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<p>Jason Lindsay is executive director of the PRIDE Fund against Gun Violence. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>In the aftermath of the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded, new efforts are emerging in the LGBT community to take on gun control in remembrance of the LGBT victims of the attack.</p>
<p>One major development is the establishment of a new political action committee called the <a href="http://www.pridefund.org/" type="external">PRIDE Fund to End Gun Violence</a>, which seeks to focus efforts from the LGBT community to elect to Congress lawmakers who will support&#160;meaningful gun safety legislation and defeat those who won’t.</p>
<p>Leading the effort as executive director is Jason Lindsay, a D.C.-based gay political operative who over the course of 12 years has worked in congressional offices, on national campaigns and served as&#160;a congressional relations officer with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Lindsay served for 14 years in the U.S. Army Reserve and was deployed to Iraq in 2003.</p>
<p>In an interview with the Washington Blade, Lindsay said the impetus for founding the PRIDE Fund to End Gun Violence was the desire of the LGBT community to take on gun control after the Orlando shooting.</p>
<p>“In the aftermath of Orlando, looking at so much of the energy in the community around the issue of gun control,&#160;most of the discussion was on protests and participating in calling members of Congress, which we know hasn’t worked,” Lindsay said. “Members of Congress continue to ignore the will of the American people on this issue, so the driving force was really to shape a political action committee where we could have the most direct impact on the electoral policy of gun control.”</p>
<p>In the first four days after its creation, Lindsay said the PRIDE Fund to End Gun Violence has raised about&#160;$10,000, but the goal is&#160;to raise $500,000 before November.&#160;Lindsay said he hasn’t yet engaged with LGBT rights groups, but has already started dialogue with gun control organizations, like the Newtown Action Alliance.</p>
<p>“The immediate goal is we’re quickly ramping up the organization,” Lindsay said. “We’ve accomplished an incredible amount in the last 10 days, but the first thing is we need volunteers and we need people to get involved, so we can quickly grow the movement.”</p>
<p>The&#160;short-term&#160;goal for the committee, Lindsay said, is expanding the website and growing&#160;other technology platforms in addition to establishing a hub for volunteer operations enabling further growth and fundraising. On Thursday, the committee is set to hold a volunteer meeting at 7 p.m. at a yet-to-be determined location&#160;in the Dupont Circle area.</p>
<p>But the long-term vision, Lindsay said, is to enact&#160;gun reform legislation at the federal level, such as an expansion of background checks, “no fly, no buy” legislation, restrictions on magazines and a ban on assault rifles. A yet-to-be-formed policy committee, he said, will work directly on those issues and determine specific bills to&#160;support.</p>
<p>The policy committee, Lindsay said, will also decide over the next couple of weeks&#160;criteria for endorsing candidates running for Congress, but generally that will consist of support for LGBT rights and gun reform legislation.</p>
<p>“At this point, we’re organized at the federal level,” Lindsay said. “That’s the way we’re registered with the Federal Election Commission. We have not yet had the opportunity of state races, but that’s something our policy committee is going to be looking at.”</p>
<p>Lindsay said the committee&#160;also intends to endorse presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, but hasn’t yet set a time for when that will happen.</p>
<p>Mark Glaze, a gay D.C. political operative who’s worked on both LGBT rights and gun control efforts, said the PRIDE Fund to End Gun Violence “appears to be taking off” at a crucial time.</p>
<p>“If I’ve had a better idea all year, I can’t remember what it is,” Glaze said. “I think when the community puts its brains, its determination and its money to work, it generally achieves what it sets out to do, and adding their juice to the fight against gun violence is exactly what we’ve needed for a while.”</p>
<p>The establishment of the&#160;PRIDE Fund to End Gun Violence is but one effort among LGBT advocates to join the fight for gun control in the Orlando shooting, which LGBT advocates and President Obama have called a hate crime and terrorist attack against the LGBT community.</p>
<p>On Tuesday evening, the New York-based LGBT grassroots group Queer Nation held a two-hour meeting at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual &amp; Transgender Community Center in Manhattan, where 150 attendees made and discussed proposals for action.</p>
<p>“In the wake of Orlando, we’re not going to be silent,” said Alan Klein, a spokesperson for Queer Nation. “The 49 demand that we turn the anger and sorrow that the LGBT community felt into action, and that’s what we’re going to do.”</p>
<p>According to Queer Nation, activists decided to organize a large action in New York City during the Republican National Convention to target presumptive Republican presidential nominee&#160;Donald Trump for his anti-LGBT and pro-gun positions, but between now and then additional actions will take place.</p>
<p>Another newly formed LGBT activist group, <a href="http://gaysagainstguns.net" type="external">Gays Against Guns</a>, turned out up to 750 on Sunday at the New York City Pride parade, where activists affiliated with the group chanted “Stop the NRA!” and staged die-ins along the route similar&#160;to demonstrations conducted by&#160;HIV/AIDS activists in the 1980s.</p>
<p>According to Gays Against&#160;Guns, the activists who engaged in the “die-ins”&#160;repeated in unison, “How many more have to die?” and were trailed by 49 silent marchers in white veils who each&#160;carried a placard with the name and photo of someone who died in Orlando.</p>
<p>“Gun violence has become a public health crisis in the U.S.,” said Gays Against&#160;Guns co-founder John Grauwiler.&#160;“The NRA and their enablers in D.C. have blood on their hands and make us gag in disgust. We intend to have great fun in the weeks and months ahead haunting their collective bad conscience until they do the right thing or get kicked out of power. They’ve hit us too close to home this time.”</p>
<p>Within a week of&#160;the Orlando shooting, the nation’s largest LGBT advocacy group, the Human Rights Campaign, <a href="" type="internal">approved a resolution</a>affirming the organization would&#160;support gun safety reform measures.</p>
<p>And yet, another faction within the LGBT community is urging LGBT people to arm themselves in the aftermath of the Orlando shooting. One such faction is Pink Pistols, which, under the slogan, “Pick On Someone Your Own Caliber,” urges gay people in the 31 states that allow concealed carry permits to arm themselves and learn to use firearms safely.</p>
<p>Lindsay cautioned against calling on LGBT people to arm themselves in the aftermath of the Orlando massacre, pointing out even the National Rifle Association has said firearms don’t belong in a place where people are drinking, such as the Pulse nightclub where the shooting took place.</p>
<p>“I would say that more guns doesn’t equate to less violence and being protected,” Lindsay said. “I think taking assault-style weapons off the street and working to improve our gun control policy is important, but adding more into the mix just isn’t the solution.”</p>
<p>Amid other gun efforts control efforts in the LGBT community and elsewhere, Lindsay said the establishment of&#160;the PRIDE Fund to End Gun Violence is important because it will provide additional focus.</p>
<p>“Our motivation was we thought it was important to have a unique and dedicated LGBTQ voice that was solely focused on the issue of gun reform and protections,” Lindsay said. “And we have a strong desire to work collaboratively with all other groups involved — both gay and straight — to really create change in this country.”</p>
<p>If efforts of gun control advocates to enact legislation are successful, Lindsay said it would be “a very positive step toward making the country safer” in the aftermath of the Orlando shooting.</p>
<p>“I think that it’s important for there to be a comprehensive plan to end gun violence in America to really counter the increase in the lethality of these attacks,” Lindsay said. “There is the discussion of terrorism, we need to focus on mental health…and those things are incredibly important, but at the same time, limiting the access to such powerful assault-style weapons is one of the first steps I think we can take.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Alan Klein</a> <a href="" type="internal">Gays Against Guns</a> <a href="" type="internal">gun control</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jason Lindsay</a> <a href="" type="internal">Mark Glaze</a> <a href="" type="internal">PRIDE Fund to End Gun Violence</a> <a href="" type="internal">Queer Nation</a></p>
| false | 3 |
jason lindsay executive director pride fund gun violence washington blade photo michael key aftermath mass shooting gay nightclub orlando leaving 49 people dead 53 wounded new efforts emerging lgbt community take gun control remembrance lgbt victims attack one major development establishment new political action committee called pride fund end gun violence seeks focus efforts lgbt community elect congress lawmakers support160meaningful gun safety legislation defeat wont leading effort executive director jason lindsay dcbased gay political operative course 12 years worked congressional offices national campaigns served as160a congressional relations officer department veterans affairs lindsay served 14 years us army reserve deployed iraq 2003 interview washington blade lindsay said impetus founding pride fund end gun violence desire lgbt community take gun control orlando shooting aftermath orlando looking much energy community around issue gun control160most discussion protests participating calling members congress know hasnt worked lindsay said members congress continue ignore american people issue driving force really shape political action committee could direct impact electoral policy gun control first four days creation lindsay said pride fund end gun violence raised about16010000 goal is160to raise 500000 november160lindsay said hasnt yet engaged lgbt rights groups already started dialogue gun control organizations like newtown action alliance immediate goal quickly ramping organization lindsay said weve accomplished incredible amount last 10 days first thing need volunteers need people get involved quickly grow movement the160shortterm160goal committee lindsay said expanding website growing160other technology platforms addition establishing hub volunteer operations enabling growth fundraising thursday committee set hold volunteer meeting 7 pm yettobe determined location160in dupont circle area longterm vision lindsay said enact160gun reform legislation federal level expansion background checks fly buy legislation restrictions magazines ban assault rifles yettobeformed policy committee said work directly issues determine specific bills to160support policy committee lindsay said also decide next couple weeks160criteria endorsing candidates running congress generally consist support lgbt rights gun reform legislation point organized federal level lindsay said thats way registered federal election commission yet opportunity state races thats something policy committee going looking lindsay said committee160also intends endorse presumptive democratic presidential nominee hillary clinton hasnt yet set time happen mark glaze gay dc political operative whos worked lgbt rights gun control efforts said pride fund end gun violence appears taking crucial time ive better idea year cant remember glaze said think community puts brains determination money work generally achieves sets adding juice fight gun violence exactly weve needed establishment the160pride fund end gun violence one effort among lgbt advocates join fight gun control orlando shooting lgbt advocates president obama called hate crime terrorist attack lgbt community tuesday evening new yorkbased lgbt grassroots group queer nation held twohour meeting lesbian gay bisexual amp transgender community center manhattan 150 attendees made discussed proposals action wake orlando going silent said alan klein spokesperson queer nation 49 demand turn anger sorrow lgbt community felt action thats going according queer nation activists decided organize large action new york city republican national convention target presumptive republican presidential nominee160donald trump antilgbt progun positions additional actions take place another newly formed lgbt activist group gays guns turned 750 sunday new york city pride parade activists affiliated group chanted stop nra staged dieins along route similar160to demonstrations conducted by160hivaids activists 1980s according gays against160guns activists engaged dieins160repeated unison many die trailed 49 silent marchers white veils each160carried placard name photo someone died orlando gun violence become public health crisis us said gays against160guns cofounder john grauwiler160the nra enablers dc blood hands make us gag disgust intend great fun weeks months ahead haunting collective bad conscience right thing get kicked power theyve hit us close home time within week of160the orlando shooting nations largest lgbt advocacy group human rights campaign approved resolutionaffirming organization would160support gun safety reform measures yet another faction within lgbt community urging lgbt people arm aftermath orlando shooting one faction pink pistols slogan pick someone caliber urges gay people 31 states allow concealed carry permits arm learn use firearms safely lindsay cautioned calling lgbt people arm aftermath orlando massacre pointing even national rifle association said firearms dont belong place people drinking pulse nightclub shooting took place would say guns doesnt equate less violence protected lindsay said think taking assaultstyle weapons street working improve gun control policy important adding mix isnt solution amid gun efforts control efforts lgbt community elsewhere lindsay said establishment of160the pride fund end gun violence important provide additional focus motivation thought important unique dedicated lgbtq voice solely focused issue gun reform protections lindsay said strong desire work collaboratively groups involved gay straight really create change country efforts gun control advocates enact legislation successful lindsay said would positive step toward making country safer aftermath orlando shooting think important comprehensive plan end gun violence america really counter increase lethality attacks lindsay said discussion terrorism need focus mental healthand things incredibly important time limiting access powerful assaultstyle weapons one first steps think take alan klein gays guns gun control jason lindsay mark glaze pride fund end gun violence queer nation
| 818 |
<p>Hillary Clinton speaks at the International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. in 2012. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called for an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic “once and for all” in remarks before a meeting with a group of HIV/AIDS activists on Thursday.</p>
<p>According to the Clinton campaign, the candidate met with a diverse group representing more than 70 leaders and organizations in the HIV/AIDS community at the Hillary for America headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y. Among the discussion topics were tackling the epidemic in the U.S. and globally, fighting discrimination against HIV/AIDS and working together with HIV and AIDS experts and advocates to achieve an “AIDS-free generation.”</p>
<p>In public remarks before the meeting took place, Clinton called for additional resources to confront HIV/AIDS both within the United States and overseas.</p>
<p>“We do have the tools to end this epidemic once and for all, but we need to rededicate ourselves to fighting HIV and AIDS, and leaving no one behind,” Clinton said. “That means continuing to increase research and expanding the use of medications like PrEP. It means capping out-of-pockets expenses and drug costs, and building on President Obama’s National HIV and AIDS Strategy to increase the number of people on HIV treatment worldwide.”</p>
<p>Clinton also called for the&#160;reform of state HIV criminalization laws, which continue in various forms to criminalize perceived exposure to HIV in 32 states regardless of the actual risk of transmission.</p>
<p>Activists said in a statement 20 representatives took part in the meeting and presented Clinton <a href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/healthgap/pages/986/attachments/original/1462982938/9_May_2016_Consensus_Policy_Paper_w_Endorsers_(no_contact_info).pdf?1462982938" type="external">a policy document</a> that, among other recommendations, seeks&#160;to increase U.S. funding in the global AIDS response by $2 billion by 2020. According to activists, that would double the number of people on treatment directly supported by the United States to more than&#160;30 million people by 2020.</p>
<p>According to the statement from HIV/AIDS activists, Clinton didn’t commit to this target, but agreed to make public&#160;treatment and funding targets for the global AIDS program.&#160;Activists have asked the candidate&#160;to release these targets within 30 days.</p>
<p>Hilary McQuie, who attended the meeting&#160;as&#160;director of U.S. policy and grassroots mobilization for the HIV/AIDS group Health GAP, said&#160;the next president must increase the momentum in the global AIDS effort by increasing funding.</p>
<p>“We are at a crossroads in the AIDS response,” McQuie said. “If we scale up access to treatment and prevention programs within the next five years, we will curb the spread of HIV and see the end of the pandemic as we know it by 2030. If we choose to continue business as usual, we will see rising infection rates and millions more preventable deaths in the coming decades.”</p>
<p>According to the statement from HIV/AIDS activists, delegates in the meeting also raised concerns about pharmaceutical prices and global access to medicine, including problems that result from trade deals and intellectual property law. The activists requested that Clinton commit to stop the Trans-Pacific Partnership and similar&#160;trade agreements in addition to&#160;stopping U.S. pressure on India to change the patent laws, which they say allow it to produce generic medications.</p>
<p>In response, Clinton reaffirmed her opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership particularly on the grounds of its intellectual property provisions regarding pharmaceuticals, according to the statement.</p>
<p>Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, praised Clinton in a statement for taking part in the meeting, saying it demonstrates her commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS.</p>
<p>“It is essential that our next president be an outspoken champion for ending the HIV and AIDS epidemic,” Griffin said. “Secretary Clinton’s meeting today with advocates underscores her commitment to do everything she can to help people living with and affected by HIV, and to work with us to end the epidemic and the continued stigma around HIV.”</p>
<p>The agreement to meet with HIV/AIDS advocates was a result of letters sent to each of the presidential candidates in the aftermath of Clinton’s controversial remarks earlier this year praising President and Nancy Reagan for their efforts on HIV/AIDS. Clinton has apologized twice for those remarks, but never explained why she made them in the first place.</p>
<p>Among the more than 70 signers of the letters were the New York-based Gay Men’s Health Crisis, ACT UP New York, the National Black Justice Coalition, NMAC, Human Rights Campaign, the New York-based health agency Amida Care and the D.C.-based HIV/AIDS advocacy group Housing Works.</p>
<p>Peter Staley, a New York-based HIV activist and meeting participant, said the discussion lasted for more than an hour and&#160;“started a process that we think is going to achieve some historic promises from a presidential candidate during this election.”</p>
<p>“She made very clear to us that she doesn’t like making promises that she can’t keep, but she was very welcoming that we were bringing these ideas and she wanted to continue to discuss them in the month ahead,” Staley said.</p>
<p>The next step for HIV activists, Staley said, is meeting with her senior policy staff to&#160;convince her to adopt the promises, which&#160;he said he’s “hopeful” she will make as part of her&#160;campaign.</p>
<p>The candidate <a href="" type="internal">agreed</a> to take part in the meeting days before the crucial New York Democratic primary, which Clinton won over her rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), by 16 points in what was considered a decisive victory.</p>
<p>Clinton has made confronting HIV/AIDS, which affects an estimated 1.2 million people in the United States, a component of her presidential campaign.</p>
<p>After apologizing for praising Nancy Reagan on HIV/AIDS, Clinton wrote an op-ed outlining a plan to confront the disease, which includes increased HIV and AIDS research and investment; expanding access to PrEP, especially for at-risk populations; reforming state HIV criminalization laws and encouraging Republican governors to accept Medicaid expansion.</p>
<p>Sanders also agreed to meet HIV activists in the days before the New York primary, but <a href="" type="internal">cancelled</a> days before the meeting was scheduled to take place. The campaign didn’t response to further inquiries and phone calls, HIV/AIDS activists said.</p>
<p>After the meeting with Clinton, Staley said the Sanders campaign made&#160;a phone call&#160;to apologize for break down in communications and&#160;reschedule the meeting for May 25 in&#160;California, likely somewhere in the Bay Area near San Francisco.</p>
<p>The campaign for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has told activists&#160;he&#160;will schedule a meeting with HIV/AIDS activists after the campaign hires a policy staff, according to activists.</p>
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal">election 2016</a> <a href="" type="internal">Hillary Clinton</a> <a href="" type="internal">HIV/AIDS</a></p>
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hillary clinton speaks international aids conference washington dc 2012 washington blade file photo michael key democratic presidential candidate hillary clinton called end hivaids epidemic remarks meeting group hivaids activists thursday according clinton campaign candidate met diverse group representing 70 leaders organizations hivaids community hillary america headquarters brooklyn ny among discussion topics tackling epidemic us globally fighting discrimination hivaids working together hiv aids experts advocates achieve aidsfree generation public remarks meeting took place clinton called additional resources confront hivaids within united states overseas tools end epidemic need rededicate fighting hiv aids leaving one behind clinton said means continuing increase research expanding use medications like prep means capping outofpockets expenses drug costs building president obamas national hiv aids strategy increase number people hiv treatment worldwide clinton also called the160reform state hiv criminalization laws continue various forms criminalize perceived exposure hiv 32 states regardless actual risk transmission activists said statement 20 representatives took part meeting presented clinton policy document among recommendations seeks160to increase us funding global aids response 2 billion 2020 according activists would double number people treatment directly supported united states than16030 million people 2020 according statement hivaids activists clinton didnt commit target agreed make public160treatment funding targets global aids program160activists asked candidate160to release targets within 30 days hilary mcquie attended meeting160as160director us policy grassroots mobilization hivaids group health gap said160the next president must increase momentum global aids effort increasing funding crossroads aids response mcquie said scale access treatment prevention programs within next five years curb spread hiv see end pandemic know 2030 choose continue business usual see rising infection rates millions preventable deaths coming decades according statement hivaids activists delegates meeting also raised concerns pharmaceutical prices global access medicine including problems result trade deals intellectual property law activists requested clinton commit stop transpacific partnership similar160trade agreements addition to160stopping us pressure india change patent laws say allow produce generic medications response clinton reaffirmed opposition transpacific partnership particularly grounds intellectual property provisions regarding pharmaceuticals according statement chad griffin president human rights campaign praised clinton statement taking part meeting saying demonstrates commitment fighting hivaids essential next president outspoken champion ending hiv aids epidemic griffin said secretary clintons meeting today advocates underscores commitment everything help people living affected hiv work us end epidemic continued stigma around hiv agreement meet hivaids advocates result letters sent presidential candidates aftermath clintons controversial remarks earlier year praising president nancy reagan efforts hivaids clinton apologized twice remarks never explained made first place among 70 signers letters new yorkbased gay mens health crisis act new york national black justice coalition nmac human rights campaign new yorkbased health agency amida care dcbased hivaids advocacy group housing works peter staley new yorkbased hiv activist meeting participant said discussion lasted hour and160started process think going achieve historic promises presidential candidate election made clear us doesnt like making promises cant keep welcoming bringing ideas wanted continue discuss month ahead staley said next step hiv activists staley said meeting senior policy staff to160convince adopt promises which160he said hes hopeful make part her160campaign candidate agreed take part meeting days crucial new york democratic primary clinton rival democratic nomination sen bernie sanders ivt 16 points considered decisive victory clinton made confronting hivaids affects estimated 12 million people united states component presidential campaign apologizing praising nancy reagan hivaids clinton wrote oped outlining plan confront disease includes increased hiv aids research investment expanding access prep especially atrisk populations reforming state hiv criminalization laws encouraging republican governors accept medicaid expansion sanders also agreed meet hiv activists days new york primary cancelled days meeting scheduled take place campaign didnt response inquiries phone calls hivaids activists said meeting clinton staley said sanders campaign made160a phone call160to apologize break communications and160reschedule meeting may 25 in160california likely somewhere bay area near san francisco campaign presumptive republican presidential nominee donald trump told activists160he160will schedule meeting hivaids activists campaign hires policy staff according activists election 2016 hillary clinton hivaids
