of knowledge about the councils. His office is trying a new tactic this year. With help from members of successful LSCs, the district will host LSC information sessions in each cluster and most areas.</p>
<p>As in years past, the district will run a $35,000 to $70,000 marketing campaign to promote LSCs through advertisements in neighborhood, community and ethnic newspapers such as Chicago Journal, Hoy and Chicago Defender, as well as radio stations such as WGCI, WLIT and WGN. Although ads are not as effective as direct recruiting, Alvarez says, “we’re doing both to make sure that we don’t leave anyone out.”</p>
<p>Recruiting candidates has been difficult for years, but it may get even tougher. As the parents who started the school reform movement get older, interest and participation in LSCs is waning, says Jitu Brown, an education organizer for the Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization.</p>
<p>“A lot of people who join LSCs now have no sense of the history of Chicago school reform,” Brown says.</p>
<p>Mary Williams, 68, is the LSC president at White Elementary Career Academy, in West Pullman. She knows the problem well. She has served on the council nearly every term since its inception. Most of the council members at her school are her age—grandparents, great-grandparents and foster parents.</p>
<p>“It seems that the younger parents are just not interested,” she says. At one point, she resorted to cooking and serving a four-course meal at every LSC meeting in an effort to encourage attendance. She doesn’t want to run again, but she may if there is a shortage of candidates.</p>
<p>The lack of participation in LSC elections in Chicago mirrors difficulties that school boards have recruiting candidates nationwide, according to Kathy Christie, who is vice president of ECS Clearinghouse (the research arm of the Education Commission of the States). “Sometimes there’s a perception that they’re not given real work to do,” she says.</p>
<p>Legislative battles</p>
<p>There is little research about the effectiveness of LSCs that applies to Chicago, she says, because few areas have councils with as much power. But even here, it is easy for boards to “get dragged down into nitty gritty decisions they probably shouldn’t be spending their time on,” such as extracurricular activities and playground equipment.</p>
<p>“All of those things certainly need to be dealt with,” she says, “but even local councils, like district boards, need to at least try to keep some emphasis on curriculum and instruction.”</p>
<p>Don Moore, executive director of Designs for Change, blames the district’s past failure to educate LSCs about their rights and powers for the lack of parental interest and understanding.</p>
<p>Nor has the district reached out to LSCs for support for its initiatives such as back-to-school campaigns, he says. And then there are the board’s ongoing attempts to pass legislation that would take away principal selection powers.</p>
<p>“The current board president, Rufus Williams, has said once again that he wants to take the powers away from the LSCs,” Moore says, referring to a statement Williams made in an address to the City Club of Chicago. “So we’re preparing for another legislative battle this spring.”</p>
<p>For more on the history of LSCs and the turmoil at Curie High School that led to a call for limiting LSC powers, <a href="" type="internal">click here</a>.</p>
<p>To contact Rebecca Harris, send an e-mail to [email protected].</p>
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year organizations trying recruit parents community residents run upcoming local school council elections sign candidates receive full funding district efforts far cry heyday lscs private foundations fronted moneyas much 400000to seed candidate recruitment private funders bowed lsc business district budgeted 135000 process new payforperformance plan organizations receive 250 startup grant funding candidate recruited worth additional 6 7 total grant 2500 says jose alvarez director external affairs lsc relations earn full grant group would recruit 300 candidates julie woestehoff executive director parents united responsible education says organization received 25000 help recruit candidates 2000 election money allowed pure hire staff recruit candidates run election programs cable access networks present workshops basics lsc operations year pure one 19 recipients getting 250 front promised payforperformance plan woestehoff says dont know well able year given lack resources initial 250 enough print flyers much funding lsc candidate recruitment decreased dramatically since late 1990s support councils zenith 1998 2002 adhoc fund administered school leadership cooperative leadership quality education used money supplied private foundations give local organizations grants candidate recruitment campaign assistance donations peaked 2000 400000 support fell quickly fund last operated 2002 election cycle resources totaled 80000 since cps source lsc cash 2006 election cycle organizations received 2500 grants cpsall delivered frontto recruit candidates committed 70000 effort year cps plans spend 135000 fund recruiting organizations well district recruiting efforts changing priorities woestehoff says payforperformance program undercuts organizations ability recruit alvarez says thinks 7 per applicant fair amount top startup funds gave lsc application