| 642 |
<p>Ghana is one of only a handful of places where women are more likely to start businesses than men.</p>
<p>There are corporate-feeling malls and glossy supermarkets popping up all over the West African country. Still, more than 90 percent of people here still do their almost all their shopping at open-air markets, where the stalls are dominated by women, each running a small business.</p>
<p>It’s an encouraging trend, but behind this bright statistic is a troubled history: during Ghana’s military coups of the 1970s and 1980s, market women became the target of government terror, blamed for an economic crisis gripping the country.</p>
<p>To understand why that could have happened, you have to first see the market women’s power in action.</p>
<p>Haggling as a sales strategy</p>
<p>Take Matilda Moses, who sells what many consider the finest tomatoes in Accra’s Tudu Market. Her stall is small — a plywood tabletop balanced on an old crate — but she can make the equivalent of $300 in sales in a good week. It’s a tough business, Moses tells me in Ga, the language she speaks: “It can cost you, but it can make you good money.”</p>
<p>Some of Matilda’s customers come from middle-class neighborhoods close to the new supermarkets. But they choose to go out of their way to come here. “Her tomatoes attracted me,” says customer Grace Nortey.</p>
<p>While the produce in supermarkets tends to be imported, the produce in markets is shipped in weekly from the bush — the countryside — so it’s better quality, and cheaper.</p>
<p>Nortey also prefers shopping at markets because she can haggle the price down. She got a huge bag of tomatoes, which Moses originally priced at 12 Ghana cedis, for just 10 cedis (about $2.60.)</p>
<p>“You can negotiate with them; they’ll reduce the price for you, that’s why most of the time I come to the market to buy,” Nortey says.</p>
<p>Haggling is something that Ghanaians actually love to do. People expect it. So it’s a big part of Moses’ tomato selling strategy. “These ones I’ve packed here, I price it at 10 cedi. Maybe the customer comes and says: ‘I want a discount,’ so you let them buy it at nine or eight.” If she knows there’s a shortage of good tomatoes she jacks the price up to 14 or 15 cedi. "Or if the market’s dry, you’ll say ‘it’s 15, but give me 14.” So the price doesn’t stay in one place. There’s no one price, Moses says — she holds all these figures in her head.</p>
<p>Ghanaian women have found a way to thrive in this “informal economy” of trading, says George Owusu, a local economist whose work on market women was published by the <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/africa-in-focus/posts/2014/08/19-ghanaian-women-entrepreneurs-owusu-quartey-bawakyillenuo" type="external">Brookings Institution</a>. In other <a href="http://www.gemconsortium.org/report/47109" type="external">research</a>, he found that 60 percent of women in Ghana start their own businesses, compared with just 42 percent of men.</p>
<p>Owusu has a personal reason for the focus on these small-business owners: own mother was a market trader. “She would go to Accra, buy clothes and other things, and come back and sell,” he says. His father was retired, so his mother was the main breadwinner for the family of 12.</p>
<p />
<p>Jerry Rawlings (left) took over Ghana in a series of military coups d'etat starting in 1979. For years, he blamed market women for an economic crisis that gripped the country.</p>
<p>Courtesy of JJ Rawlings Archival Library</p>
<p>Troubled days for market women</p>
<p>Owusu was about six when an Air Force lieutenant named <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1050310.stm" type="external">Jerry Rawlings</a> staged two successive coups d'etat and became Ghana’s military dictator. Owusu remembers the military curfew at 6pm and soldiers rolling through town, targeting everyone they considered a threat, including his own landlord.</p>
<p>“We were living in this apartment owned by a retired military officer, and this man was picked up. Apparently as very sympathetic to the regime which had been overthrown,” says Owusu. “And the military, at the time put this man through hell. He was stripped naked except with panties on, and he was paraded through the streets of the town.”</p>
<p>Owusu’s mother was also considered a threat too. “The military will come in and they will find somebody to blame,” he says. “And unfortunately, it looks like at the time, the easiest target they could pick were market women and women engaged in businesses.”</p>
<p>Market women were accused of driving up the price of everything in the markets. One politician said they were causing “moral decadence and economic degradation.” The army stormed the markets, searched the homes of traders and seized everything in sight. There were arrests and public floggings. Some paid with their lives.</p>
<p>“If you were a trader, it wasn’t safe for you to engage in any meaningful trading, because if you are caught, or you were seen, or you were reported to be overpricing your goods beyond what the soldiers want you to sell your goods, then you have a problem,” Owusu says. Traders faced a stark choice: Sell for less than your goods are worth (which will almost certainly put you out of business), or risk arrest and worse.</p>
<p>“To avoid all this, my mother stopped trading,” Owusu says. She shut her stall and smuggled some of her unsold stock to friends and family in other parts of the country. But that wasn’t enough. Most of her money was tied up in expensive bales of textiles, which she had to destroy. She cut up the textiles, so if the soldiers came knocking, they’d look used.</p>
<p>It was a decade before she could trade again. “The income from my mother was quite critical, and here is the case, my mother had to abandon her trading abilities because of what was happening at the time, and I can tell you, the family went through hell,” he says.</p>
<p>Stories like this are distressingly common. Rawlings, the dictator, continued to claim that market women caused Ghana’s economic crisis. But then, &#160;a decade after that, he said the real reason for the floggings was that some market women had been rude to his soldiers. Whatever the case, in 1979 soldiers went to the country's biggest market complex in the heart of Accra, planted explosives and destroyed all the businesses.</p>
<p />
<p>Once again, women dominate&#160;Tudu Market and others like it in central Accra.</p>
<p>Yepoka Yeebo</p>
<p>Markets restored</p>
<p>Ghana is no longer a military dictatorship. And today, 36 years on, the markets of Accra are thriving again. Nobody really talks about the bad old days here now. Most of the women affected, like Owusu’s mother, have retired or passed on. But market women are well aware of the economic power they have, and the risks they’re taking on by running these businesses. Now, though, the risks are mostly economic.</p>
<p>Moses keeps an eye on all sorts of economic factors that could affect prices: a good harvest, or bad weather, or wedding season. This is all crucial, because Moses is assuming a lot of risk: she buys three crates of tomatoes every week. If she miscalculates, she could end up with a bunch of rotting produce and no money.</p>
<p>“You might be able to get 30 Ghana cedi [of profit]. On some you’ll get 20 on it,” Moses says. “Sometimes you just make exactly what you bought the crate for, with no profit at all, so you’ve tired yourself out for nothing.” She balances out the risks by saving — even if it’s just one cedi (about 30 cents) — every day.</p>
<p>A guy at the market comes around, collects cash from her and holds it until the end of the month. The practice is an old one, and it’s called “susu.” It means that the money doesn’t get spent, and she doesn’t have to carry lots of cash around. This lump sum is the reward that keeps her going, it’s pushing the next generation of her family into the middle class. The other thing that keeps her going? Her customers.</p>
<p>“Always give the customer a little something extra so they’re happy and they keep coming to you,” Moses advises. “Be good to them, and the customers keep coming.” With that, she pours an extra bowl of tomatoes into her customer’s already bulging bag.</p>
| false | 3 |
ghana one handful places women likely start businesses men corporatefeeling malls glossy supermarkets popping west african country still 90 percent people still almost shopping openair markets stalls dominated women running small business encouraging trend behind bright statistic troubled history ghanas military coups 1970s 1980s market women became target government terror blamed economic crisis gripping country understand could happened first see market womens power action haggling sales strategy take matilda moses sells many consider finest tomatoes accras tudu market stall small plywood tabletop balanced old crate make equivalent 300 sales good week tough business moses tells ga language speaks cost make good money matildas customers come middleclass neighborhoods close new supermarkets choose go way come tomatoes attracted says customer grace nortey produce supermarkets tends imported produce markets shipped weekly bush countryside better quality cheaper nortey also prefers shopping markets haggle price got huge bag tomatoes moses originally priced 12 ghana cedis 10 cedis 260 negotiate theyll reduce price thats time come market buy nortey says haggling something ghanaians actually love people expect big part moses tomato selling strategy ones ive packed price 10 cedi maybe customer comes says want discount let buy nine eight knows theres shortage good tomatoes jacks price 14 15 cedi markets dry youll say 15 give 14 price doesnt stay one place theres one price moses says holds figures head ghanaian women found way thrive informal economy trading says george owusu local economist whose work market women published brookings institution research found 60 percent women ghana start businesses compared 42 percent men owusu personal reason focus smallbusiness owners mother market trader would go accra buy clothes things come back sell says father retired mother main breadwinner family 12 jerry rawlings left took ghana series military coups detat starting 1979 years blamed market women economic crisis gripped country courtesy jj rawlings archival library troubled days market women owusu six air force lieutenant named jerry rawlings staged two successive coups detat became ghanas military dictator owusu remembers military curfew 6pm soldiers rolling town targeting everyone considered threat including landlord living apartment owned retired military officer man picked apparently sympathetic regime overthrown says owusu military time put man hell stripped naked except panties paraded streets town owusus mother also considered threat military come find somebody blame says unfortunately looks like time easiest target could pick market women women engaged businesses market women accused driving price everything markets one politician said causing moral decadence economic degradation army stormed markets searched homes traders seized everything sight arrests public floggings paid lives trader wasnt safe engage meaningful trading caught seen reported overpricing goods beyond soldiers want sell goods problem owusu says traders faced stark choice sell less goods worth almost certainly put business risk arrest worse avoid mother stopped trading owusu says shut stall smuggled unsold stock friends family parts country wasnt enough money tied expensive bales textiles destroy cut textiles soldiers came knocking theyd look used decade could trade income mother quite critical case mother abandon trading abilities happening time tell family went hell says stories like distressingly common rawlings dictator continued claim market women caused ghanas economic crisis 160a decade said real reason floggings market women rude soldiers whatever case 1979 soldiers went countrys biggest market complex heart accra planted explosives destroyed businesses women dominate160tudu market others like central accra yepoka yeebo markets restored ghana longer military dictatorship today 36 years markets accra thriving nobody really talks bad old days women affected like owusus mother retired passed market women well aware economic power risks theyre taking running businesses though risks mostly economic moses keeps eye sorts economic factors could affect prices good harvest bad weather wedding season crucial moses assuming lot risk buys three crates tomatoes every week miscalculates could end bunch rotting produce money might able get 30 ghana cedi profit youll get 20 moses says sometimes make exactly bought crate profit youve tired nothing balances risks saving even one cedi 30 cents every day guy market comes around collects cash holds end month practice old one called susu means money doesnt get spent doesnt carry lots cash around lump sum reward keeps going pushing next generation family middle class thing keeps going customers always give customer little something extra theyre happy keep coming moses advises good customers keep coming pours extra bowl tomatoes customers already bulging bag
| 718 |
<p>This story was prepared in partnership with The Virginian-Pilot.</p>
<p>DESTIN, Fla. — From the moment Lynsi Price absorbed the crushing news that her younger brother had drowned while training to become a Navy SEAL, she struggled to understand how such a thing could happen.</p>
<p>For two years she had watched James “Derek” Lovelace prepare for the grueling SEALs basic training course — swimming, running and weightlifting in the Florida coastal town where they grew up. He was a great swimmer, a strong athlete. How could he have died in the first week, during a pool drill designed to test basic water competence?</p>
<p>"I knew in my heart that something wasn't done right," Price, 24, told NBC News in a tearful interview. "Because he would have made it."</p>
<p>Navy officials assured the family it was a freak accident, perhaps complicated by hidden medical issues, she said. Price and her father, James Lovelace, an Iraq war veteran, came to believe what they were told by men in uniform, she said.</p>
<p>But on July 6, the Lovelace family received another shattering blow: The San Diego Medical Examiner’s office issued a public autopsy report labeling the death a homicide — and describing in chilling detail how surveillance video showed a SEAL instructor repeatedly dunking Lovelace as he struggled in the water while following him around the pool and yelling at him.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Navy SEAL Trainee's Death Ruled a Homicide</a></p>
<p>While the drill was designed to create an “adverse environment,” the report says, instructors were not supposed to dunk trainees.</p>
<p>The family is reeling. While declining to criticize the Navy as an institution, they want the instructor and his commanders to be held accountable, Price says. And they are concerned about the thoroughness of that investigation, given that they were told things by Navy officials that were later contradicted by the medical examiner inquiry.</p>
<p>“We were just misled,” Price told NBC News, in an interview alongside Rachel Richardson, Derek’s longtime girlfriend, and Ryan Andrews, the family’s Tallahassee lawyer. “We were told and made to believe that this was a tragic accident... We trusted these men.”</p>
<p>Even that autopsy report, they say, includes what they believe is misinformation attributed to the Navy. It says Lovelace, a former college baseball player, was “reported to not be a strong swimmer,” citing Navy records.</p>
<p>The family says that is nonsense. A Navy SEAL who helped Lovelace prepare for the training told NBC News that Derek was one of the best athletes he has ever seen. Other trainees said similar things at his funeral.</p>
<p>Navy officials said they are limited in what they can say in response, given the pending investigation into the matter by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.</p>
<p>But Lt. Trevor Davids, a spokesman for Naval Special Warfare Center, which oversees SEAL training, disputed that anyone lied to the Lovelace family.</p>
<p>“We've had a lot of command and other support personnel in contact with the family,” he said. “Nobody has been lying to them. These are people who are actually concerned with the well-being of the family."</p>
<p>Because of the Navy’s silence, however, a number of questions remain unanswered about its handling of the matter.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Surge Reported in Near Drownings During SEAL Training</a></p>
<p>The Navy didn’t announce Lovelace’s May 6 death until four days later, after <a href="" type="internal">officials were questioned</a> about it by NBC News and The Virginian-Pilot. The official account portrayed the matter as an accident, not mentioning any unusual treatment of Derek by an instructor prior to him being pulled from the water.</p>
<p>It was only on May 14, after NBC News and the Virginian-Pilot published a story <a href="" type="internal">raising questions about the Navy’s account</a>, that an instructor was removed from duty, according to Navy officials. The instructor, a SEAL who has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since joining the Navy in 2008, has not been charged with a crime. The Navy has declined to name him.</p>
<p>The day before the coroner’s report was released, military officials at the Pentagon told an NBC News reporter that no instructor held Lovelace under water. Navy officials told Lovelace’s father the same thing, according to Andrews. He did not name them.</p>
<p>The coroner’s report, however, told a different story.</p>
<p>Lovelace was in a pool in Coronado, California, during his first week of the six-month Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs training program, or BUD/S. In the drill, known as Combat Swimmer Orientation, trainees are required to tread water while wearing fatigues, boots and masks filled with water.</p>
<p>Instructors splash trainees and yell at them during the drill but are not supposed to dunk them, the medical examiner’s report says, citing the Navy. Davids said he could not comment on the training protocol.</p>
<p>The autopsy says Lovelace appeared to be struggling when an instructor on a platform outside the pool pointed him out. An instructor in the pool swam to Lovelace, dunked him under and “followed him around the pool for approximately 5 minutes,” the report says.</p>
<p>“He continually splashes [Lovelace], dunks him at least one additional time, and appears to be yelling at him. [Lovelace] is also splashed by other individuals during the event. At one point in the video, another individual in the water is seen pulling him up and away from the instructor.”</p>
<p>Lovelace’s head went under multiple times, and the instructor pulled him up several times, the report says.</p>
<p>“Multiple people stated that his face was purple and his lips were blue,” the report says. “One individual was even reportedly considering calling a 'time-out' to stop the exercise.”</p>
<p>When it did stop, Lovelace was still breathing, the report said, but “abundant discolored water came out of his mouth,” and he became unresponsive. An instructor helped him to the edge of the pool, but he could not be revived. He was pronounced dead later, at a nearby hospital.</p>
<p>The autopsy report noted that he had a slightly enlarged heart and a slower than normal heartbeat, both of which are common among athletes. The medical examiner said it was unknown whether his heart abnormalities contributed to his death.</p>
<p>But because he was dunked and not given aid despite his struggling, the medical examiner concluded, the cause of death was “properly listed as drowning.” His enlarged heart is listed only as a “possible contributing condition.”</p>
<p>Although the manner of death could be considered by some as an accident, the report said, “it is our opinion that the actions, and inactions, of the instructors and other individuals involved were excessive and directly contributed to the death, and the manner of death is best classified as homicide.”</p>
<p>“I know now, in my heart, it was not an accident,” Price told NBC News.</p>
<p>“Do I think that the instructor woke up that day and said, ‘I'm gonna intentionally hurt someone to where they will be unconscious?’ No,” she added. “I don't think that instructor did that. But I think that Derek was very intimidating and strong, and that instructor that day took it way too far. And he should be held accountable for his actions, as well as the chain of command.”</p>
<p>Derek’s father James Lovelace, an Air Force veteran who works as a military contractor, declined to be interviewed. His lawyer, Andrews, said he wants “an appropriate outcome — an objective and transparent investigation. And I think that if that happens, the answer will be self-evident for the Navy. These individuals need to be brought to justice and to answer.”</p>
<p>The family is particularly concerned, Andrews said, about passages in the coroner’s report citing “Navy records” and “reports” that say Derek was not a strong swimmer.</p>
<p>That is demonstrably false, they say. Prospective SEAL trainees are timed in a 500-yard swim test, and Derek’s time was just over 8 minutes, Andrews said, about average for sailors selected to enter the course. At his funeral, according to a video reviewed by NBC News, fellow trainees told stories about his physical prowess and said he routinely bested them in running and swimming drills.</p>
<p>Price showed NBC News the stretch of Florida Gulf Coast beach where her brother used to train in sometimes treacherous currents, often swimming with a weight vest. She saw him hold his breath here for four minutes during a freedive. He also excelled at running, Richardson said, and was an incredible acrobat, able to run up walls and turn flips with his body.</p>
<p>"He woke up every morning at 5:00 a.m. and went to CrossFit," Price said. "From CrossFit, he ran anywhere from five to ten miles. From there, he would go to his job. When he got off, he would then go to the jetties, swim laps against the current with the boots and the weight vest. From there, he would either go to CrossFit again or come home and eat and go to bed. That was Derek's daily routine."</p>
<p>The autopsy report also speculated that Derek could have had asthma because he had a prescription for the drug Singulaire. The family says the medication was for mild allergies, not asthma.</p>
<p>“My whole family has seasonal allergies. And no one in my family has asthma,” Price said.</p>
<p>Price remembers her brother as an upbeat, positive person who uplifted those around him.</p>
<p>“Derek was so happy. He loved life. He was so adventurous,” she said. “He lived life to the extreme. I mean, there was nothing he, you know, couldn't do or was afraid of.”</p>
<p>In text messages, Derek said his first week of SEALs training was going well, and he reported excelling in the physical aspects, said Richardson, a marine biologist who had been his girlfriend since they were in the eighth grade together.</p>
<p>“When Derek's telling me, you know, ‘I'm crushing it, I'm killing it,’ I'm sure he's got great scores,” she said. “My personal thought was, this instructor knows how tough this kid is. I don't think he had intentions of ultimately leading to his death, but I think he saw, 'Oh, this kid's killing it? This kid's crushing it? Let's see how far we can push him. He can handle it.’”</p>
<p>Whether the instructor or anyone will be punished for what happened remains to be seen.</p>
<p>“I'll never be at peace,” Price said, “until that instructor is held accountable for his actions. I won't be at peace.”</p>
| false | 3 |
story prepared partnership virginianpilot destin fla moment lynsi price absorbed crushing news younger brother drowned training become navy seal struggled understand thing could happen two years watched james derek lovelace prepare grueling seals basic training course swimming running weightlifting florida coastal town grew great swimmer strong athlete could died first week pool drill designed test basic water competence knew heart something wasnt done right price 24 told nbc news tearful interview would made navy officials assured family freak accident perhaps complicated hidden medical issues said price father james lovelace iraq war veteran came believe told men uniform said july 6 lovelace family received another shattering blow san diego medical examiners office issued public autopsy report labeling death homicide describing chilling detail surveillance video showed seal instructor repeatedly dunking lovelace struggled water following around pool yelling related navy seal trainees death ruled homicide drill designed create adverse environment report says instructors supposed dunk trainees family reeling declining criticize navy institution want instructor commanders held accountable price says concerned thoroughness investigation given told things navy officials later contradicted medical examiner inquiry misled price told nbc news interview alongside rachel richardson dereks longtime girlfriend ryan andrews familys tallahassee lawyer told made believe tragic accident trusted men even autopsy report say includes believe misinformation attributed navy says lovelace former college baseball player reported strong swimmer citing navy records family says nonsense navy seal helped lovelace prepare training told nbc news derek one best athletes ever seen trainees said similar things funeral navy officials said limited say response given pending investigation matter naval criminal investigative service lt trevor davids spokesman naval special warfare center oversees seal training disputed anyone lied lovelace family weve lot command support personnel contact family said nobody lying people actually concerned wellbeing family navys silence however number questions remain unanswered handling matter related surge reported near drownings seal training navy didnt announce lovelaces may 6 death four days later officials questioned nbc news virginianpilot official account portrayed matter accident mentioning unusual treatment derek instructor prior pulled water may 14 nbc news virginianpilot published story raising questions navys account instructor removed duty according navy officials instructor seal deployed iraq afghanistan since joining navy 2008 charged crime navy declined name day coroners report released military officials pentagon told nbc news reporter instructor held lovelace water navy officials told lovelaces father thing according andrews name coroners report however told different story lovelace pool coronado california first week sixmonth basic underwater demolitionseals training program buds drill known combat swimmer orientation trainees required tread water wearing fatigues boots masks filled water instructors splash trainees yell drill supposed dunk medical examiners report says citing navy davids said could comment training protocol autopsy says lovelace appeared struggling instructor platform outside pool pointed instructor pool swam lovelace dunked followed around pool approximately 5 minutes report says continually splashes lovelace dunks least one additional time appears yelling lovelace also splashed individuals event one point video another individual water seen pulling away instructor lovelaces head went multiple times instructor pulled several times report says multiple people stated face purple lips blue report says one individual even reportedly considering calling timeout stop exercise stop lovelace still breathing report said abundant discolored water came mouth became unresponsive instructor helped edge pool could revived pronounced dead later nearby hospital autopsy report noted slightly enlarged heart slower normal heartbeat common among athletes medical examiner said unknown whether heart abnormalities contributed death dunked given aid despite struggling medical examiner concluded cause death properly listed drowning enlarged heart listed possible contributing condition although manner death could considered accident report said opinion actions inactions instructors individuals involved excessive directly contributed death manner death best classified homicide know heart accident price told nbc news think instructor woke day said im gon na intentionally hurt someone unconscious added dont think instructor think derek intimidating strong instructor day took way far held accountable actions well chain command dereks father james lovelace air force veteran works military contractor declined interviewed lawyer andrews said wants appropriate outcome objective transparent investigation think happens answer selfevident navy individuals need brought justice answer family particularly concerned andrews said passages coroners report citing navy records reports say derek strong swimmer demonstrably false say prospective seal trainees timed 500yard swim test dereks time 8 minutes andrews said average sailors selected enter course funeral according video reviewed nbc news fellow trainees told stories physical prowess said routinely bested running swimming drills price showed nbc news stretch florida gulf coast beach brother used train sometimes treacherous currents often swimming weight vest saw hold breath four minutes freedive also excelled running richardson said incredible acrobat able run walls turn flips body woke every morning 500 went crossfit price said crossfit ran anywhere five ten miles would go job got would go jetties swim laps current boots weight vest would either go crossfit come home eat go bed dereks daily routine autopsy report also speculated derek could asthma prescription drug singulaire family says medication mild allergies asthma whole family seasonal allergies one family asthma price said price remembers brother upbeat positive person uplifted around derek happy loved life adventurous said lived life extreme mean nothing know couldnt afraid text messages derek said first week seals training going well reported excelling physical aspects said richardson marine biologist girlfriend since eighth grade together dereks telling know im crushing im killing im sure hes got great scores said personal thought instructor knows tough kid dont think intentions ultimately leading death think saw oh kids killing kids crushing lets see far push handle whether instructor anyone punished happened remains seen ill never peace price said instructor held accountable actions wont peace
| 935 |
<p>In July, Gabriel Navarro stood inside the ring at the Chicago Youth Boxing Club, absorbing the punches thrown by one of his students. The two sparred, following each other around the ring and fighting to gain the upper hand.</p>
<p>Fifteen years ago, Navarro was the one throwing the punches, taking official boxing lessons for the first time at the age of 18. Looking back now, Navarro says boxing was one of the sports that kept him away from the streets—and away from trouble. He hopes that, by putting on the gloves, his students will take the same route he did. On Wednesday nights, the gym even hosts sessions for members of the Latin Kings, keeping them from gangbanging during key nighttime hours.</p>
<p>The gym, in the basement of La Villita Community Church in Little Village, serves two purposes: teaching youth how to box while keeping them away from the violence that fills the streets outside. It’s a refuge that provides a healthy, constructive alternative to gangs and guns, allowing them to focus on themselves and vent their frustrations. About 75 active members, ages 8 and up, attend the gym, which, besides boxing lessons, offers academic tutoring in subjects such as reading, math and science.</p>
<p>Navarro, 33, is both the gym’s head coach and a mentor for his students, who come from all across the city—and even Cicero. Born and raised in Little Village, Navarro, like his students, has had firsthand experience with gangs, violence and drugs. Though he was never in a gang himself, Navarro says many of his friends have fallen victim to violence and drug addiction. One friend, a man who died after police used a Taser on him while he was high on cocaine, is memorialized in a tattoo on his right leg.</p>
<p>But sports have always been his escape from the violence. An avid athlete since he was young, Navarro says his father always motivated him to stay involved in sports ranging from baseball to wrestling. “I probably wouldn’t be alive right now if it wasn’t for sports,” he said.</p>
<p>Now Navarro uses the lessons he learned from sports and the streets to keep his students in the ring and move them forward. The Chicago Reporter sat down with Navarro to discuss his work.</p>
<p>When you grew up in Little Village, what kind of violence did you experience?</p>
<p>Half of the people I used to hang around with were gangbangers. Because there was nothing to do but gangbang. We didn’t have a park. The high schools, after they let out their kids, they closed down the schools—they don’t let nobody play basketball after school or stuff like that.</p>
<p>My friend was a drug addict. He grew up being a gangbanger. He said he shot at people. He probably killed a couple of people. So when he was high, he used to see the people that he shot at, he’ll tell me. He’ll be like, ‘Man, all my demons, when I’m high, all my demons come out.’ He scared the crap out of me growing up, the way he used to act. Like not violent towards nobody, but I’m not going to do a drug and be scared of everybody. You know, what’s so fun about that?</p>
<p>How did you stay away from all that?</p>
<p>I was playing baseball. I lived on the opposite side of the gang line, so my coach said, ‘It’s either gangbanging or baseball. You know, if you start gangbanging, you’re not going to be able to come to the park no more because the gangbangers are going to pick on you.’ So I’m like, ‘You’re right.’ So I picked baseball over gangbanging, and I never had any problem with no gangs.</p>
<p>My dad used to always keep me busy when I was young. He always gave me money. One thing he said: He’d rather be broke and have me have money than me go out and rob or steal. That was his biggest fear—for us to go to jail for stealing money or something. So he always kept me busy in sports and always gave us money. As long as we had some type of money in our pockets, we won’t be thinking about stealing, so my dad was always like that. He put me in baseball. He introduced me to baseball, and that’s all I needed. After that, I did football, softball—almost every sport I loved.</p>
<p>How does your organization get youth away from violence?</p>
<p>By us mentoring them. Kids just want to be heard. The parents are real busy, and they don’t got time for their kids ’cause they’re trying to support them. That’s all they know—how to work, make money to support their kids—but they don’t really listen to them. They work all day and they don’t got time for their kids. So I’m here. I listen to them. We got Fernando, who’s another assistant coach. We got Hassan. We all just listen to the kids. They tell us some pretty private stuff. Their parents are not listening to them, so they don’t have nowhere to go to. So we talk to them. I give them advice. They listen. I guess they just want to be heard; they just want to vent and have somebody listen.</p>
<p>I try to tell them like life experiences that I had. I kind of scare them, like not scare them, but I’m just telling my story, and they’re like, ‘Oh my God, I don’t want to be like that.’ I saw everything in this neighborhood, from gang beatings to shootings to being shot at. I hung around with gangbangers. I never joined any type of gang, but it’s hard not to have a friend that’s not in a gang in this neighborhood, back then when I was a teenager. Now, hopefully, it’s changing, but when I was a teenager, it was so hard not to meet that one person because you meet ’em at school.</p>
<p>I try as hard as I can to try to get them out of gangs. You know, by just telling them personal stuff about me that opens up their eyes, I guess.</p>
<p>Why do you think sports are the key to reducing the violence?</p>
<p>It’s fun. Once you get them involved in sports and get them into it, they just love it. They’re not used to it. They just know to hang around the street, be out all day. If you’re out all day, you might either go the good path or the bad path. And most of them choose the gangbanging. But since sports are hitting Little Village real hard now, I think it’s helping a lot. We actually have Wednesday nights, from 8:30 to 10:30, we have a program where we open up the gym to all the gangbangers. And so on Wednesday nights, I have a bunch of gangbangers that instead of being in the street, they’re right here, hitting the bag, or I’m doing pads, or they’re lifting weights, they’re playing basketball upstairs on the third floor.</p>
<p>I used to always get into street fights for some reason, and then I joined boxing and I stopped, like I never got into a fight again in the street. I kind of felt like I’m training to fight—why would I want to go and fight a guy that is not trained to fight? So it kind of makes you think, ‘Oh, I won’t fight. For what?’ I guess they stay with that mentality that they’re trained to fight just in the ring, not in the street, because a trained fighter could really hurt somebody—just a regular, random kid.</p>
<p>We actually teach our kids to be trainers because not everybody is going to make it as a boxer. So we teach them how to also be trainers. Sometimes, there’s 40 kids and three coaches. So we teach our kids who’ve been here the longest—we teach them how to be responsible and help us out. You know, not to be selfish. ’Cause a lot of kids are very selfish. You know, we’re helping you, we’re taking you to every fight, so now you help us, too. It works both ways. We help you, you help us. But the way they’re helping us is in a good way, like you help us by going to the job interview. You know, you help us by going to this college. We go to Notre Dame University and we take college tours over there. So by them helping us, they’re actually helping themselves.</p>
| false | 3 |
july gabriel navarro stood inside ring chicago youth boxing club absorbing punches thrown one students two sparred following around ring fighting gain upper hand fifteen years ago navarro one throwing punches taking official boxing lessons first time age 18 looking back navarro says boxing one sports kept away streetsand away trouble hopes putting gloves students take route wednesday nights gym even hosts sessions members latin kings keeping gangbanging key nighttime hours gym basement la villita community church little village serves two purposes teaching youth box keeping away violence fills streets outside refuge provides healthy constructive alternative gangs guns allowing focus vent frustrations 75 active members ages 8 attend gym besides boxing lessons offers academic tutoring subjects reading math science navarro 33 gyms head coach mentor students come across cityand even cicero born raised little village navarro like students firsthand experience gangs violence drugs though never gang navarro says many friends fallen victim violence drug addiction one friend man died police used taser high cocaine memorialized tattoo right leg sports always escape violence avid athlete since young navarro says father always motivated stay involved sports ranging baseball wrestling probably wouldnt alive right wasnt sports said navarro uses lessons learned sports streets keep students ring move forward chicago reporter sat navarro discuss work grew little village kind violence experience half people used hang around gangbangers nothing gangbang didnt park high schools let kids closed schoolsthey dont let nobody play basketball school stuff like friend drug addict grew gangbanger said shot people probably killed couple people high used see people shot hell tell hell like man demons im high demons come scared crap growing way used act like violent towards nobody im going drug scared everybody know whats fun stay away playing baseball lived opposite side gang line coach said either gangbanging baseball know start gangbanging youre going able come park gangbangers going pick im like youre right picked baseball gangbanging never problem gangs dad used always keep busy young always gave money one thing said hed rather broke money go rob steal biggest fearfor us go jail stealing money something always kept busy sports always gave us money long type money pockets wont thinking stealing dad always like put baseball introduced baseball thats needed football softballalmost every sport loved organization get youth away violence us mentoring kids want heard parents real busy dont got time kids cause theyre trying support thats knowhow work make money support kidsbut dont really listen work day dont got time kids im listen got fernando whos another assistant coach got hassan listen kids tell us pretty private stuff parents listening dont nowhere go talk give advice listen guess want heard want vent somebody listen try tell like life experiences kind scare like scare im telling story theyre like oh god dont want like saw everything neighborhood gang beatings shootings shot hung around gangbangers never joined type gang hard friend thats gang neighborhood back teenager hopefully changing teenager hard meet one person meet em school try hard try get gangs know telling personal stuff opens eyes guess think sports key reducing violence fun get involved sports get love theyre used know hang around street day youre day might either go good path bad path choose gangbanging since sports hitting little village real hard think helping lot actually wednesday nights 830 1030 program open gym gangbangers wednesday nights bunch gangbangers instead street theyre right hitting bag im pads theyre lifting weights theyre playing basketball upstairs third floor used always get street fights reason joined boxing stopped like never got fight street kind felt like im training fightwhy would want go fight guy trained fight kind makes think oh wont fight guess stay mentality theyre trained fight ring street trained fighter could really hurt somebodyjust regular random kid actually teach kids trainers everybody going make boxer teach also trainers sometimes theres 40 kids three coaches teach kids whove longestwe teach responsible help us know selfish cause lot kids selfish know helping taking every fight help us works ways help help us way theyre helping us good way like help us going job interview know help us going college go notre dame university take college tours helping us theyre actually helping
| 700 |
<p>We don't know how much the epic flooding from Tropical Storm Harvey in Texas has been influenced by human pollution of the atmosphere, but the storm has likely been worse than it would’ve been generations ago, before we started pumping massive amounts of carbon into the air.</p>
<p>“Harvey was almost certainly more intense than it would have been in the absence of human-caused [global] warming,” writes leading atmospheric scientist <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MichaelMannScientist/posts/1515449771844553" type="external">Michael Mann</a>, of Penn State University.</p>
<p>It’s a variation of an increasingly common story around the world, and it comes down to simple physics. Carbon pollution traps more of the sun’s heat — more energy — in the air and oceans. Warmer water leads to more evaporation. Warmer air can hold more water. And more water in the air “creates the potential for much greater rainfalls and greater flooding,” Mann says.</p>
<p>The trend is similar with heat and drought.</p>
<p>“[Recent] heat waves in India, Pakistan, China, Europe, Africa, Americas — in almost every case now we see that our emissions are making the events more intense or longer-lasting,” says <a href="https://dge.carnegiescience.edu/people/kmach" type="external">Katharine Mach</a>, who runs the&#160;Environment Assessment Facility&#160;at Stanford University.</p>
<p>Bottom line, <a href="" type="internal">says</a> <a href="http://www.cgd.ucar.edu/staff/trenbert/" type="external">Kevin Trenberth</a>&#160;of the&#160;National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, “climate change just makes all of the weather events a little more extreme than they otherwise would be.”</p>
<p>The calamitous events of this week in Texas might suggest that we’re at the mercy of this new era of supercharged weather. But Mach, who focuses on how countries and communities around the world can respond to the growing threats from climate change, says it doesn’t have to be that way. She says many places are taking the threats of increasing severe weather events very seriously and rising to the challenge.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">The Netherlands</a>, for example, “has a top-to-bottom risk management approach” to climate threats, she says. France responded to a deadly extreme heat wave in 2003 by developing an early warning system and setting up cooling centers, which Mach says helped the country better ride out another heat wave three years later.</p>
<p>And then there’s New York City after <a href="" type="internal">superstorm Sandy</a>.</p>
<p>“That event in many ways was a trigger for building back&#160;better,” Mach says. The region has been “thinking about everything from flood insurance, retreat among some communities, raising up boilers in hospitals so that critical infrastructure is safe, and even <a href="" type="internal">reimagining what the cityscape might look like</a> so that it's more resilient.”</p>
<p>But Mach says ambitious action on climate isn’t restricted to high income countries.</p>
<p>Bangladesh, for instance — among the world’s poorest countries — has responded to the growing threat from cyclones that regularly hit the country by “developing protective structures so that they can raise up livestock and keep them safe, and also tapping the power of communities to provide early warning when a storm is coming.”</p>
<p>Mach calls those changes “very compelling” and says they have made a big difference in storm mortality in the country.</p>
<p>She says similar strides are being made in parts of Africa.</p>
<p>“We ... see it in terms of community-based adaptation across the African continent,” Mach says. “Some of the most ambitious city-scale action, for example, has happened in Durban, South Africa. We see communities ... coming together to think about what does [climate change] mean for planning for increased risk of flooding in some places, increased risk of drought in others. And [these are] communities that are already more on the margin,” compared to here in the US.</p>
<p>A big theme in adaptation, Mach says, is that “not all poor people are vulnerable and not all vulnerable people are poor.”</p>
<p>And not all places that have the resources to respond well to the threat have been. <a href="" type="internal">Texas itself is a prime example</a>. It’s one of the most vulnerable places in the country to the effects of climate change, from raging floods to searing heat. But the state’s leaders have generally rejected any concern about climate change, and the state has taken very little action to prepare for it.</p>
<p>“We're already too late in some respects,” former state environmental regulator Larry Soward <a href="" type="internal">told The World</a>in 2014.</p>
<p>Soward served under former Texas governor Rick Perry, who while in office rejected the overwhelming scientific evidence for human-caused climate change, and who now leads the US Department of Energy. But Soward parted ways with the Texas&#160;Republican establishment on climate change.</p>
<p>“If we don't start doing something today, we are going to have significant costs, in economic damage, property, lives, environmental damage, that could have been avoided to some extent, ” he said at the time.</p>
<p>Texas’s reluctance up to now to squarely face the risks of climate change drives home another key lesson from Mach’s work: that the barriers to climate change adaptation aren’t just about resources.</p>
<p>“In some places it's very much [about] financial capital,” she says, “do locations have the money. In other cases, the barriers… are more social or ideological, for example not paying attention to the way that risks are changing even if the scientific capacity is there to evaluate them.”</p>
<p>And Mach says the US federal government is moving in that direction.</p>
<p>“President Trump just rolled back an Obama era effort ...&#160;to take into account flood risk for federal infrastructure,” Mach says. “That kind of backsliding it's not smart management or ambitious management in a changing climate.”</p>
<p>Neena Satija of the Texas Tribune contributed to this report</p>
<p>Related:&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Is climate change making hurricanes worse?</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">See all The World's coverage of the climate crisis</a></p>