forms district distributed organizations numbered office track recruits candidates approximately 5700 open spots 550 local school councilsthe deadline filing extended march 24 gudelia lopez senior program officer education chicago community trust says foundation longer funds lsc elections narrowed priorities issue country chicago terms student achievement says much tightly focused curricular areas instruction also line district since barbara easonwatkins arne duncan took theyve focusing curriculum instruction wieboldt foundation also used contribute election fund less money give away recent years funds community organizing groups include education among issues always feeling election funding would institutionalized cps says foundations associate director carmen prieto never going private philanthropy would forever source support philanthropic community felt supported dedicated revenue stream big goals payforperformance approach new district alvarez expects recipients 250 recruiting grants see list page 16 find 20 25 candidates council would whopping 10000 candidates dramatic increase 7000some signed previous years alvarez blames lack lsc participation dearth knowledge councils office trying new tactic year help members successful lscs district host lsc information sessions cluster areas years past district run 35000 70000 marketing campaign promote lscs advertisements neighborhood community ethnic newspapers chicago journal hoy chicago defender well radio stations wgci wlit wgn although ads effective direct recruiting alvarez says make sure dont leave anyone recruiting candidates difficult years may get even tougher parents started school reform movement get older interest participation lscs waning says jitu brown education organizer kenwoodoakland community organization lot people join lscs sense history chicago school reform brown says mary williams 68 lsc president white elementary career academy west pullman knows problem well served council nearly every term since inception council members school agegrandparents greatgrandparents foster parents seems younger parents interested says one point resorted cooking serving fourcourse meal every lsc meeting effort encourage attendance doesnt want run may shortage candidates lack participation lsc elections chicago mirrors difficulties school boards recruiting candidates nationwide according kathy christie vice president ecs clearinghouse research arm education commission states sometimes theres perception theyre given real work says legislative battles little research effectiveness lscs applies chicago says areas councils much power even easy boards get dragged nitty gritty decisions probably shouldnt spending time extracurricular activities playground equipment things certainly need dealt says even local councils like district boards need least try keep emphasis curriculum instruction moore executive director designs change blames districts past failure educate lscs rights powers lack parental interest understanding district reached lscs support initiatives backtoschool campaigns says boards ongoing attempts pass legislation would take away principal selection powers current board president rufus williams said wants take powers away lscs moore says referring statement williams made address city club chicago preparing another legislative battle spring history lscs turmoil curie high school led call limiting lsc powers click contact rebecca harris send email editorcatalystchicagoorg
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<p>I recently reported <a href="" type="internal">a story about Parvati Pujari</a>, a 25-year-old Indian woman from Mumbai, a national level athlete who was the first in her family to escape early marriage and get an education. The fourth of six sisters, she was also the first to go to college. Today she is pursuing a Master’s degree and teaching sports to little girls from poor families.</p>
<p>Her three older sisters weren’t as fortunate. They are among <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/46-of-south-asian-girls-marry-by-18-unicef/article6403721.ece" type="external">the estimated 43% of Indian</a> women aged 20-24 who are married before 18, even though child marriage is illegal here. Poverty and lack of education are two of the biggest contributors to this practice.</p>
<p>I met Parvati’s oldest sister, Malamma Pujari, who was married off when she was 13.</p>
<p>Malamma didn’t choose her husband. Like most Indians, hers was an “arranged marriage,” which means her parents chose who she’d marry. “You don’t even understand marriage at that age. You see girls getting married in your village, and you see them dressed up so well, and you think, ‘oh getting married will be fun! They’ll dress me up nicely too.’’</p>
<p>The reality of marriage though, was far from fun. Like most Indian brides, she had to move in with her husband’s family in his village, where she was put to work immediately.</p>
<p>“I had to work just like the adult women in the house,” says Malamma. She had to clean the house. She had to cook. She had to walk for miles to collect firewood. “I…slowly began to understand just how hard life is with the in-laws’.”</p>
<p>A couple of years later, her husband and she moved back to Mumbai in search of a better livelihood. They already had one daughter and soon they had a second one. But, her husband couldn’t earn enough money to support the family, she says. She had to sell her gold jewelry to make ends meet. The marriage grew strained and Malamma’s husband became abusive.</p>