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dont know much epic flooding tropical storm harvey texas influenced human pollution atmosphere storm likely worse wouldve generations ago started pumping massive amounts carbon air harvey almost certainly intense would absence humancaused global warming writes leading atmospheric scientist michael mann penn state university variation increasingly common story around world comes simple physics carbon pollution traps suns heat energy air oceans warmer water leads evaporation warmer air hold water water air creates potential much greater rainfalls greater flooding mann says trend similar heat drought recent heat waves india pakistan china europe africa americas almost every case see emissions making events intense longerlasting says katharine mach runs the160environment assessment facility160at stanford university bottom line says kevin trenberth160of the160national center atmospheric research boulder colorado climate change makes weather events little extreme otherwise would calamitous events week texas might suggest mercy new era supercharged weather mach focuses countries communities around world respond growing threats climate change says doesnt way says many places taking threats increasing severe weather events seriously rising challenge netherlands example toptobottom risk management approach climate threats says france responded deadly extreme heat wave 2003 developing early warning system setting cooling centers mach says helped country better ride another heat wave three years later theres new york city superstorm sandy event many ways trigger building back160better mach says region thinking everything flood insurance retreat among communities raising boilers hospitals critical infrastructure safe even reimagining cityscape might look like resilient mach says ambitious action climate isnt restricted high income countries bangladesh instance among worlds poorest countries responded growing threat cyclones regularly hit country developing protective structures raise livestock keep safe also tapping power communities provide early warning storm coming mach calls changes compelling says made big difference storm mortality country says similar strides made parts africa see terms communitybased adaptation across african continent mach says ambitious cityscale action example happened durban south africa see communities coming together think climate change mean planning increased risk flooding places increased risk drought others communities already margin compared us big theme adaptation mach says poor people vulnerable vulnerable people poor places resources respond well threat texas prime example one vulnerable places country effects climate change raging floods searing heat states leaders generally rejected concern climate change state taken little action prepare already late respects former state environmental regulator larry soward told worldin 2014 soward served former texas governor rick perry office rejected overwhelming scientific evidence humancaused climate change leads us department energy soward parted ways texas160republican establishment climate change dont start something today going significant costs economic damage property lives environmental damage could avoided extent said time texass reluctance squarely face risks climate change drives home another key lesson machs work barriers climate change adaptation arent resources places much financial capital says locations money cases barriers social ideological example paying attention way risks changing even scientific capacity evaluate mach says us federal government moving direction president trump rolled back obama era effort 160to take account flood risk federal infrastructure mach says kind backsliding smart management ambitious management changing climate neena satija texas tribune contributed report related160 climate change making hurricanes worse see worlds coverage climate crisis
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<p>Chicago Public Schools leaders propose to “turn around” 10 schools next year, more than the district has ever done in a single year. The turnaround process, under which the principal is replaced and most teachers are fired, has now become a national education strategy. The announcement is the first of the school actions to be announced for next year. With a state law now requiring that CPS make its proposed facilities decisions by Dec. 1, leaders are expected to reveal more plans, including perhaps a record number of school closings, later in the week. After a slew of public hearings, the Board of Education will vote on the proposed school actions at their February meeting.</p>
<p>Among the schools are Tilden High School, which last year got a $6 million federal School Improvement Grant to engage its existing teachers in an effort to improve. The other high school on the list is Chicago Vocational Career Academy, a large high school on the Southeast Side of the city.</p>
<p>Marquette Elementary School, one of the district’s largest elementary schools, is also on the list. It is in the last year of a grant that paid for extended-day programs, and is one of three schools with significant Latino populations. So far, all existing turnaround schools have had a predominantly black student body.&#160;</p>
<p>CEO Jean-Claude Brizard said the proposed turnarounds are in the “emergency room and need help.” They are being turned around, instead of closed, because other nearby schools could not accommodate their students or were not markedly better, added Chief Portfolio Officer Oliver Sicat. One promise made by CPS officials to parents and community activists is that they wouldn’t close one school and send its students to a lower-achieving one.</p>
<p>But Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis immediately took issue with the announcement. “It is a very expensive and destabilizing process,” Lewis said of turnarounds.</p>
<p>While about 5400 students attend the schools on the list, CPS officials declined to say how many staff would face job uncertainty because of these actions. Brizard insisted that he is worried about the children, not the adults.</p>
<p>$20 million investment</p>
<p>The district expects to spend about $20 million on these turnarounds over the next year and a half as they hire new staff, including extra people to provide social-emotional and instructional support, and provide them with intense professional development.</p>
<p>Much of that money will go to the Academy of Urban School Leadership, a not-for-profit teacher training organization that already manages 19 CPS schools, including 12 turnarounds. CPS leaders chose AUSL to take over six schools, while the district’s Office of School Improvement will do four, including both high schools.</p>
<p>Brizard insisted that AUSL has done a laudable job with its current schools. He said that he could feel the difference when he walked into Howe Elementary School, an AUSL turnaround on the West Side.</p>
<p>“I would love to take you on a walking tour before and after,” said Brizard, who arrived in Chicago a year after Howe’s turnaround began.</p>
<p>Chief Administrative Officer Tim Cawley, who, up until taking the post at CPS this Spring, worked for AUSL, added that turnaround schools were the “worst of the worst.” (Board President David Vitale served as AUSL’s chairman.)</p>
<p>CPS leaders pointed to strong Illinois State Achievement Test results. For example, the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards on the ISAT at Morton Elementary School shot up 40 points within two years after the AUSL turnaround. (On Tuesday, Brizard and Mayor Rahm Emanuel will be at Morton to showcase happy parents.)</p>
<p>However, in recent months, leaders have distanced themselves from the ISAT as the district moves to a more rigorous test. Also, no definitive study has shown that turnarounds take the same students and improve their outcomes. A University of Chicago Consortium on School Research study on turnarounds has yet to be released. Spokeswoman Emily Krone said that study is being “held up” by the Institutes of Education Sciences review process.</p>
<p>Last year, CPS took a break from turnaround schools. Instead, it won eight federal School Improvement Grants for “transformation” by making a financial investment without replacing the entire staff. (Tilden was one of the transformation schools.) However, Brizard in the past has likened transformation to “trying to fix a plane while flying it.”</p>
<p>Chief Education Officer Noemi Donoso said that many of the teachers who underwent the transformation professional development over the summer have already left the school. Others might lose their position at Tilden, but be hired at other schools and therefore their training won’t be for naught.</p>
<p>CPS officials said 70 percent of teachers laid off because of a turnaround find jobs at other schools.</p>
<p>TURNAROUND SCHOOLS</p>
<p>Casals and Piccolo elementary schools in Humboldt Park</p>
<p>Fuller and Woodson South elementary schools in Grand Boulevard</p>
<p>Herzl Elementary in North Lawndale</p>
<p>Marquette Elementary in Marquette Park</p>
<p>Stagg Elementary in Englewood</p>
<p>Tilden High School in Back of the Yards</p>
<p>Smith Elementary in Pullman</p>
<p>Chicago Vocational Career Academy in Calumet Heights</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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chicago public schools leaders propose turn around 10 schools next year district ever done single year turnaround process principal replaced teachers fired become national education strategy announcement first school actions announced next year state law requiring cps make proposed facilities decisions dec 1 leaders expected reveal plans including perhaps record number school closings later week slew public hearings board education vote proposed school actions february meeting among schools tilden high school last year got 6 million federal school improvement grant engage existing teachers effort improve high school list chicago vocational career academy large high school southeast side city marquette elementary school one districts largest elementary schools also list last year grant paid extendedday programs one three schools significant latino populations far existing turnaround schools predominantly black student body160 ceo jeanclaude brizard said proposed turnarounds emergency room need help turned around instead closed nearby schools could accommodate students markedly better added chief portfolio officer oliver sicat one promise made cps officials parents community activists wouldnt close one school send students lowerachieving one chicago teachers union president karen lewis immediately took issue announcement expensive destabilizing process lewis said turnarounds 5400 students attend schools list cps officials declined say many staff would face job uncertainty actions brizard insisted worried children adults 20 million investment district expects spend 20 million turnarounds next year half hire new staff including extra people provide socialemotional instructional support provide intense professional development much money go academy urban school leadership notforprofit teacher training organization already manages 19 cps schools including 12 turnarounds cps leaders chose ausl take six schools districts office school improvement four including high schools brizard insisted ausl done laudable job current schools said could feel difference walked howe elementary school ausl turnaround west side would love take walking tour said brizard arrived chicago year howes turnaround began chief administrative officer tim cawley taking post cps spring worked ausl added turnaround schools worst worst board president david vitale served ausls chairman cps leaders pointed strong illinois state achievement test results example percentage students meeting exceeding standards isat morton elementary school shot 40 points within two years ausl turnaround tuesday brizard mayor rahm emanuel morton showcase happy parents however recent months leaders distanced isat district moves rigorous test also definitive study shown turnarounds take students improve outcomes university chicago consortium school research study turnarounds yet released spokeswoman emily krone said study held institutes education sciences review process last year cps took break turnaround schools instead eight federal school improvement grants transformation making financial investment without replacing entire staff tilden one transformation schools however brizard past likened transformation trying fix plane flying chief education officer noemi donoso said many teachers underwent transformation professional development summer already left school others might lose position tilden hired schools therefore training wont naught cps officials said 70 percent teachers laid turnaround find jobs schools turnaround schools casals piccolo elementary schools humboldt park fuller woodson south elementary schools grand boulevard herzl elementary north lawndale marquette elementary marquette park stagg elementary englewood tilden high school back yards smith elementary pullman chicago vocational career academy calumet heights 160 160 160
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<p>NEW DELHI, India — Days before President Barack Obama told the United Nations that he hoped to push through a universal treaty to ban all nuclear weapons testing by the end of 2010, a top Indian scientist threw New Delhi's security establishment for an atomic loop.</p>
<p>Kasturiranga Santhanam, the coordinator of India's 1998 nuclear tests, went public with allegations that India's much heralded Pokhran II test of a thermonuclear bomb 11 years ago was actually a fizzle.</p>
<p>“We are totally naked vis-a-vis China, which has an inventory of 200 nuclear bombs, the vast majority of which are giant H-bombs of power equal to three million tons of TNT,” Santhanam told reporters in New Delhi this week.</p>
<p>Naturally, the bizarre exercise in reverse brinkmanship (“About that bomb we told you we have...”) did not go down well. India's 1998 demonstration of thermonuclear capability — a fusion-based, Hydrogen bomb — was the cause of great celebration in a country still fighting for a voice in global affairs and sandwiched between a belligerent, hereditary enemy in Pakistan and a frightening potential future adversary in China.</p>
<p>By calling its success into question, scientist K. Santhanam, who was director of test site preparations for Pokhran II, shook the country's confidence in its nuclear deterrent at a moment when the long, frustrating peace process with Pakistan seems as futile as ever.</p>
<p>But for the rest of the world, Santhanam's bombshell amounts to a colossal preemptive strike against Obama's push for the nations of the world to sign a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) by the end of next year — not to mention a potentially debilitating assault on last year's Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear agreement. Already, opponents to the deal have begun echoing Santhanam's call for further testing of India's thermonuclear arsenal, and the lingering doubts about the efficacy of the country's bombs looks likely to tie Manmohan Singh's somewhat fragile coalition government's hands when the time comes to sign Obama's CTBT.</p>
<p>“We need to test again; it's just a question of when, not if,” said Bharat Karnad, a former member of India's National Security Advisory board and part of the group that drafted India's nuclear doctrine.</p>
<p>Of course, that may not have been true if Santhanam had kept his mouth shut. Since nuclear weapons are supposedly never to be used, whether the rest of the world believes they will work is more important than whether they actually do. And that's the simple fact that has flummoxed India's foreign policy experts, who are scratching their heads and asking, “Why now?” After all, Santhanam kept mum during the vociferous, three-year debate over the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, which also mandates an end to testing. “[Now] the whole thing becomes unnecessarily subject to controversy and doubts and questions, and the public loses confidence in what the government is saying about the nuclear deterrent — which is totally pointless,” said Kanwal Sibal, who was foreign secretary in the BJP-led government that proceeded Singh's Congress-led coalition.</p>
<p>The Singh government subscribes to the theory that a “minimum deterrent” is sufficient to protect India from its nuclear neighbors, and even though that theory was predicated on the existence of a small number of effective thermonuclear missiles, most observers believe that Singh will not begin preparations of any kind for a resumption of testing. The big question is whether he can sell the country on agreeing to Obama's full-fledged moratorium.</p>
<p>Some say yes, others no.</p>
<p>“I cannot see India testing at all, unless the U.S. itself tests or China tests or Pakistan tests,” Sibal said. “Unilaterally testing makes no sense to me. The cost would be intolerable, not merely in terms of the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, but we'd be isolated internationally. We'd be seen as wrecking the international nonproliferation regime for no good reason.”</p>
<p>“Manmohan Singh may not be inclined to test during his tenure, which is another four years,” Karnad said. “But the idea is to nevertheless keep the testing option open.”</p>
<p>The implications of both testing and not testing are murky.</p>
<p>Even if India never tests another nuke, Santhanam's accusation that Pokhran II was a fizzle isn't as damning as it might sound. For nuclear scientists, fizzle is a technical term for detonations that yield 30 percent less concussive force than expected, and Santhanam himself acknowledges that India's thermonuclear device yielded an explosion equivalent to 15 to 20 kilotons of TNT — the rub is that it was intended to generate 45 kilotons. The minimum deterrent lobby argues that's powerful enough to dissuade Pakistan from getting any crazy ideas, and even if India's nukes pale in comparison with China's, they're still devastating enough to give any rational adversary pause.</p>
<p>But for others, the niggling fear remains that doubts about the capacity of India's nuclear bombs make it all the more likely that one day it may have to use them. On the other hand, the global reaction to a new test is equally unpredictable. It would almost certainly spell an end to the Indo-U.S. agreement on civilian nuclear projects, and likely put its power projects with countries like France and Russia in jeopardy.</p>
<p>“I would expect that India would be placed in an international penalty box for some period of time and would be blamed for 'scuttling' efforts to bring a CTBT into force,” Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center in Washington, confirmed in an email interview. The last time, India stayed in the penalty box for a decade, but U.S. sanctions prohibiting economic and military aid were waived after only a year.</p>
<p>The hawks in India's security establishment are growing more firm in their belief that the U.S. and Europe will not be comfortable isolating India from the global community for long this time, either, because it has emerged as Asia's only credible counterweight to China's growing military and economic might. “They might thrash about a bit and sound off a bit, but what option do they have?” Karnad said.</p>
<p>Apart from the paranoid, what developing nations hope to gain from their nuclear weapons is not so much security — though the contrasting treatment that the U.S. meted out to Iraq and Pakistan shows the value of deterrence in that realm — but a seat at the table. And that means Obama and the West have one big bargaining chip left to bring India into the nonproliferation fold:&#160;Sign the CTBT, get a seat on the U.N. Security Council.</p>
<p>Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the explanation of thermonuclear capability.</p>
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new delhi india days president barack obama told united nations hoped push universal treaty ban nuclear weapons testing end 2010 top indian scientist threw new delhis security establishment atomic loop kasturiranga santhanam coordinator indias 1998 nuclear tests went public allegations indias much heralded pokhran ii test thermonuclear bomb 11 years ago actually fizzle totally naked visavis china inventory 200 nuclear bombs vast majority giant hbombs power equal three million tons tnt santhanam told reporters new delhi week naturally bizarre exercise reverse brinkmanship bomb told go well indias 1998 demonstration thermonuclear capability fusionbased hydrogen bomb cause great celebration country still fighting voice global affairs sandwiched belligerent hereditary enemy pakistan frightening potential future adversary china calling success question scientist k santhanam director test site preparations pokhran ii shook countrys confidence nuclear deterrent moment long frustrating peace process pakistan seems futile ever rest world santhanams bombshell amounts colossal preemptive strike obamas push nations world sign comprehensive test ban treaty ctbt end next year mention potentially debilitating assault last years indous civilian nuclear agreement already opponents deal begun echoing santhanams call testing indias thermonuclear arsenal lingering doubts efficacy countrys bombs looks likely tie manmohan singhs somewhat fragile coalition governments hands time comes sign obamas ctbt need test question said bharat karnad former member indias national security advisory board part group drafted indias nuclear doctrine course may true santhanam kept mouth shut since nuclear weapons supposedly never used whether rest world believes work important whether actually thats simple fact flummoxed indias foreign policy experts scratching heads asking santhanam kept mum vociferous threeyear debate indous nuclear deal also mandates end testing whole thing becomes unnecessarily subject controversy doubts questions public loses confidence government saying nuclear deterrent totally pointless said kanwal sibal foreign secretary bjpled government proceeded singhs congressled coalition singh government subscribes theory minimum deterrent sufficient protect india nuclear neighbors even though theory predicated existence small number effective thermonuclear missiles observers believe singh begin preparations kind resumption testing big question whether sell country agreeing obamas fullfledged moratorium say yes others see india testing unless us tests china tests pakistan tests sibal said unilaterally testing makes sense cost would intolerable merely terms indous nuclear deal wed isolated internationally wed seen wrecking international nonproliferation regime good reason manmohan singh may inclined test tenure another four years karnad said idea nevertheless keep testing option open implications testing testing murky even india never tests another nuke santhanams accusation pokhran ii fizzle isnt damning might sound nuclear scientists fizzle technical term detonations yield 30 percent less concussive force expected santhanam acknowledges indias thermonuclear device yielded explosion equivalent 15 20 kilotons tnt rub intended generate 45 kilotons minimum deterrent lobby argues thats powerful enough dissuade pakistan getting crazy ideas even indias nukes pale comparison chinas theyre still devastating enough give rational adversary pause others niggling fear remains doubts capacity indias nuclear bombs make likely one day may use hand global reaction new test equally unpredictable would almost certainly spell end indous agreement civilian nuclear projects likely put power projects countries like france russia jeopardy would expect india would placed international penalty box period time would blamed scuttling efforts bring ctbt force henry sokolski executive director nonproliferation policy education center washington confirmed email interview last time india stayed penalty box decade us sanctions prohibiting economic military aid waived year hawks indias security establishment growing firm belief us europe comfortable isolating india global community long time either emerged asias credible counterweight chinas growing military economic might might thrash bit sound bit option karnad said apart paranoid developing nations hope gain nuclear weapons much security though contrasting treatment us meted iraq pakistan shows value deterrence realm seat table means obama west one big bargaining chip left bring india nonproliferation fold160sign ctbt get seat un security council editors note story updated correct explanation thermonuclear capability
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<p>Delegate-elect Dawn Adams (D-Richmond) and Delegate-elect Danica Roem (D-Manassas) (Photo of Adams courtesy Adams; Washington Blade photo of Roem by Michael Key)</p>
<p>The 2018 legislative session in Virginia will begin next week with two more openly LGBT members of the General Assembly.</p>
<p>State Delegates-elect Danica Roem (D-Manassas) and Dawn Adams (D-Richmond) will take office in the Virginia House of Delegates on Jan. 10 when the General Assembly convenes. They will join state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) and state Dels. Mark Sickles (D-Fairfax County) and Mark Levine (D-Alexandria).</p>
<p>Roem, who defeated longtime state Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince William County), will become the first openly transgender person seated in any state legislature in the country. Adams, who defeated state Del. Manoli Loupassi (R-Richmond), is the first open lesbian elected to the General Assembly.</p>
<p>Marshall, who had been in office since 1992, was one of the General Assembly’s most outspoken opponents of LGBT rights.</p>
<p>He co-wrote Virginia’s constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman that voters approved. Members of the House General Laws Subcommittee in 2017 killed Marshall’s bill that would have prohibited Roem and other trans people from using public bathrooms based on their gender identity.</p>
<p>“Bob Marshall presented a very mean-spirited vision each year toward the LGBT community,” Equality Virginia Executive Director James Parrish told the Washington Blade on Tuesday.</p>
<p>“It’s good to see that he has been sidelined,” he added.</p>
<p>Parrish said state Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington County) and state Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax County) plan to introduce a bill that would ban so-called conversion therapy to minors in Virginia. Parrish also told the Blade that he expects lawmakers will once again seek to expand anti-discrimination protections in the state and codify marriage rights for same-sex couples into law.</p>
<p>Chris Hurst, a former reporter for WDBJ, a Roanoke television station, last November defeated state Del. Joseph Yost (R-Giles County), who is the first Republican state lawmaker in Virginia <a href="" type="internal">to publicly back marriage rights for same-sex couples.</a></p>
<p>Hurst’s girlfriend, WDBJ reporter Alison Parker and her cameraman, Adam Ward, were shot to death in 2015 during a live broadcast.</p>
<p>Hurst is among the 15 Democrats who defeated Republican incumbents in the House of Delegates. It nevertheless remains unclear whether Democrats will control the chamber once the legislative session begins.</p>
<p>The Virginia Board of Elections on Thursday is scheduled to conduct a drawing to break the tie between Democrat Shelly Simonds and state Del. David Yancey (R-Newport News) in the 94th District.</p>
<p>A federal judge in Alexandria on Friday will hear oral arguments in a lawsuit that challenges the results of the election between Republican Bob Thomas and Democrat Joshua Cole in the 28th District after 147 voters in Stafford County and Fredericksburg received the wrong ballots. The Virginia House Democratic Caucus is seeking a new election in the contested race.</p>
<p>“Lots going to happen this week,” Parrish told the Blade.</p>
<p>Governor-elect Ralph Northam and Lieutenant Gov.-elect Justin Fairfax’s inauguration will take place on Jan. 13. State Attorney General Mark Herring will be sworn in for a second term on the same day.</p>
<p>The 2018 legislative session in Maryland will also begin on Jan. 10.</p>
<p>A bill that would ban so-called conversion therapy to minors in Maryland is expected to be introduced in the coming weeks.</p>
<p>“It’s important to have these types of measures to protect LGBT kids,” Jennifer Kent, managing attorney at FreeState Justice, told the Blade on Wednesday during a telephone interview. “This makes sure our kids are protected from harmful ‘mental health practices’ that have been universally condemned.”</p>
<p>Other observers with whom the Blade spoke this week agreed the 2018 gubernatorial and legislative elections will dominate this year’s General Assembly.</p>
<p>State Sen. Rich Madaleno (D-Montgomery County), Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker and former NAACP President Benjamin Jealous are among the Democrats who are running to challenge Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in November.</p>
<p>State Del. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City) and Gender Rights Maryland Executive Director Dana Beyer are running for the Maryland Senate. Gabriel Acevero, a labor organizer, is running to represent the 39th District in the state House of Delegates.</p>
<p>“It’s an election year,” Beyer told the Blade on Wednesday, while noting concerns over President Trump and his administration’s policies may come to dominate the session. “We’re in the midst of this constitutional crisis . . . you never know what you’re going to have to do.”</p>
<p>Bruce DePuyt, a senior reporter at MarylandMatters.org, told the Blade on Wednesday there is uncertainty in Maryland and other high-income states around the tax bill that Trump signed last month. DePuyt also said the Jan. 19 deadline to avert a federal government shutdown is among the other issues that could impact the legislative session in Maryland.</p>
<p>“There’s a lot of uncertainty because of what’s happening or not happening in Washington,” he said.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Adam Ebbin</a> <a href="" type="internal">bisexual</a> <a href="" type="internal">Bruce DePuyt</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dana Beyer</a> <a href="" type="internal">Danica Roem</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dawn Adams</a> <a href="" type="internal">Equality Virginia</a> <a href="" type="internal">FreeState Justice</a> <a href="" type="internal">Gabriel Acevero</a> <a href="" type="internal">gay</a> <a href="" type="internal">James Parrish</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jennifer Kent</a> <a href="" type="internal">lesbian</a> <a href="" type="internal">Mark Levine</a> <a href="" type="internal">Mark Sickles</a> <a href="" type="internal">Maryland</a> <a href="" type="internal">Rich Madaleno</a> <a href="" type="internal">transgender</a> <a href="" type="internal">Virginia</a></p>
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delegateelect dawn adams drichmond delegateelect danica roem dmanassas photo adams courtesy adams washington blade photo roem michael key 2018 legislative session virginia begin next week two openly lgbt members general assembly state delegateselect danica roem dmanassas dawn adams drichmond take office virginia house delegates jan 10 general assembly convenes join state sen adam ebbin dalexandria state dels mark sickles dfairfax county mark levine dalexandria roem defeated longtime state del bob marshall rprince william county become first openly transgender person seated state legislature country adams defeated state del manoli loupassi rrichmond first open lesbian elected general assembly marshall office since 1992 one general assemblys outspoken opponents lgbt rights cowrote virginias constitutional amendment defining marriage man woman voters approved members house general laws subcommittee 2017 killed marshalls bill would prohibited roem trans people using public bathrooms based gender identity bob marshall presented meanspirited vision year toward lgbt community equality virginia executive director james parrish told washington blade tuesday good see sidelined added parrish said state del patrick hope darlington county state sen scott surovell dfairfax county plan introduce bill would ban socalled conversion therapy minors virginia parrish also told blade expects lawmakers seek expand antidiscrimination protections state codify marriage rights samesex couples law chris hurst former reporter wdbj roanoke television station last november defeated state del joseph yost rgiles county first republican state lawmaker virginia publicly back marriage rights samesex couples hursts girlfriend wdbj reporter alison parker cameraman adam ward shot death 2015 live broadcast hurst among 15 democrats defeated republican incumbents house delegates nevertheless remains unclear whether democrats control chamber legislative session begins virginia board elections thursday scheduled conduct drawing break tie democrat shelly simonds state del david yancey rnewport news 94th district federal judge alexandria friday hear oral arguments lawsuit challenges results election republican bob thomas democrat joshua cole 28th district 147 voters stafford county fredericksburg received wrong ballots virginia house democratic caucus seeking new election contested race lots going happen week parrish told blade governorelect ralph northam lieutenant govelect justin fairfaxs inauguration take place jan 13 state attorney general mark herring sworn second term day 2018 legislative session maryland also begin jan 10 bill would ban socalled conversion therapy minors maryland expected introduced coming weeks important types measures protect lgbt kids jennifer kent managing attorney freestate justice told blade wednesday telephone interview makes sure kids protected harmful mental health practices universally condemned observers blade spoke week agreed 2018 gubernatorial legislative elections dominate years general assembly state sen rich madaleno dmontgomery county prince georges county executive rushern baker former naacp president benjamin jealous among democrats running challenge republican gov larry hogan november state del mary washington dbaltimore city gender rights maryland executive director dana beyer running maryland senate gabriel acevero labor organizer running represent 39th district state house delegates election year beyer told blade wednesday noting concerns president trump administrations policies may come dominate session midst constitutional crisis never know youre going bruce depuyt senior reporter marylandmattersorg told blade wednesday uncertainty maryland highincome states around tax bill trump signed last month depuyt also said jan 19 deadline avert federal government shutdown among issues could impact legislative session maryland theres lot uncertainty whats happening happening washington said adam ebbin bisexual bruce depuyt dana beyer danica roem dawn adams equality virginia freestate justice gabriel acevero gay james parrish jennifer kent lesbian mark levine mark sickles maryland rich madaleno transgender virginia
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<p>In recent years, the Board of Education has mandated extra help for new teachers, but it’s just been more class time. Novices had to seek out a university course or staff development workshop, including one recently developed by the board called Focus on the Classroom. If they didn’t pick a board offering, they had to pay the bill themselves.</p>
<p>This system, many experts contend, is wholly inadequate. “The first year teaching is extremely stressful,” remarks Steve Tozer, an education professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “You have to master the curriculum in a system. There are the complex relationships to forge with the students, parents, colleagues and administrators, at the same time you’re expected to behave competently and nurture the growth of all these children. Talk about an explosive time. You need help.”</p>
<p>In 1991, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. surveyed teachers across the country and asked them what would have helped them most during their first years on the job. The top response, given by 47 percent of teachers, was “an experienced mentor teacher assigned to provide advice.” (Another 39 percent said “more practical training,” and 13 percent said “better training in working with students and families from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.”)</p>
<p>What Tozer and other observers have in mind is “induction,” an internship along the lines of what medicine demands to ease the transition from student to professional. The concept is gaining credence as reformers shift from the mindset of accountability (the trigger for installing the teacher certification tests during the 1980s) to a recognition that unstable fledgling teachers need coaching and a tryout of sorts. Instituting induction in Illinois tops the list of recommendations being crafted by a state task force on post-graduate training. And Chicago is planning a pilot program to begin next year.</p>
<p>Nationally, the move toward induction began as a way to reduce the stress felt by neophtyes and to cut their relatively high dropout rate. The U.S. Department of Education reports that about 8 percent of full-time public school teachers leave the profession within two years.</p>
<p>Chicago’s school administration has not calculated a dropout rate for its newcomers, but it reports that an average of 64 teachers with two or fewer years of experience have quit each year since 1989, suggesting rather modest attrition.</p>
<p>In 1981, Florida became the first state to institute an induction program. All new teachers there get hooked up with a three-member team: an administrator, a colleague either in the same discipline or at the same grade level and some other educator. In some school districts, mentors get extra pay for the extra work.</p>
<p>In the fall, the team diagnoses the yearling’s strengths and weaknesses and then comes up with a plan to patch the weak spots. Each new teacher has to collect a portfolio of material testifying to his or her competency, including, for instance, a videotape of either a lesson or a session with a parent. If, at the end of the year, the newcomer receives a positive recommendation from her team, he or she applies for status as a regular teacher. Almost everyone makes it, according to Ava Belitzky, the director of the orientation program.</p>
<p>Other states are following Florida’s lead. In Michigan, for example, a new teacher is assigned a mentor, often a colleague or a university figure, for three years. “In effect you get a buddy for awhile,” cracks Joan May, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Education. New teachers also have to receive at least 15 days of professional development training over the period.</p>
<p>In 1990, the Council of Chief State School Officers, based in Washington, D.C., established a subgroup devoted to bringing some uniformity to induction and teacher accountability. Called the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC), the group lists the involvement of 36 state agencies, including the Illinois State Board of Education under Supt. Joseph Spagnolo.</p>
<p>INTASC director Jean Miller is convinced that student teaching is inadequate to set a beginner on sound footing: “Just because someone has student-taught, you can’t be assured of quality. Six or eight weeks isn’t enough preparation. Anyway, is a student teacher really teaching, or just being a gofer in the classroom?”</p>
<p>To rectify matters, INTASC is identifying the top 10 principles of good teaching and will soon move to redesign the method of entry into the profession, according to Miller. She predicts the new model will spell out a year of induction, either folded into college as a fifth academic year or stipulated as a period of internship, as in Florida and Michigan.</p>
<p>The model likely will scrap current certification tests in favor of a more complex procedure of accountability. “There may be several ways of assessing people,” says Miller, citing pen-and-pencil subject tests and portfolios that might include videotapes of teaching and the teacher’s assessment plan on one child. Miller expects INTASC’s findings to be promulgated and adopted by the year 2000. Then it would be up to states to follow the council’s lead.</p>
<p>Locally, induction is underway in several forms. Teachers for Chicago, a collaborative among the Board of Education, the Golden Apple Foundation, the Chicago Teachers Union and area education schools, recruits career-changers from around the country and screens them on their abilities to weather urban classrooms.</p>
<p>Those accepted—182 made the grade for 1995, from a field of 1,500—automatically get classrooms of their own in one of 80 participating schools. Each participating school gets four interns at a time and a mentor-teacher whose entire job is to support the starting foursome. After school hours, the interns study for a master’s degree in education at one of 10 participating universities.</p>
<p>Interns are paid $18,000 a year plus benefits, well below Chicago’s starting salary of $28,742; the “savings” pay for the mentors and university tuition. The interns also must make a commitment to teach an additional two years in the Chicago public schools after completing the two-year program.</p>
<p>Since Teachers for Chicago began in 1992, it has generated 80 certified teachers, with another 95 due for certification this summer. In addition, 310 candidates are in the pipeline.</p>
<p>Program coordinator Fred Chesek is heartened: “We are bringing people into the profession who are changing the schools, whether it’s starting a soccer team or experimenting with classroom practice. And the mentors have found themselves transformed into better urban educators.”</p>
<p>Golden Apple also runs a program that recruits minority high school students to go into teaching. Participants work in classrooms during the summer as well as student teach, increasing their hands-on experience four-fold.</p>
<p>The Urban Teacher Corps, run by DePaul University, sends college graduates—half of them returning Peace Corps volunteers—into a dozen city schools, where they earn $16,000 a year to assist regular teachers in math, science and music. “We have a different philosophy than Teachers for Chicago,” notes Charles Doyle, an assistant dean at DePaul. “We feel new people need more time before running a class.” Of the program’s 86 alumni, says Doyle, 80 percent are still in Chicago public schools.</p>
<p>Also through DePaul, the Glenview public schools take a dozen career-changers, including accountants, bankers and ex-servicemen, and run them through a three-year internship. During the initial year, each participant works side by side with a mentor. During the subsequent two years, the person takes over a classroom, yet remains under some supervision. With the modest $10,000 salary comes tuition for graduate courses in teaching and learning at DePaul, leading to a master’s degree.</p>
<p>After Illinois enacted early-retirement legislation four years ago, eight south suburban school districts felt such a loss that they took steps to make sure their beginners didn’t flee as well. Through Governors State University, the districts are giving a boost to their new teachers (who number 46 this year) by sending them to four after-school workshops, releasing them to observe colleagues and setting up meetings on such topics as parent conferences and IGAP testing. The cost, pegged at $35,000 annually, is covered by regular staff development funds, says program director Karen Peterson.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the State Board of Education, with funding from The Joyce Foundation, has established a task force on teacher professionalism and development in cooperation with the University of Illinois at Chicago. Chaired by Donald Monroe, former superintendent in Winnetka and now principal of the private Francis W. Parker School, the task force is readying recommendations to overhaul induction in the state.</p>
<p>‘Dreaming big’</p>
<p>A draft of the panel’s proposals, being circulated in May, calls for scrapping student-teaching in favor of “longer and more varied field experiences.” A new teacher would receive an initial license and then undergo a three-year internship. During the first year, the teacher would have a reduced class load in exchange for mentoring and other types of aid devised by schools, universities and state regional education offices.</p>
<p>The class load would pick up in the second and third internship years, with full licensing coming after an outside assessment of the teacher’s abilities. Certificate renewal would be predicated on fulfilling a four-year professional development plan rather than simply paying a fee.</p>
<p>“For now, we’re dreaming big and seeing what the costs for all this will be,” says Steven Tozer, a panel member. “We will address the question of expense in the final report. Some money can be picked up through reorganization by school districts, but if there is to be a serious difference, there will be a pricetag attached.”</p>
<p>The Chicago school system also is getting into the act. New plans call for monthly workshops for recruits and a pilot mentoring program. “We are completely revamping what we offer new teachers,” says Judith Foster, director of teacher development, who forecasts August sessions in classroom management for new hires. Separately, the Chicago Teachers Union is considering whether to spur a Florida-like initiative, according to spokesperson Jackie Gallagher.</p>
<p>Officials at local education schools applaud the new direction. School systems should hire mentor-teachers, pay them a stipend and pair them with novices to offset “the isolation and fright” that attend starting out, says Victoria Chou, UIC’s associate education dean for academic programs. In addition, suggests Chicago State University Dean Genevieve Lopardo, new teachers should receive a reduced class load as well as a shot at better, more controllable classes. “Too often it’s the old hands who get those classes now,” Lopardo points out.</p>
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recent years board education mandated extra help new teachers class time novices seek university course staff development workshop including one recently developed board called focus classroom didnt pick board offering pay bill system many experts contend wholly inadequate first year teaching extremely stressful remarks steve tozer education professor university illinois chicago master curriculum system complex relationships forge students parents colleagues administrators time youre expected behave competently nurture growth children talk explosive time need help 1991 metropolitan life insurance co surveyed teachers across country asked would helped first years job top response given 47 percent teachers experienced mentor teacher assigned provide advice another 39 percent said practical training 13 percent said better training working students families variety ethnic backgrounds tozer observers mind induction internship along lines medicine demands ease transition student professional concept gaining credence reformers shift mindset accountability trigger installing teacher certification tests 1980s recognition unstable fledgling teachers need coaching tryout sorts instituting induction illinois tops list recommendations crafted state task force postgraduate training chicago planning pilot program begin next year nationally move toward induction began way reduce stress felt neophtyes cut relatively high dropout rate us department education reports 8 percent fulltime public school teachers leave profession within two years chicagos school administration calculated dropout rate newcomers reports average 64 teachers two fewer years experience quit year since 1989 suggesting rather modest attrition 1981 florida became first state institute induction program new teachers get hooked threemember team administrator colleague either discipline grade level educator school districts mentors get extra pay extra work fall team diagnoses yearlings strengths weaknesses comes plan patch weak spots new teacher collect portfolio material testifying competency including instance videotape either lesson session parent end year newcomer receives positive recommendation team applies status regular teacher almost everyone makes according ava belitzky director orientation program states following floridas lead michigan example new teacher assigned mentor often colleague university figure three years effect get buddy awhile cracks joan may spokesperson michigan department education new teachers also receive least 15 days professional development training period 1990 council chief state school officers based washington dc established subgroup devoted bringing uniformity induction teacher accountability called interstate new teacher assessment support consortium intasc group lists involvement 36 state agencies including illinois state board education supt joseph spagnolo intasc director jean miller convinced student teaching inadequate set beginner sound footing someone studenttaught cant assured quality six eight weeks isnt enough preparation anyway student teacher really teaching gofer classroom rectify matters intasc identifying top 10 principles good teaching soon move redesign method entry profession according miller predicts new model spell year induction either folded college fifth academic year stipulated period internship florida michigan model likely scrap current certification tests favor complex procedure accountability may several ways assessing people says miller citing penandpencil subject tests portfolios might include videotapes teaching teachers assessment plan one child miller expects intascs findings promulgated adopted year 2000 would states follow councils lead locally induction underway several forms teachers chicago collaborative among board education golden apple foundation chicago teachers union area education schools recruits careerchangers around country screens abilities weather urban classrooms accepted182 made grade 1995 field 1500automatically get classrooms one 80 participating schools participating school gets four interns time mentorteacher whose entire job support starting foursome school hours interns study masters degree education one 10 participating universities interns paid 18000 year plus benefits well chicagos starting salary 28742 savings pay mentors university tuition interns also must make commitment teach additional two years chicago public schools completing twoyear program since teachers chicago began 1992 generated 80 certified teachers another 95 due certification summer addition 310 candidates pipeline program coordinator fred chesek heartened bringing people profession changing schools whether starting soccer team experimenting classroom practice mentors found transformed better urban educators golden apple also runs program recruits minority high school students go teaching participants work classrooms summer well student teach increasing handson experience fourfold urban teacher corps run depaul university sends college graduateshalf returning peace corps volunteersinto dozen city schools earn 16000 year assist regular teachers math science music different philosophy teachers chicago notes charles doyle assistant dean depaul feel new people need time running class programs 86 alumni says doyle 80 percent still chicago public schools also depaul glenview public schools take dozen careerchangers including accountants bankers exservicemen run threeyear internship initial year participant works side side mentor subsequent two years person takes classroom yet remains supervision modest 10000 salary comes tuition graduate courses teaching learning depaul leading masters degree illinois enacted earlyretirement legislation four years ago eight south suburban school districts felt loss took steps make sure beginners didnt flee well governors state university districts giving boost new teachers number 46 year sending four afterschool workshops releasing observe colleagues setting meetings topics parent conferences igap testing cost pegged 35000 annually covered regular staff development funds says program director karen peterson meanwhile state board education funding joyce foundation established task force teacher professionalism development cooperation university illinois chicago chaired donald monroe former superintendent winnetka principal private francis w parker school task force readying recommendations overhaul induction state dreaming big draft panels proposals circulated may calls scrapping studentteaching favor longer varied field experiences new teacher would receive initial license undergo threeyear internship first year teacher would reduced class load exchange mentoring types aid devised schools universities state regional education offices class load would pick second third internship years full licensing coming outside assessment teachers abilities certificate renewal would predicated fulfilling fouryear professional development plan rather simply paying fee dreaming big seeing costs says steven tozer panel member address question expense final report money picked reorganization school districts serious difference pricetag attached chicago school system also getting act new plans call monthly workshops recruits pilot mentoring program completely revamping offer new teachers says judith foster director teacher development forecasts august sessions classroom management new hires separately chicago teachers union considering whether spur floridalike initiative according spokesperson jackie gallagher officials local education schools applaud new direction school systems hire mentorteachers pay stipend pair novices offset isolation fright attend starting says victoria chou uics associate education dean academic programs addition suggests chicago state university dean genevieve lopardo new teachers receive reduced class load well shot better controllable classes often old hands get classes lopardo points