<p />
<p>Malamma Pujari (center) with her daughters Sujata, 14 (left) and Sunita, 11 (right).&#160;</p>
<p>Rhitu Chatterjee</p>
<p>I’m not surprised to hear this. The <a href="http://www.icrw.org/" type="external">International Center for Research on Women</a> has found that Indian girls married under the age of 18 are <a href="http://www.icrw.org/child-marriage-facts-and-figures" type="external">more likely to experience domestic violence</a>. <a href="http://www.unicef.org/protection/57929_58008.html" type="external">This is true around the world</a>. Child marriage also increases the risk for a range of health issues: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2672998/" type="external">sexually transmitted diseases, malaria, cervical cancer and ultimately death during or after child birth</a>. There is also the increased risk of mental health problems. Girls in Malamma’s situation end up feeling helpless and depressed.</p>
<p>Malamma was luckier, in that she had the strength to walk away. She took her daughters and moved in to her parents’ home, where she has lived since. She works as a gardener, so she can raise her daughters and contribute to family expenses.</p>
<p>Her biggest regret in life is not being educated. “If only I’d had an education,” says Malamma. “Then I could have had a nice job, I wouldn’t have had to go through what I did.”</p>
<p>But what she didn’t get, she made sure Parvati and their two younger sisters did. Malamma has been the biggest champion for her sisters’ education. When her parents couldn’t go to the parent-teacher meetings at their schools, she showed up instead. Whenever their mother nagged Parvati or the younger sisters to get married, Malamma stood by her sisters’ side.</p>
<p>“I’ve gone through so much,” she tells me. “I don’t want my sisters to have to go through that.”</p>
<p>Parvati and her younger sisters, Bharta and Saraswati now have college degrees and good jobs. But their parents still nag them about getting married. Last year, the youngest sister, Bharta, 21, got engaged to a man her parents picked for her. The sisters tell me that their mother pressured her into agreeing to the marriage. But he is a good man and supportive of me, says Bharta. He agreed to push the wedding so she could finish college. “He is supportive of me having a job once I’m married,” she says.</p>
<p>Parvati also wants a man who is supportive of her own career. “He should also respect women,” she says. But she is not sure if is ready for marriage yet.</p>
<p>Meanwhile she and her younger sisters are making sure that their two nieces, Malamma’s daughters have a chance at a better life. It is now their turn to attend parent-teacher meetings at their niece’s schools and guide them in their studies. The nieces, Sujata, 14 and Sunita, 11, both commute for 4 hours each day to attend school in Mumbai. “One of them wants to become a teacher, the other wants to be an engineer," Parvati tells me proudly.</p>
<p>Malamma and Parvati fought hard against tradition in different ways. Malamma struggled in an abusive marriage, but had the courage to walk out. She is now making sure her sisters and daughters have a better life. Parvati fought hard not to be married off early and get an education instead, something her poor and illiterate parents couldn’t afford to give her. Today she is economically independent, and travels the country and the world for work. Thanks to the hardship faced by these two women, their younger sisters and Malamma’s daughters have better opportunities.</p>
<p>The two younger sisters, Saraswati and Bharta benefited from Parvati’s rebellion and got an education without having to fight for it. Malamma’s daughters also benefited from their mother’s and aunt’s struggles. They don’t have to worry about early marriage. They have the privilege to focus on their education and pursue their dreams.</p>
<p>There is a clear generational difference in choices available to the women and girls in this family. This change is happening in millions of families, not just here in a big&#160;city like Mumbai. I know of such stories in small towns and villages too. It is true that millions of girls and women are still married off early and have no say in their own lives. And yet, I see these positive changes only spreading. And I hope that the next generation of girls have better opportunities and the right to decide how they want to live their lives.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Across Women's Lives</a>&#160;team is back from Mumbai, where they spent two weeks&#160;meeting inspirational women and reported on their feats of feminism. With this, <a href="" type="internal">&#160;and other</a>&#160; <a href="" type="internal">behind the scenes blogs</a>, we'd like to reflect on the journalism and continue providing you with&#160;peeks into the reporting process.</p>
<p>All month we have featured&#160;a curated social media digest from the whole team, as well as&#160;dispatches from&#160;different&#160; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HerRights?src=hash" type="external">#HerRights</a>&#160;journalists. Today we hear from Rhitu Chatterjee, on air co-host&#160;of the Her Rights series.</p>
<p />
<p>FOLLOW THE TEAM</p>