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<p>Andy Litsky of ANC 6D, has held his ANC seat in the Southwest D.C. Waterfront neighborhood for 18 years. (Image courtesy YouTube)</p>
<p>At least 30 openly gay or lesbian candidates running for Advisory Neighborhood Commission seats in six of the city’s eight wards will be on the ballot in the Nov. 8 D.C. election.</p>
<p>LGBT activists familiar with ANC races believe there are more than 30 gay, lesbian and possibly transgender ANC candidates running this year but some have chosen not to publicly identify as LGBT.</p>
<p>The city’s Home Rule Charter created by Congress in the 1970s instituted the ANCs as a unique “grassroots” arm of the D.C. government charged with providing advice to city agencies on local neighborhood issues such as parking, trash collection, real estate development, and the licensing of bars and restaurants.</p>
<p>Although city agencies are not required to follow the recommendations of the ANCs the agencies are required to give “great weight” to those recommendations.</p>
<p>Currently there are a total of 296 “single member district” ANC seats, which are unpaid positions that are part of 40 ANCs located throughout the city.</p>
<p>Among those running are longtime gay civic activists Roger Moffatt and Andy Litsky of ANC 6D, who have held their ANC seats in the Southwest D.C. Waterfront neighborhood for 20 years and 18 years respectively.</p>
<p>Litsky is running unopposed in his 6D04 district. Moffatt is being challenged by three opponents in the rapidly changing 6D05 district, which includes the section of Buzzard’s Point where a new soccer stadium is being built.</p>
<p>Two of Moffatt’s opponents, Rebekah Caruthers and Dana Lutenegger, told the Blade they are running because they don’t think Moffatt has been aggressive enough in engaging the neighborhood on real estate development matters and its related pressures that threaten to displace renters from the neighborhood.</p>
<p>Moffatt disputes those assertions, saying he has been a champion for the residents of his district since development related changes began in the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood over 10 years ago.</p>
<p>“I welcome new people getting involved but I have the experience needed to make sure all this development is done in a way that the interests of the residents are respected and preserved,” he said.</p>
<p>Also running this year is nationally acclaimed lesbian photographer Sharon Farmer, who worked as a White House staff photographer during the administration of President Bill Clinton. Farmer is running for the ANC 1A07 seat in Ward 1 held by incumbent Darwain Frost.</p>
<p>In ANC 2B, which represents the Dupont Circle neighborhood, gay civic activist Scott Davies is being challenged by neighborhood activist Ed Hanlon for the 2B09 seat being vacated by current ANC 2B Chair Noah Smith in what observers consider a hotly contested race.</p>
<p>Hanlon, who has taken steps in recent years to block residents from building roof decks on their residential townhouses, says in his campaign literature that he will be more aggressive in fighting real estate development that infringes on the residential character of the neighborhood.</p>
<p>Davies, who has been endorsed by Smith and other ANC 2B incumbents, says he will continue ANC 2B’s efforts to strike the appropriate balance between interests of the residents and development projects that are supported by most residents.</p>
<p>In what appears to be a first in the city’s ANC elections, gay candidates are running against each other for two of the seats in ANC 2F, which represents the Logan Circle area. Civic activists Casey Root and Jason Forman are competing for the 2F01 seat, which is being vacated by the current incumbent. Logan Circle resident Alex Graham is challenging incumbent and longtime civic activist Pepin Andrew Tuma for the 2F03 seat.</p>
<p>The Washington Blade assembled the following list of known gay and lesbian ANC candidates from information provided by people familiar with the candidates and their respective ANC districts. The known gay and lesbian candidates this year are running in all parts of the city except Wards 5 and 8.</p>
<p>Sharon Farmer, 1A07</p>
<p>Kent Boese, 1A08 (unopposed)</p>
<p>James Turner, 1B09 (unopposed)</p>
<p>Robb Hudson, 1B11 (unopposed)</p>
<p>Michael Upright, 2B04 (unopposed)</p>
<p>Randy Downs, 2B05</p>
<p>Mike Silverstein, 2B06 (unopposed)</p>
<p>Scott Davies, 2B09</p>
<p>John Tinpe, 2C01 (unopposed)</p>
<p>Casey Root, 2F01</p>
<p>Jason Forman, 2F01</p>
<p>John Guggenmos, 2F02 (unopposed)</p>
<p>Pepin Andrew Tuma, 2F03</p>
<p>Alex Graham, 2F03</p>
<p>John Fanning, 2F04 (unopposed)</p>
<p>Charlie Bengel, 2F06 (unopposed)</p>
<p>Lee Brian Reba, 3C01 (unopposed)</p>
<p>Tom Smith, 3D02</p>
<p>Dan Bradfield, 3G06 (unopposed)</p>
<p>Sean Wieland, 4C01</p>
<p>Michael Halpern, 4C04 (unopposed)</p>
<p>Joseph Martin, 4C09 (unopposed)</p>
<p>Aaron Polkey, 4D03</p>
<p>Ron Collins, 6D03 (write-in candidate)</p>
<p>Andy Litsky, 6D04 (unopposed)</p>
<p>Roger Moffatt, 6D05</p>
<p>Alexander “Alex” Pedro, 6E01</p>
<p>Donovan Anderson, 7D06</p>
<p>Catherine Woods, 7C03</p>
<p>Anthony Lorenzo Green, 7C04</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Aaron Polkey</a> <a href="" type="internal">Advisory Neighborhood Commission</a> <a href="" type="internal">Alex Graham</a> <a href="" type="internal">Alexander "Alex" Pedro</a> <a href="" type="internal">ANC</a> <a href="" type="internal">Andy Litsky</a> <a href="" type="internal">Anthony Lorenzo Green</a> <a href="" type="internal">Bill Clinton</a> <a href="" type="internal">Casey Root</a> <a href="" type="internal">Charlie Bengel</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dan Bradfield</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dana Lutenegger</a> <a href="" type="internal">Darwain Frost</a> <a href="" type="internal">Donovan Anderson</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dupont Circle</a> <a href="" type="internal">Ed Hanlon</a> <a href="" type="internal">gay</a> <a href="" type="internal">Home Rule Charter</a> <a href="" type="internal">James Turner</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jason Forman</a> <a href="" type="internal">John Fanning</a> <a href="" type="internal">John Guggenmos</a> <a href="" type="internal">John Tinpe</a> <a href="" type="internal">Joseph Martin</a> <a href="" type="internal">Kent Boese</a> <a href="" type="internal">Lee Brian Reba</a> <a href="" type="internal">LGBT</a> <a href="" type="internal">Logan Circle</a> <a href="" type="internal">Michael Halpern</a> <a href="" type="internal">Michael Upright</a> <a href="" type="internal">Mike Silverstein</a> <a href="" type="internal">Pepin Andrew Tuma</a> <a href="" type="internal">Randy Downs</a> <a href="" type="internal">Rebekah Caruthers</a> <a href="" type="internal">Robb Hudson</a> <a href="" type="internal">Roger Moffatt</a> <a href="" type="internal">Ron Collins</a> <a href="" type="internal">Scott Davies</a> <a href="" type="internal">Sean Wieland</a> <a href="" type="internal">Sharon Farmer</a> <a href="" type="internal">Tom Smith</a></p>
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andy litsky anc 6d held anc seat southwest dc waterfront neighborhood 18 years image courtesy youtube least 30 openly gay lesbian candidates running advisory neighborhood commission seats six citys eight wards ballot nov 8 dc election lgbt activists familiar anc races believe 30 gay lesbian possibly transgender anc candidates running year chosen publicly identify lgbt citys home rule charter created congress 1970s instituted ancs unique grassroots arm dc government charged providing advice city agencies local neighborhood issues parking trash collection real estate development licensing bars restaurants although city agencies required follow recommendations ancs agencies required give great weight recommendations currently total 296 single member district anc seats unpaid positions part 40 ancs located throughout city among running longtime gay civic activists roger moffatt andy litsky anc 6d held anc seats southwest dc waterfront neighborhood 20 years 18 years respectively litsky running unopposed 6d04 district moffatt challenged three opponents rapidly changing 6d05 district includes section buzzards point new soccer stadium built two moffatts opponents rebekah caruthers dana lutenegger told blade running dont think moffatt aggressive enough engaging neighborhood real estate development matters related pressures threaten displace renters neighborhood moffatt disputes assertions saying champion residents district since development related changes began southwest waterfront neighborhood 10 years ago welcome new people getting involved experience needed make sure development done way interests residents respected preserved said also running year nationally acclaimed lesbian photographer sharon farmer worked white house staff photographer administration president bill clinton farmer running anc 1a07 seat ward 1 held incumbent darwain frost anc 2b represents dupont circle neighborhood gay civic activist scott davies challenged neighborhood activist ed hanlon 2b09 seat vacated current anc 2b chair noah smith observers consider hotly contested race hanlon taken steps recent years block residents building roof decks residential townhouses says campaign literature aggressive fighting real estate development infringes residential character neighborhood davies endorsed smith anc 2b incumbents says continue anc 2bs efforts strike appropriate balance interests residents development projects supported residents appears first citys anc elections gay candidates running two seats anc 2f represents logan circle area civic activists casey root jason forman competing 2f01 seat vacated current incumbent logan circle resident alex graham challenging incumbent longtime civic activist pepin andrew tuma 2f03 seat washington blade assembled following list known gay lesbian anc candidates information provided people familiar candidates respective anc districts known gay lesbian candidates year running parts city except wards 5 8 sharon farmer 1a07 kent boese 1a08 unopposed james turner 1b09 unopposed robb hudson 1b11 unopposed michael upright 2b04 unopposed randy downs 2b05 mike silverstein 2b06 unopposed scott davies 2b09 john tinpe 2c01 unopposed casey root 2f01 jason forman 2f01 john guggenmos 2f02 unopposed pepin andrew tuma 2f03 alex graham 2f03 john fanning 2f04 unopposed charlie bengel 2f06 unopposed lee brian reba 3c01 unopposed tom smith 3d02 dan bradfield 3g06 unopposed sean wieland 4c01 michael halpern 4c04 unopposed joseph martin 4c09 unopposed aaron polkey 4d03 ron collins 6d03 writein candidate andy litsky 6d04 unopposed roger moffatt 6d05 alexander alex pedro 6e01 donovan anderson 7d06 catherine woods 7c03 anthony lorenzo green 7c04 aaron polkey advisory neighborhood commission alex graham alexander alex pedro anc andy litsky anthony lorenzo green bill clinton casey root charlie bengel dan bradfield dana lutenegger darwain frost donovan anderson dupont circle ed hanlon gay home rule charter james turner jason forman john fanning john guggenmos john tinpe joseph martin kent boese lee brian reba lgbt logan circle michael halpern michael upright mike silverstein pepin andrew tuma randy downs rebekah caruthers robb hudson roger moffatt ron collins scott davies sean wieland sharon farmer tom smith
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<p>Police Distrust Goes Mainstream</p>
<p>A Death Row prisoner wins his freedom through the efforts of undergraduate journalism students. Two unarmed African American motorists are shot to death by police within eight hours on a tragic June night.</p>
<p>Stories that once seemed more the gritty fantasy of television crime dramas have become real on the streets of Chicago. With each new law enforcement scandal, more and more citizens call for justice. And no longer is the public outcry limited to the usual community activists and defenders of minority rights. In 1999, distrust of police went mainstream.</p>
<p>Anthony Porter was released from Death Row in February after Northwestern University Professor David Protess and his journalism students uncovered evidence showing he was wrongly convicted of a 1982 double murder. Ten other Death Row inmates claim they were tortured into confessing by former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge, who was fired by the Chicago Police Board in 1993 for coercing a confession.</p>
<p>At the Chicago Police Department, one “isolated incident” of questionable conduct could barely be explained and another would appear, demanding answers. Officials offered few solutions, only suggesting that officers needed more training.</p>
<p>After three weeks of protests over the two shootings, Superintendent of Police Terry G. Hillard recommended firing the four officers involved in the death of 26-year-old LaTanya Haggerty. That punishment must still be approved by the police board, which scheduled a hearing for Jan. 18. But Hillard chose suspensions and reprimands for the three officers involved in the shooting of 22-year-old Northwestern University student Robert Russ.</p>
<p>By year’s end, Hillard announced the department would videotape homicide confessions and place cameras in some police cars. But Chicagoans are demanding more: For public trust to return, they must have official accountability.</p>
<p>–”Rebecca Anderson</p>
<p />
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<p>Blacks Throw Support to White Candidates</p>
<p>Gone are the days of plantation politics, when Chicago’s white politicians hand-picked black candidates. Instead, in two key races in 1999, many in the city’s predominantly black wards backed white candidates, even against black challengers.</p>
<p>In the Feb. 23 mayoral race, Mayor Richard M. Daley breezed to a fourth term with almost 72 percent of the vote, including about 44 percent in the 20 black wards. Daley still polled lower in black wards than in white, Latino or mixed wards but surpassed his previous high of 28 percent in 1995.</p>
<p>U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-Chicago) became the seventh African American since 1989 to mount a serious challenge to Daley in a primary or general election–”and lose. He captured nearly 56 percent of the vote in the black wards, but won just 28 percent citywide. The former 2nd Ward alderman won just two endorsements from the City Council: African American Shirley A. Coleman, from the 16th Ward; and the 46th Ward’s Helen Shiller, a longtime Daley foe, who is white.</p>
<p>Daley’s victory may have been expected, but few anticipated the outcome of the 18th Ward aldermanic race. In 1998, after a six-year, $20 million legal battle, the Chicago City Council approved the redrawn Southwest Side ward with a 72 percent African American majority. The new boundaries moved white incumbent Alderman Thomas Murphy into the neighboring 13th Ward, but that did not stop him from seeking re-election in the 18th Ward. Murphy won about 57 percent of the vote against eight African American challengers, making him the only white alderman to represent a majority black constituency. He moved back into the 18th Ward in April.</p>
<p>–”Alysia Tate</p>
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<p>Tough Year for ‘Team CHA’</p>
<p>Mother Nature got the Chicago Housing Authority off to an inauspicious start in 1999. Plunging temperatures after a New Year’s Day blizzard froze, and then burst, water pipes in five partially occupied buildings at the South Side’s Robert Taylor Homes and the West Side’s Henry Horner Homes. Hundreds of families fled apartments through iced hallways.</p>
<p>On June 1, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development officially returned control of the CHA to the city. Mayor Richard M. Daley earned kudos for selecting Phillip Jackson, a former CHA resident, as the agency’s new chief executive officer. But within a few months, the honeymoon was over for the new administration, which Jackson had dubbed “Team CHA.”</p>
<p>Tenants roundly criticized the agency’s proposal to demolish 52 high-rises during the next five years, including all of the Taylor Homes and Stateway Gardens, which together stretch 2.5 miles along South State Street, from 35th to 55th streets. The plan still must be approved by HUD.</p>
<p>Jackson stepped onto another land mine this fall when he announced a “winterization” plan to empty seven of Taylor’s 22 remaining buildings, and two buildings at the West Side’s Rockwell Gardens development, all deemed too vulnerable to cold temperatures. Many tenants said the CHA neglected repairs in the buildings to win public support for demolition.</p>
<p>But at year’s end, the last resident holdouts gave in. Barbara Moore, a leader at a targeted building at 5266 S. State St., expects next year will bring more closings and vows to “draw a line and not let anyone move [us] around like cattle.”</p>
<p>–”Brian J. Rogal</p>
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<p>The Year in Review</p>
<p>Jan. 7 After a New Year’s Day blizzard, the Chicago Housing Authority begins evacuating more than 200 families from apartments with frozen pipes and failing boilers in the Robert Taylor and Henry Horner public housing developments. Displaced tenants at three Taylor high-rises are upset when CHA officials announce plans to close their buildings for good. Critics accuse the CHA of neglecting repairs to win public support for demolition.</p>
<p>Jan. 21 Two Chicago Fire Department supervisors are reassigned after Capt. Curtis Powell, an African American, said other fire-fighters racially harassed him. In a complaint filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Powell alleges he was the victim of verbal attacks and injurious pranks after he was promoted to captain of Engine Co. 96. Five days later, about 50 white firefighters protest the transfers outside City Hall, according to press reports.</p>
<p>Jan. 27 A federal grand jury indicts Chicago City Treasurer Miriam Santos on 12 counts of extortion, and mail and wire fraud. Santos, the first Latino and woman to hold the post, is indicted the day former state Rep. Miguel A. Santiago (D-Chicago) is acquitted of ghost payrolling. Santiago served as 31st Ward alderman from 1983 to 1987.</p>
<p>Jan. 31 After a two-hour jury deliberation, former Alderman Virgil E. Jones Jr. (15th) becomes the 25th current or former member of the Chicago City Council in the past 26 years convicted of a crime. Jones is found guilty of taking $7,000 in bribes from federal government mole John Christopher.</p>
<p>Feb. 5 Anthony Porter is freed from Death Row when Northwestern University Professor David Protess and his journalism students discover evidence suggesting Porter was wrongly convicted of a 1982 double murder. He had been incarcerated at Pontiac and Menard correctional centers since 1983. Twelve Death Row inmates have been released since Illinois reinstated the death penalty in 1977. Community and legal groups renew calls for a death penalty moratorium.</p>
<p>Feb. 23 Mayor Richard M. Daley trounces U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-Chicago) in the mayoral election, capturing nearly three out of every four votes cast. Daley receives about 85 percent of the votes in predominantly Latino wards and about 44 percent in black wards. Treasurer Santos, under indictment, narrowly defeats African American challenger Dorothy Brown, general auditor for the Chicago Transit Authority, with 51.4 percent of the vote. And Alderman Thomas Murphy, who is white, wins his 18th Ward seat with almost 58 percent of the vote against eight black challengers. In August 1998, the ward’s boundaries were redrawn, making it 72 percent African American.</p>
<p>March 5 Cook County officials reach a $36 million settlement with the Ford Heights Four, four African American men wrongfully accused of killing a south suburban couple in 1978. It is one of the largest awards for wrongful prosecution in U.S. history. Three other men have since been convicted of the killings.</p>
<p>March 8 In Cook County Circuit Court, Judge Judith M. Brawka sets a goal of returning “Baby T” within a year to the custody of his mother, Tina Olison, a former drug addict. Born with cocaine in his system, Baby T has been in the foster care of Alderman Edward M. Burke (14th) and Illinois Appellate Court Justice Anne Burke since he was 8 days old. The white, politically powerful couple have sought to become private guardians of the black child. Announcing her decision, Brawka cites racial considerations and Olison’s successful rehabilitation.</p>
<p>March 11 Presiding Cook County Criminal Court Judge Thomas R. Fitzgerald vacates the two murder convictions against Porter. “Thank God, I’m innocent of all charges. Thank God, I’m free,” Porter says. But within two weeks, he is arrested and charged with domestic battery against one of his daughters and her mother. Porter is freed on bond, but Gov. George Ryan accuses the state of inadequately preparing Porter for life after prison. In August, prosecutors drop the charges.</p>
<p>April 27 West suburban Cicero adopts an anti-gang ordinance that would force repeat offenders to leave town or face fines of $500 per day. Critics charge the law is anti-Latino. In June, under another anti-gang measure, Cicero police begin impounding cars belonging to suspected gang members, who only can retrieve their vehicles after paying $615 in fines and fees. Police seize more than 60 cars before the law is challenged in court and Cicero stops enforcing it. On Aug. 25, Cicero moves to impound cars driven by minors violating curfew. “There is more than one way to skin a cat,” says Cicero Town President Betty Loren-Maltese. “These punks are not going to beat us, even if we have setbacks on certain things.”</p>
<p>May 3 A federal jury finds Santos guilty of five counts of mail fraud and one count of extortion. Santos, who won reelection as city treasurer despite her indictment, relinquishes her office. Twenty-three days after the jurors’ decision, Daley appoints Barbara A. Lumpkin, who is black, as Chicago’s new treasurer, despite pressure from African American leaders to name Brown, Santos’ challenger in the February election.</p>
<p>May 27 The city of Chicago announces an agreement to receive control of the CHA from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which took over the agency in 1995. Daley taps Phillip Jackson, chief of staff for Chicago Public Schools’ Chief Executive Officer Paul Vallas, to run the authority.</p>
<p>June 4-5 In separate incidents, Chicago police shoot and kill unarmed black motorists LaTanya Haggerty, a 26-year-old computer analyst; and Robert Russ, 22, a Northwestern University student and football player. Critics cite the shootings as examples of the Chicago Police Department’s racial profiling and use of excessive force. The Cook County State’s Attorney and the U.S. Attorney’s Office begin a joint investigation of both shootings. Hundreds of protesters demanding greater police accountability march on police headquarters.</p>
<p>June 10 The U.S. Supreme Court upholds a ruling that struck down Chicago’s anti-gang loitering ordinance. The 1992 law allowed Chicago police officers to disperse loiterers they believed were gang members, but the Supreme Court agrees with two lower courts in calling it vague and unconstitutionally restrictive of personal liberties. The city pledges to rewrite the ordinance.</p>
<p>June 27 A report by the Chicago Tribune shows the number of white welfare recipients has dropped by nearly half in the past two years, but minority numbers have fallen only 30 percent. Downstate welfare recipients are moving off welfare twice as fast as those in Cook County, which accounts for 71 percent of the state’s recipients.</p>