<p>Marco Werman&#160;| Host, PRI's&#160;The World:&#160; <a href="https://twitter.com/MarcoWerman" type="external">@MarcoWerman</a>Rhitu Chatterjee&#160;| #HerRights Co-Host:&#160; <a href="https://twitter.com/RhituC" type="external">@RhituC</a>Anne Bailey&#160;| Visual Journalist/Digital Producer:&#160; <a href="https://twitter.com/annebaileymedia" type="external">@annebaileymedia</a>Isis Madrid&#160;| Social Media Journalist:&#160; <a href="https://twitter.com/isismadrid" type="external">@isismadrid</a>Andrea Crossan&#160;| Series Show Producer:&#160; <a href="https://twitter.com/AndreaCrossan" type="external">@AndreaCrossan</a>Chhavi Sachdev&#160;| Fixer:&#160; <a href="https://twitter.com/chhavi" type="external">@chhavi</a></p>
<p>SOCIAL MEDIA DIGEST</p>
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recently reported story parvati pujari 25yearold indian woman mumbai national level athlete first family escape early marriage get education fourth six sisters also first go college today pursuing masters degree teaching sports little girls poor families three older sisters werent fortunate among estimated 43 indian women aged 2024 married 18 even though child marriage illegal poverty lack education two biggest contributors practice met parvatis oldest sister malamma pujari married 13 malamma didnt choose husband like indians arranged marriage means parents chose shed marry dont even understand marriage age see girls getting married village see dressed well think oh getting married fun theyll dress nicely reality marriage though far fun like indian brides move husbands family village put work immediately work like adult women house says malamma clean house cook walk miles collect firewood islowly began understand hard life inlaws couple years later husband moved back mumbai search better livelihood already one daughter soon second one husband couldnt earn enough money support family says sell gold jewelry make ends meet marriage grew strained malammas husband became abusive malamma pujari center daughters sujata 14 left sunita 11 right160 rhitu chatterjee im surprised hear international center research women found indian girls married age 18 likely experience domestic violence true around world child marriage also increases risk range health issues sexually transmitted diseases malaria cervical cancer ultimately death child birth also increased risk mental health problems girls malammas situation end feeling helpless depressed malamma luckier strength walk away took daughters moved parents home lived since works gardener raise daughters contribute family expenses biggest regret life educated id education says malamma could nice job wouldnt go didnt get made sure parvati two younger sisters malamma biggest champion sisters education parents couldnt go parentteacher meetings schools showed instead whenever mother nagged parvati younger sisters get married malamma stood sisters side ive gone much tells dont want sisters go parvati younger sisters bharta saraswati college degrees good jobs parents still nag getting married last year youngest sister bharta 21 got engaged man parents picked sisters tell mother pressured agreeing marriage good man supportive says bharta agreed push wedding could finish college supportive job im married says parvati also wants man supportive career also respect women says sure ready marriage yet meanwhile younger sisters making sure two nieces malammas daughters chance better life turn attend parentteacher meetings nieces schools guide studies nieces sujata 14 sunita 11 commute 4 hours day attend school mumbai one wants become teacher wants engineer parvati tells proudly malamma parvati fought hard tradition different ways malamma struggled abusive marriage courage walk making sure sisters daughters better life parvati fought hard married early get education instead something poor illiterate parents couldnt afford give today economically independent travels country world work thanks hardship faced two women younger sisters malammas daughters better opportunities two younger sisters saraswati bharta benefited parvatis rebellion got education without fight malammas daughters also benefited mothers aunts struggles dont worry early marriage privilege focus education pursue dreams clear generational difference choices available women girls family change happening millions families big160city like mumbai know stories small towns villages true millions girls women still married early say lives yet see positive changes spreading hope next generation girls better opportunities right decide want live lives 160 160 the160 across womens lives160team back mumbai spent two weeks160meeting inspirational women reported feats feminism 160and other160 behind scenes blogs wed like reflect journalism continue providing with160peeks reporting process month featured160a curated social media digest whole team well as160dispatches from160different160 herrights160journalists today hear rhitu chatterjee air cohost160of rights series follow team marco werman160 host pris160the world160 marcowermanrhitu chatterjee160 herrights cohost160 rhitucanne bailey160 visual journalistdigital producer160 annebaileymediaisis madrid160 social media journalist160 isismadridandrea crossan160 series show producer160 andreacrossanchhavi sachdev160 fixer160 chhavi social media digest
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