<p>July 2-4 Benjamin Smith embarks on a shooting rampage that leaves three people dead and nine wounded. The 21-year-old Wilmette native first opens fire on six Orthodox Jews in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood, then drives to Skokie and kills African American former Northwestern University basketball coach Ricky Byrdsong as he walks with his two children. Smith also shoots at an Asian couple in Northbrook before heading downstate. After shooting blacks and Asians in Springfield, Decatur and Urbana, Smith travels to Bloomington, Ind., where he guns down Won Joon Yoon, an Indiana University graduate student from Korea. With police in pursuit, Smith shoots himself outside Salem, Ill. Police believe Smith acted alone but link him to the white supremacist group World Church of the Creator, based in East Peoria. Experts consider the organization, led by Matthew Hale, one of the nation’s fastest growing hate groups.</p>
<p>July 7 The Chicago Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards rules the shooting of Haggerty unjustified and recommends Superintendent of Police Terry G. Hillard move to fire the four officers involved. Hillard makes the recommendation five days later. The final decision rests with the Chicago Police Board, which schedules a hearing to begin Jan. 18. The Fraternal Order of Police, the police union, accuses Hillard of bowing to political pressure.</p>
<p>July 15 In a dramatic press conference, new CHA chief Jackson accuses HUD of mismanagement by showcasing a warehouse containing bicycles and computer equipment. He says the CHA acquired the equipment while under HUD’s control but never used it. Jackson’s demonstration provokes a bitter dispute between the two agencies. The next day, a HUD official sends Daley a hand-written fax demanding to know “What kind of bullshit is this?” Raising questions about tenant relocations, HUD later agrees with critics of Daley that federal approval should hinge on how well residents’ concerns are addressed. Daley lambastes HUD for meddling.</p>
<p>July 27 U.S. District Judge Charles R. Norgle Sr. sentences Santos to 40 months in prison for mail fraud and extortion. Santos apologizes to the court, saying “I never dreamed my career would end in this manner,” according to the Chicago Tribune. But Norgle states that “Santos has not accepted responsibility. … When you looked in the mirror, you should have seen yourself as the treasurer. Instead, ambition took control.”</p>
<p>Aug. 12 Downtown Chicago loses electrical power as underground cables short-circuit under heavy use in the intense summer heat. After weeks of sporadic power outages across Chicago, Commonwealth Edison Co. officials admit they are struggling with an aging infrastructure. Daley fumes. “You better go to ground zero with that company,” he tells Chief Executive Officer John Rowe. The next day, Rowe fires one of the ComEd’s senior vice presidents. The outage costs businesses as much as $100 million.</p>
<p>Aug. 16 Chicago firefighter Robert Nole sues several colleagues and the city for racial harassment. In his federal civil rights suit, Nole, who is of Native American descent, says colleagues called him “Chief Sitting Bull” and danced around him.</p>
<p>Aug. 28 Thomas Cooper attacks Burbank resident Roy Trumblay, his wife Geri, his daughter Kristy and her boyfriend Brian Quan, with a wooden table leg as they walk on 35th Street toward Comiskey Park. Cooper is black and the Trumblays are white, but prosecutors and defense attorneys</p>
<p>say no evidence suggests Cooper was motivated by race. Cooper is charged with first-degree murder when Roy Trumblay dies Nov. 2.</p>
<p>Sept. 9 The CHA confirms plans to shut down seven high-rises in Robert Taylor in order to avoid costly winter weather repairs. Five to six hundred families are asked to move by November. Many refuse. “We want them to winterize our building so we can stay here,” says Barbara Moore, president of the Taylor building at 5266 S. State St. “Where will we go?”</p>
<p>Sept. 10 The three Chicago police officers who chased Russ before his shooting death are punished by the department but keep their jobs. OPS rules the shooting accidental but Officer Van Watts receives a 15-day suspension without pay. Officer George Renner is suspended for one day, and Officer Philip Banszkiewicz gets a reprimand. “I’m appalled,” says Vera Love, Russ’ mother. “They slap these people on the wrist for killing my son?” But Fraternal Order of Police President Bill Nolan blasts the punishments as politically motivated, and Watts appeals his suspension.</p>
<p>Sept. 30 Calling for drastic reductions in the CHA’s size and scope, Jackson unveils a five-year plan to revamp the agency. The $1.5 billion capital proposal would knock down 52 high-rise buildings, reduce the agency’s housing pool from 38,000 to 24,000 apartments, turn management of all developments over to private companies and, in the next year, slice the CHA’s workforce by one-fourth. The plan also calls for rehabbing or rebuilding the 24,000 units. “Our goal with this plan is not to dissolve CHA communities, but to enhance and stabilize them,” Jackson says. But resident activists blast the agency for failing to solicit their input. “We can fight it,” says Francine Washington, president of Stateway Gardens. “We won’t go anywhere. They’ll have to blow us out of there with a stick of dynamite.”</p>
<p>Sept. 30 U.S. District Court Judge Ann Claire Williams denies the City of Chicago’s request to modify the Red Squad consent decree. The city’s proposal would have increased its power to investigate hate crimes. It also would have allowed Chicago police to share gang data with other departments. The 1981 decree prohibits police and other city agencies from conducting investigations that could violate an individual’s First Amendment rights.</p>
<p>Oct. 12 The CHA’s Jackson announces a move to disband the agency’s 270-officer police force. Responsibility for patrolling public housing developments returns to the Chicago Police Department on Oct. 29. Most CHA officers are African American, and some denounce Jackson’s announcement as racist. Many residents complain that Chicago police avoid CHA properties.</p>
<p>Oct. 19 Reversing her March decision on the guardianship of “Baby T,” Circuit Court Judge Brawka rules that Olison, the child’s mother, has not made enough progress to win custody. Brawka says Olison is not prepared to offer the child a stable environment, and orders he remain in the foster care of the Burkes. Outside the courtroom, Olison’s supporters accuse the state’s child welfare system of “destroying black families.”</p>
<p>Oct. 26 Cook County Circuit Judge Benjamin E. Novoselsky orders Beverly Reed to repay $51,000 she misspent out of a trust fund for “Girl X,” the 9-year-old beaten and sexually assaulted in a Cabrini-Green stairwell in 1997. Reed had traveled across the country to help raise more than $300,000 for the girl.</p>
<p>Oct. 27 Gov. Ryan wraps up his five-day “humanitarian” mission to Cuba, the first visit by a U.S. governor since Cuban leader Fidel Castro gained power in 1959. Illinois farmers are looking for new markets and Ryan supports lifting the U.S. embargo on Cuba. Ryan gives Castro a bust of Abraham Lincoln; Castro allows two sick Cuban boys to come to the U.S. for treatment.</p>
<p>Oct. 30 Reginald Cole, a state prison inmate, is shot to death during questioning at the Chicago Police Department’s Wentworth Area Detective Division. Ten days earlier, Cole was transferred to Cook County Jail from the Illinois River Correctional Facility in Canton. Police say Cole fatally shot himself in the mouth. According to press reports, he was shot between one and three times. The medical examiner rules Cole’s death a suicide but the case remains under investigation.</p>
<p>Nov. 1 The Chicago Cubs hire Don Baylor as manager. He is the first African American skipper in club history. “Who wouldn’t want to manage at Wrigley Field?” Baylor asks. Baylor previously served as hitting coach of the Atlanta Braves and manager of the Colorado Rockies. As a player, he won the 1979 American League Most Valuable Player award, and in 1985 Major League Baseball named him the Roberto Clemente Man of the Year for his athletic performance and civic efforts. Baylor was dinged by pitches 267 times in his playing career, setting a major league record.</p>
<p>Nov. 7-8 Rev. Jesse L. Jackson leads a march in downstate Decatur to protest the “zero tolerance” expulsions of seven African American high school students. The school board acted too severely when it kicked the students out of school for two years for brawling at a Sept. 17 football game, Jackson says. He also sites a study suggesting the board disciplines black students more frequently and harshly than whites. The board agrees to reduce the expulsions to one year and, in the meantime, to allow the students to attend alternative education programs. But Jackson rejects the offer as too severe and pledges to continue to fight for the students’ reinstatement.</p>
<p>Nov. 9 A federal jury finds Alderman Percy Z. Giles (37th) guilty of accepting $91,000 in bribes before and during Operation Silver Shovel. Giles, the sixth alderman to be convicted in the federal probe, has represented the West Side ward since 1986. Daley has 60 days to appoint Giles’ replacement. A special aldermanic race will be held in the ward in February 2001.</p>
<p>Nov. 10 The U.S. Senate confirms former Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun (D-Ill.) as ambassador to New Zealand and non-resident ambassador to Samoa. Only two senators vote against her confirmation: Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) and Sen. Peter G. Fitzgerald (R-Ill.), who defeated Moseley-Braun in her 1998 re-election bid. Moseley-Braun is the only black woman to serve in the Senate.</p>
<p>Nov. 14 A week of contention in Decatur climaxes with three protest rallies. More than 2,000 people march against the student expulsions with the Rev. Jackson. Nearby, about 250 marchers express support for the school board, and about 100 others join members of the Ku Klux Klan in speaking out against Jackson. On Nov. 16, Jackson attempts to escort the students back to school. Police arrest him for trespassing. By the end of the week, the students enroll in an alternative school.</p>
<p>Nov. 15 Fire Commissioner Edward P. Altman Jr. resigns days after his son, Edward Altman III, charged him with covering up a botched internal investigation. The younger Altman was head of the department’s Internal Affairs Division in 1997 when a videotape surfaced showing firefighters partying on the job and using racial slurs. He resigned Feb. 27. In his suit, he accuses his father of sandbagging the inquiry and making him a scapegoat. Daley taps First Deputy Fire Commissioner James Joyce to succeed Altman as commissioner. Joyce pledges to increase training and diversify the department.</p>
<p>Nov. 22 Cook County Circuit Judge Sidney A. Jones reinstates an injunction preventing south suburban Harvey from shutting off water to neighboring Dixmoor. Harvey first threatened to cut off the water supply in February because Dixmoor had amassed a $347,328 bill. Meanwhile, Dixmoor village trustees had voted in September to disband the fire and police departments. Harvey Mayor Nickolas Graves proposes annexing Dixmoor and taking over its city services.</p>
<p>Nov. 22 A report released by the Metropolitan Planning Council warns that moderate- and low-income renters are having more trouble finding adequate, affordable housing in the Chicago area. Segregation remains entrenched and tenants leaving CHA properties for subsidized private housing under the Section 8 program are more likely to end up in poor, segregated communities.</p>
<p>Dec. 20 The CHA vacates the Robert Taylor building at 5266 S. State St and turns off the power. Cold weather kills worms and fish left behind in the building’s tenant-run farm, set up to teach children about business and farming. “I was contacted by the worms’ attorney to make sure they are being treated fairly,” the CHA’s Jackson tells the Chicago Tribune. “How worms got to be such celebrities is beyond me.”</p>
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<p>Obituaries</p>
<p>March 25 Gung Hsing Wang, 90, civic leader and businessman, dies at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Wang came to Chicago as the Chinese vice consul in 1930. In 1969, Mayor Richard J. Daley named him planning coordinator for the Model Cities Program. He also founded Neighborhood Redevelopment Assistance, a non-profit corporation that helped revitalize Chinatown.</p>
<p>June 15 “He went 24 hours a day,” Marie Yotaghan tells the Chicago Tribune about her husband, Wardell, 53, after he dies of a heart attack. “He had an understanding with our family that what he was doing would not only help others, it would help us, too.” He co-founded the Coalition to Protect Public Housing and worked with the Chicago Association of Resident Managers Corporation. His efforts helped residents win control of some CHA buildings from the federal government. “Wardell believed in the slogan –˜I am my brother’s keeper,'” says Della Mitchell, an organizer with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.</p>
<p>Nov. 1 Former Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton, 45, dies of bile duct cancer. “He was the best football player I’ve ever seen and one of the best people I ever met,” said former Bears coach Mike Ditka. Payton, whom many knew as “Sweetness,” holds eight National Football League records, including most career and single-game rushing yards. He also led the Bears to a Super Bowl victory in the 1985 season. After leaving football, Payton was involved in many business enterprises and charitable efforts. A public memorial service held Nov. 6 at Soldier Field draws 15,000 friends and fans.</p>
<p>–Illustrations by Jim Flynn. By Mick Dumke. Contributing: Leah Bobal, James Boozer, Nicolette L. McDavid, Cory Oldweiler, Billy O’Keefe and E.J. Rublev</p>
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police distrust goes mainstream death row prisoner wins freedom efforts undergraduate journalism students two unarmed african american motorists shot death police within eight hours tragic june night stories seemed gritty fantasy television crime dramas become real streets chicago new law enforcement scandal citizens call justice longer public outcry limited usual community activists defenders minority rights 1999 distrust police went mainstream anthony porter released death row february northwestern university professor david protess journalism students uncovered evidence showing wrongly convicted 1982 double murder ten death row inmates claim tortured confessing former chicago police commander jon burge fired chicago police board 1993 coercing confession chicago police department one isolated incident questionable conduct could barely explained another would appear demanding answers officials offered solutions suggesting officers needed training three weeks protests two shootings superintendent police terry g hillard recommended firing four officers involved death 26yearold latanya haggerty punishment must still approved police board scheduled hearing jan 18 hillard chose suspensions reprimands three officers involved shooting 22yearold northwestern university student robert russ years end hillard announced department would videotape homicide confessions place cameras police cars chicagoans demanding public trust return must official accountability rebecca anderson blacks throw support white candidates gone days plantation politics chicagos white politicians handpicked black candidates instead two key races 1999 many citys predominantly black wards backed white candidates even black challengers feb 23 mayoral race mayor richard daley breezed fourth term almost 72 percent vote including 44 percent 20 black wards daley still polled lower black wards white latino mixed wards surpassed previous high 28 percent 1995 us rep bobby l rush dchicago became seventh african american since 1989 mount serious challenge daley primary general electionand lose captured nearly 56 percent vote black wards 28 percent citywide former 2nd ward alderman two endorsements city council african american shirley coleman 16th ward 46th wards helen shiller longtime daley foe white daleys victory may expected anticipated outcome 18th ward aldermanic race 1998 sixyear 20 million legal battle chicago city council approved redrawn southwest side ward 72 percent african american majority new boundaries moved white incumbent alderman thomas murphy neighboring 13th ward stop seeking reelection 18th ward murphy 57 percent vote eight african american challengers making white alderman represent majority black constituency moved back 18th ward april alysia tate tough year team cha mother nature got chicago housing authority inauspicious start 1999 plunging temperatures new years day blizzard froze burst water pipes five partially occupied buildings south sides robert taylor homes west sides henry horner homes hundreds families fled apartments iced hallways june 1 us department housing urban development officially returned control cha city mayor richard daley earned kudos selecting phillip jackson former cha resident agencys new chief executive officer within months honeymoon new administration jackson dubbed team cha tenants roundly criticized agencys proposal demolish 52 highrises next five years including taylor homes stateway gardens together stretch 25 miles along south state street 35th 55th streets plan still must approved hud jackson stepped onto another land mine fall announced winterization plan empty seven taylors 22 remaining buildings two buildings west sides rockwell gardens development deemed vulnerable cold temperatures many tenants said cha neglected repairs buildings win public support demolition years end last resident holdouts gave barbara moore leader targeted building 5266 state st expects next year bring closings vows draw line let anyone move us around like cattle brian j rogal year review jan 7 new years day blizzard chicago housing authority begins evacuating 200 families apartments frozen pipes failing boilers robert taylor henry horner public housing developments displaced tenants three taylor highrises upset cha officials announce plans close buildings good critics accuse cha neglecting repairs win public support demolition jan 21 two chicago fire department supervisors reassigned capt curtis powell african american said firefighters racially harassed complaint filed us equal employment opportunity commission powell alleges victim verbal attacks injurious pranks promoted captain engine co 96 five days later 50 white firefighters protest transfers outside city hall according press reports jan 27 federal grand jury indicts chicago city treasurer miriam santos 12 counts extortion mail wire fraud santos first latino woman hold post indicted day former state rep miguel santiago dchicago acquitted ghost payrolling santiago served 31st ward alderman 1983 1987 jan 31 twohour jury deliberation former alderman virgil e jones jr 15th becomes 25th current former member chicago city council past 26 years convicted crime jones found guilty taking 7000 bribes federal government mole john christopher feb 5 anthony porter freed death row northwestern university professor david protess journalism students discover evidence suggesting porter wrongly convicted 1982 double murder incarcerated pontiac menard correctional centers since 1983 twelve death row inmates released since illinois reinstated death penalty 1977 community legal groups renew calls death penalty moratorium feb 23 mayor richard daley trounces us rep bobby l rush dchicago mayoral election capturing nearly three every four votes cast daley receives 85 percent votes predominantly latino wards 44 percent black wards treasurer santos indictment narrowly defeats african american challenger dorothy brown general auditor chicago transit authority 514 percent vote alderman thomas murphy white wins 18th ward seat almost 58 percent vote eight black challengers august 1998 wards boundaries redrawn making 72 percent african american march 5 cook county officials reach 36 million settlement ford heights four four african american men wrongfully accused killing south suburban couple 1978 one largest awards wrongful prosecution us history three men since convicted killings march 8 cook county circuit court judge judith brawka sets goal returning baby within year custody mother tina olison former drug addict born cocaine system baby foster care alderman edward burke 14th illinois appellate court justice anne burke since 8 days old white politically powerful couple sought become private guardians black child announcing decision brawka cites racial considerations olisons successful rehabilitation march 11 presiding cook county criminal court judge thomas r fitzgerald vacates two murder convictions porter thank god im innocent charges thank god im free porter says within two weeks arrested charged domestic battery one daughters mother porter freed bond gov george ryan accuses state inadequately preparing porter life prison august prosecutors drop charges april 27 west suburban cicero adopts antigang ordinance would force repeat offenders leave town face fines 500 per day critics charge law antilatino june another antigang measure cicero police begin impounding cars belonging suspected gang members retrieve vehicles paying 615 fines fees police seize 60 cars law challenged court cicero stops enforcing aug 25 cicero moves impound cars driven minors violating curfew one way skin cat says cicero town president betty lorenmaltese punks going beat us even setbacks certain things may 3 federal jury finds santos guilty five counts mail fraud one count extortion santos reelection city treasurer despite indictment relinquishes office twentythree days jurors decision daley appoints barbara lumpkin black chicagos new treasurer despite pressure african american leaders name brown santos challenger february election may 27 city chicago announces agreement receive control cha us department housing urban development took agency 1995 daley taps phillip jackson chief staff chicago public schools chief executive officer paul vallas run authority june 45 separate incidents chicago police shoot kill unarmed black motorists latanya haggerty 26yearold computer analyst robert russ 22 northwestern university student football player critics cite shootings examples chicago police departments racial profiling use excessive force cook county states attorney us attorneys office begin joint investigation shootings hundreds protesters demanding greater police accountability march police headquarters june 10 us supreme court upholds ruling struck chicagos antigang loitering ordinance 1992 law allowed chicago police officers disperse loiterers believed gang members supreme court agrees two lower courts calling vague unconstitutionally restrictive personal liberties city pledges rewrite ordinance june 27 report chicago tribune shows number white welfare recipients dropped nearly half past two years minority numbers fallen 30 percent downstate welfare recipients moving welfare twice fast cook county accounts 71 percent states recipients july 24 benjamin smith embarks shooting rampage leaves three people dead nine wounded 21yearold wilmette native first opens fire six orthodox jews chicagos rogers park neighborhood drives skokie kills african american former northwestern university basketball coach ricky byrdsong walks two children smith also shoots asian couple northbrook heading downstate shooting blacks asians springfield decatur urbana smith travels bloomington ind guns joon yoon indiana university graduate student korea police pursuit smith shoots outside salem ill police believe smith acted alone link white supremacist group world church creator based east peoria experts consider organization led matthew hale one nations fastest growing hate groups july 7 chicago police departments office professional standards rules shooting haggerty unjustified recommends superintendent police terry g hillard move fire four officers involved hillard makes recommendation five days later final decision rests chicago police board schedules hearing begin jan 18 fraternal order police police union accuses hillard bowing political pressure july 15 dramatic press conference new cha chief jackson accuses hud mismanagement showcasing warehouse containing bicycles computer equipment says cha acquired equipment huds control never used jacksons demonstration provokes bitter dispute two agencies next day hud official sends daley handwritten fax demanding know kind bullshit raising questions tenant relocations hud later agrees critics daley federal approval hinge well residents concerns addressed daley lambastes hud meddling july 27 us district judge charles r norgle sr sentences santos 40 months prison mail fraud extortion santos apologizes court saying never dreamed career would end manner according chicago tribune norgle states santos accepted responsibility looked mirror seen treasurer instead ambition took control aug 12 downtown chicago loses electrical power underground cables shortcircuit heavy use intense summer heat weeks sporadic power outages across chicago commonwealth edison co officials admit struggling aging infrastructure daley fumes better go ground zero company tells chief executive officer john rowe next day rowe fires one comeds senior vice presidents outage costs businesses much 100 million aug 16 chicago firefighter robert nole sues several colleagues city racial harassment federal civil rights suit nole native american descent says colleagues called chief sitting bull danced around aug 28 thomas cooper attacks burbank resident roy trumblay wife geri daughter kristy boyfriend brian quan wooden table leg walk 35th street toward comiskey park cooper black trumblays white prosecutors defense attorneys say evidence suggests cooper motivated race cooper charged firstdegree murder roy trumblay dies nov 2 sept 9 cha confirms plans shut seven highrises robert taylor order avoid costly winter weather repairs five six hundred families asked move november many refuse want winterize building stay says barbara moore president taylor building 5266 state st go sept 10 three chicago police officers chased russ shooting death punished department keep jobs ops rules shooting accidental officer van watts receives 15day suspension without pay officer george renner suspended one day officer philip banszkiewicz gets reprimand im appalled says vera love russ mother slap people wrist killing son fraternal order police president bill nolan blasts punishments politically motivated watts appeals suspension sept 30 calling drastic reductions chas size scope jackson unveils fiveyear plan revamp agency 15 billion capital proposal would knock 52 highrise buildings reduce agencys housing pool 38000 24000 apartments turn management developments private companies next year slice chas workforce onefourth plan also calls rehabbing rebuilding 24000 units goal plan dissolve cha communities enhance stabilize jackson says resident activists blast agency failing solicit input fight says francine washington president stateway gardens wont go anywhere theyll blow us stick dynamite sept 30 us district court judge ann claire williams denies city chicagos request modify red squad consent decree citys proposal would increased power investigate hate crimes also would allowed chicago police share gang data departments 1981 decree prohibits police city agencies conducting investigations could violate individuals first amendment rights oct 12 chas jackson announces move disband agencys 270officer police force responsibility patrolling public housing developments returns chicago police department oct 29 cha officers african american denounce jacksons announcement racist many residents complain chicago police avoid cha properties oct 19 reversing march decision guardianship baby circuit court judge brawka rules olison childs mother made enough progress win custody brawka says olison prepared offer child stable environment orders remain foster care burkes outside courtroom olisons supporters accuse states child welfare system destroying black families oct 26 cook county circuit judge benjamin e novoselsky orders beverly reed repay 51000 misspent trust fund girl x 9yearold beaten sexually assaulted cabrinigreen stairwell 1997 reed traveled across country help raise 300000 girl oct 27 gov ryan wraps fiveday humanitarian mission cuba first visit us governor since cuban leader fidel castro gained power 1959 illinois farmers looking new markets ryan supports lifting us embargo cuba ryan gives castro bust abraham lincoln castro allows two sick cuban boys come us treatment oct 30 reginald cole state prison inmate shot death questioning chicago police departments wentworth area detective division ten days earlier cole transferred cook county jail illinois river correctional facility canton police say cole fatally shot mouth according press reports shot one three times medical examiner rules coles death suicide case remains investigation nov 1 chicago cubs hire baylor manager first african american skipper club history wouldnt want manage wrigley field baylor asks baylor previously served hitting coach atlanta braves manager colorado rockies player 1979 american league valuable player award 1985 major league baseball named roberto clemente man year athletic performance civic efforts baylor dinged pitches 267 times playing career setting major league record nov 78 rev jesse l jackson leads march downstate decatur protest zero tolerance expulsions seven african american high school students school board acted severely kicked students school two years brawling sept 17 football game jackson says also sites study suggesting board disciplines black students frequently harshly whites board agrees reduce expulsions one year meantime allow students attend alternative education programs jackson rejects offer severe pledges continue fight students reinstatement nov 9 federal jury finds alderman percy z giles 37th guilty accepting 91000 bribes operation silver shovel giles sixth alderman convicted federal probe represented west side ward since 1986 daley 60 days appoint giles replacement special aldermanic race held ward february 2001 nov 10 us senate confirms former sen carol moseleybraun dill ambassador new zealand nonresident ambassador samoa two senators vote confirmation sen jesse helms rnc sen peter g fitzgerald rill defeated moseleybraun 1998 reelection bid moseleybraun black woman serve senate nov 14 week contention decatur climaxes three protest rallies 2000 people march student expulsions rev jackson nearby 250 marchers express support school board 100 others join members ku klux klan speaking jackson nov 16 jackson attempts escort students back school police arrest trespassing end week students enroll alternative school nov 15 fire commissioner edward p altman jr resigns days son edward altman iii charged covering botched internal investigation younger altman head departments internal affairs division 1997 videotape surfaced showing firefighters partying job using racial slurs resigned feb 27 suit accuses father sandbagging inquiry making scapegoat daley taps first deputy fire commissioner james joyce succeed altman commissioner joyce pledges increase training diversify department nov 22 cook county circuit judge sidney jones reinstates injunction preventing south suburban harvey shutting water neighboring dixmoor harvey first threatened cut water supply february dixmoor amassed 347328 bill meanwhile dixmoor village trustees voted september disband fire police departments harvey mayor nickolas graves proposes annexing dixmoor taking city services nov 22 report released metropolitan planning council warns moderate lowincome renters trouble finding adequate affordable housing chicago area segregation remains entrenched tenants leaving cha properties subsidized private housing section 8 program likely end poor segregated communities dec 20 cha vacates robert taylor building 5266 state st turns power cold weather kills worms fish left behind buildings tenantrun farm set teach children business farming contacted worms attorney make sure treated fairly chas jackson tells chicago tribune worms got celebrities beyond obituaries march 25 gung hsing wang 90 civic leader businessman dies northwestern memorial hospital wang came chicago chinese vice consul 1930 1969 mayor richard j daley named planning coordinator model cities program also founded neighborhood redevelopment assistance nonprofit corporation helped revitalize chinatown june 15 went 24 hours day marie yotaghan tells chicago tribune husband wardell 53 dies heart attack understanding family would help others would help us cofounded coalition protect public housing worked chicago association resident managers corporation efforts helped residents win control cha buildings federal government wardell believed slogan brothers keeper says della mitchell organizer chicago coalition homeless nov 1 former chicago bears running back walter payton 45 dies bile duct cancer best football player ive ever seen one best people ever met said former bears coach mike ditka payton many knew sweetness holds eight national football league records including career singlegame rushing yards also led bears super bowl victory 1985 season leaving football payton involved many business enterprises charitable efforts public memorial service held nov 6 soldier field draws 15000 friends fans illustrations jim flynn mick dumke contributing leah bobal james boozer nicolette l mcdavid cory oldweiler billy okeefe ej rublev
| 2,777 |
<p>By Bob Allen</p>
<p>Two-time failed Southern Baptist Convention presidential candidate Winfred Moore —&#160;a Texas pastor who ran on a centrist platform aimed at depoliticizing the denomination in the 1980s —&#160;died May 8 in Amarillo, Texas. He was 95.</p>
<p>Moore, pastor of Amarillo’s First Baptist Church from 1959 until his retirement in 1989, was nominated as president of the nation’s second-largest faith group in 1985 and 1986. Though backed by the so-called “moderates” in the era known as the “conservative resurgence,” Moore described himself as a “conservative” and “denominational loyalist” who was opposed to tactics of the resurgence group organized by layman Paul Pressler and theologian Paige Patterson in 1979.</p>
<p>Elected president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in 1984 and 1985, Moore lost in 1985 to incumbent SBC President Charles Stanley. Stanley, pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, was the fourth consecutive president committed to appointing only like-minded leaders in an effort to ensure that convention entities over time would reflect the conservative values embraced by many churches.</p>
<p>Moore received 19,795 votes —&#160;more than the total number of messengers at the 1984 convention in Kansas City —&#160;but he still lost by 10 percent at the convention in Dallas, which set a record registration of 45,519.</p>
<p>After the vote reporters surrounded Moore at the foot of the stage. He heard Stanley interrupt to ask him to return to the platform, where Stanley asked him if he was willing to be nominated as first vice president. Unaware that two other candidates had already been nominated, Moore put his arm around Stanley’s shoulder and asked, “Are you asking me that?”</p>
<p>Stanley did not answer audibly but smiled broadly. “I will do with Charles Stanley everything that I know how to do to put the convention back in the mainstream of evangelism and missions,” Moore continued in a rare light moment in an otherwise tense convention.</p>
<p>The following year Moore lost to Adrian Rogers, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn., the first conservative resurgence president who served in 1979-1980 before turning down a customary second term. Rogers’ second election secured nine straight years of conservative presidents in what Pressler and Patterson had estimated could be accomplished in 10 years.</p>
<p>After his election as first vice president in 1985, Moore was added as an ex-officio member to the SBC Peace Committee, a group formed at the Dallas convention to determine the causes of controversy dividing Southern Baptists and make recommendations about how to solve them.</p>
<p>Moore said in December 1985 he believed the Peace Committee was off to a good start, but after the committee issued its final report in 1987, he was concerned enough to <a href="http://media.sbhla.org.s3.amazonaws.com/6492,04-Dec-1987.pdf" type="external">convene</a> a meeting of 42 leaders at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport who were “fed up with fundamentalist control of the SBC.”</p>
<p>In 1988 Moore backed SBC presidential candidate Richard Jackson with a mailing to 34,000 Southern Baptist churches describing the upcoming convention in San Antonio, Texas, as possibly “the most important for missions and evangelism in our history.” Jackson, pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church in Phoenix, Ariz., lost by 692 votes to Jerry Vines, co-pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., the closest race in a decade.</p>
<p>That December Moore was <a href="http://media.sbhla.org.s3.amazonaws.com/6716,29-Dec-1988.pdf" type="external">announced</a> as first chairman of a new coalition called Baptists Committed to the Southern Baptist Convention, led by rancher and former pastor David Currie to organize the “broad center” of Southern Baptists “who are disenchanted with the fundamentalist takeover of the convention and yet do not wish to abandon the convention or start a new denomination.”</p>
<p>After the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship formed in 1990, the group dropped the reference to the SBC from its name. Renamed <a href="http://www.txbc.org/index.htm" type="external">Texas Baptists Committed</a>, the group shifted focus to resisting fundamentalism in the Baptist General Convention of Texas.</p>
<p>Currie <a href="" type="internal">stepped</a> down in 2009. Bill Jones, the former associate executive director, was promoted to executive director in January 2013. Texas Baptists Committed no longer endorses candidates, <a href="http://www.txbc.org/" type="external">focusing</a> instead on education and advocacy of historic Baptist principles in cooperation with the BGCT.</p>
<p>After retiring from the pulpit, Moore joined the faculty of Baylor University, where he had served on the board of regents and as chairman from 1986 until 1990. In 1997 he was named first director of the <a href="http://www.baylor.edu/ministry_effectiveness/" type="external">Center for Ministry Effectiveness</a>. He was on the founding board of Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary, and two endowed scholarships at Baylor bear his name.</p>
<p>Moore and his wife, Elizabeth, returned to Amarillo about 10 years ago. She died in 2012. They were married 71 years.</p>
<p>Moore’s last place of residence was <a href="http://www.parkcentral.org/" type="external">Park Place Towers Retirement Center</a>, located across the street from First Baptist Church, which he was instrumental in raising funds to build in the early 1980s.</p>
<p>A memorial service for Moore was <a href="http://www.wacotrib.com/obituaries/moore-winfred/article_c8ea6dff-0b51-5927-9ec5-fbf7728f940a.html" type="external">scheduled</a> May 11 at <a href="http://www.fbc-amarillo.org/" type="external">First Baptist Church in Amarillo</a> with Pastor Howard Batson officiating, followed by a private family interment at Llano Cemetery.</p>
<p>The family suggested memorial gifts to Buckner Foundation, Amarillo Program, 600 N. Pearl St. Suite 2000 Dallas, Texas, 75201; Winfred and Elizabeth Moore Scholarship Fund, in care of Baylor University, One Bear Place, No. 97026, Waco, Texas, 76798, or Snack Pak4Kids c/o Baptist Community Services, Amarillo, or First Baptist Church.</p>
| false | 3 |
bob allen twotime failed southern baptist convention presidential candidate winfred moore 160a texas pastor ran centrist platform aimed depoliticizing denomination 1980s 160died may 8 amarillo texas 95 moore pastor amarillos first baptist church 1959 retirement 1989 nominated president nations secondlargest faith group 1985 1986 though backed socalled moderates era known conservative resurgence moore described conservative denominational loyalist opposed tactics resurgence group organized layman paul pressler theologian paige patterson 1979 elected president baptist general convention texas 1984 1985 moore lost 1985 incumbent sbc president charles stanley stanley pastor first baptist church atlanta fourth consecutive president committed appointing likeminded leaders effort ensure convention entities time would reflect conservative values embraced many churches moore received 19795 votes 160more total number messengers 1984 convention kansas city 160but still lost 10 percent convention dallas set record registration 45519 vote reporters surrounded moore foot stage heard stanley interrupt ask return platform stanley asked willing nominated first vice president unaware two candidates already nominated moore put arm around stanleys shoulder asked asking stanley answer audibly smiled broadly charles stanley everything know put convention back mainstream evangelism missions moore continued rare light moment otherwise tense convention following year moore lost adrian rogers pastor bellevue baptist church memphis tenn first conservative resurgence president served 19791980 turning customary second term rogers second election secured nine straight years conservative presidents pressler patterson estimated could accomplished 10 years election first vice president 1985 moore added exofficio member sbc peace committee group formed dallas convention determine causes controversy dividing southern baptists make recommendations solve moore said december 1985 believed peace committee good start committee issued final report 1987 concerned enough convene meeting 42 leaders dallasfort worth airport fed fundamentalist control sbc 1988 moore backed sbc presidential candidate richard jackson mailing 34000 southern baptist churches describing upcoming convention san antonio texas possibly important missions evangelism history jackson pastor north phoenix baptist church phoenix ariz lost 692 votes jerry vines copastor first baptist church jacksonville fla closest race decade december moore announced first chairman new coalition called baptists committed southern baptist convention led rancher former pastor david currie organize broad center southern baptists disenchanted fundamentalist takeover convention yet wish abandon convention start new denomination cooperative baptist fellowship formed 1990 group dropped reference sbc name renamed texas baptists committed group shifted focus resisting fundamentalism baptist general convention texas currie stepped 2009 bill jones former associate executive director promoted executive director january 2013 texas baptists committed longer endorses candidates focusing instead education advocacy historic baptist principles cooperation bgct retiring pulpit moore joined faculty baylor university served board regents chairman 1986 1990 1997 named first director center ministry effectiveness founding board baylors george w truett theological seminary two endowed scholarships baylor bear name moore wife elizabeth returned amarillo 10 years ago died 2012 married 71 years moores last place residence park place towers retirement center located across street first baptist church instrumental raising funds build early 1980s memorial service moore scheduled may 11 first baptist church amarillo pastor howard batson officiating followed private family interment llano cemetery family suggested memorial gifts buckner foundation amarillo program 600 n pearl st suite 2000 dallas texas 75201 winfred elizabeth moore scholarship fund care baylor university one bear place 97026 waco texas 76798 snack pak4kids co baptist community services amarillo first baptist church
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<p>JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Twenty years since the end of apartheid.</p>
<p>Twenty years since South Africa held its historic first democratic elections, and people of all races had their say at last, choosing Nelson Mandela to be their president.</p>
<p>The anniversary of that day, April 27, 1994, is now a public holiday — Freedom Day. This year South Africans are preparing to go to the polls again, with elections scheduled for May 7. It will be only the fifth general election held since the end of racist white minority rule, and the first since Mandela's death.</p>
<p>Mandela's party, the African National Congress, has ruled for all of those 20 years.&#160; Two decades on, where is South Africa on its road to fulfill Mandela's vision — that of a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society?</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The lights are on at more South African homes</p>
<p><a href="http://imgur.com/FowYZLL" type="external" /> Creative Commons/ <a href="http://adrianfrith.com/2013/11/16/map-of-electrification-from-1996-to-2011" type="external">Adrian Frith</a>/ <a href="http://adrianfrith.com/comment/1782#comment-1782" type="external">Commenter</a></p>
<p>In 1994-1995, just 50.9 percent of South African households had access to electricity, according to a government performance review. By 2012, that figure had rocketed to 85.3 percent, <a href="http://beta2.statssa.gov.za/" type="external">Statistics South Africa</a>’s general household survey found. &#160;</p>
<p>The murder rate has more than halved</p>
<p>South African policemen walk at the exit of the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg following the attempted escape by two man found guilty for murdering reggae icon Lucky Dube in 2009. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>In 1994, South Africa's murder rate was 66.9 per 100,000 people, according to the Institute for Security Studies. In 2012-2013, it was 31.3 per 100,000 people, the South African Police Service said.</p>
<p>So while it is still extremely high (the US, in comparison, has a homicide rate of 4.7 per 100,000), South Africa has fewer than half the murders it did two decades ago.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>More South Africans are living in proper houses, rather than structures like this:</p>
<p>Egoli Informal Settlement, close to Strandfontein, on April 2, 2014, Cape Town. (Rodger Bosch/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>The proportion of households living in formal dwellings increased from 65.1 percent in 1996 to 77.6 percent in 2011, according to Statistics South Africa, a government body. The proportion living in informal dwellings (read: shacks) decreased from 16.2 to 13.6 percent.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>South Africa is more economically unequal than ever</p>
<p>The township of Alexandra located in the north of Johannesburg in the rich suburb of Sandton. (Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>According to the World Bank, South Africa’s Gini coefficient — a measure of income inequality — increased from 0.59 in 1993 to of 0.63 in 2009, making this country one of the most unequal societies in the world.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Corruption has gotten worse</p>
<p>South African police chief Jackie Selebi, accused of corruption and defeating the ends of justice over his links to a murder suspect, aarives with his lawyers at Randburg Magistrate court in Johannesburg in Februaury, 2008. (Paballo Thekiso/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>South Africa ranked 21st of 42 countries on Transparency International's corruptions perceptions index in 1995. In 2004, it ranked 44th of 145 countries. By last year South Africa’s ranking had slid to 72nd of 177 countries.</p>
<p>The World Bank produces annual worldwide governance indicators. In 2012, South Africa’s control of corruption was ranked 113th out of 210 countries.</p>
<p />
<p>(Erin Conway-Smith/GlobalPost)</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Young people have stopped registering to vote</p>
<p>Remember 1994, when millions of South Africans lined up to cast their ballots over a three-day voting period?</p>
<p>Voters line up on 28 April 1994 in South Africa's first multi-racial elections at the Zevenfontein squatter camp. (Kevin Carter/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>Well this year, only 33.6 percent of eligible "born free" voters — meaning South Africans born after 1994 — have registered for upcoming elections. This means that more than a million born frees won't be casting their ballots.&#160;</p>
<p>In comparison, 60 percent of South Africans in their twenties are registered to vote, and more than 90 percent of people older than 30 are registered.</p>
<p>This youth voter rate overall is comparable — probably even less — than that of the United States, where voter turnout among 18- to 24-year-olds declined from 48.5 percent in 2008 to 41.2 percent in 2012, according to the US Census Bureau.</p>
<p>South Africa's official tone about civic duty has changed in the past 20 years. The lead-up to the 1994 vote had been chaotic, and the country's electoral commission was desperate to convince South Africans that the vote would go ahead.</p>
<p>"Like all births, the birth of our democracy is not without pain. But it will be a time of joy and of hope for the future":</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Now, it's a matter of convincing people to vote because hey, South Africa is a pretty darn good country:</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Perhaps some fresh “Rock the Vote”-type ads are in order for South Africa ...</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world</p>
<p>Supporters of the Democratic Alliance, South Africa's main opposition party prepare to take part in a march for jobs in Johannesburg. (Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>The official unemployment rate in 1994 was around 20 percent, according to Statistics South Africa. The most recent quarterly labor force survey reported an unemployment rate of 24.1 percent.</p>
<p>Under an "expanded rate" of unemployment, which includes people who have stopped actively looking for work, this rate rose from 31.5 percent in 1994 to 34 percent in the last quarter of 2013.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The architecture of apartheid hasn’t really changed</p>
<p>( <a href="http://adrianfrith.com/2013/09/12/comparing-2001-and-2011" type="external">Adrian Frith/Creative Commons</a>)</p>
<p>Apartheid legislation forced people of different races and ethnic groups to live separately. Today, many of those neighborhoods haven't changed. “The legacy of apartheid is still very clearly visible,” wrote Cape Town web developer Adrian Frith, who made maps like the one above based on 2001 and 2011 census data. “I suppose that was to be expected.”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>White people still earn much more than black people</p>
<p />
<p>Delegates attend the opening ceremony of South Africa's first Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment summit on October 3, 2013. (Stephane de Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>According to the 2011 census, the incomes of black South African households grew by 169 percent over the preceding decade. But white South Africans still earn six times as much money.</p>
<p>The average annual income of black South African households is R60,613 (about $5,700), while for white-headed households it is R365,134 ($34,300). &#160;On a positive note — overall, household incomes more than doubled during the 10 years from 2001 to 2011. &#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>There are things called 'service delivery protests'</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Courtesy: The <a href="http://www.uj.ac.za/EN/Faculties/humanities/departments/Research-Centres/sacsc/Pages/home.aspx" type="external">Social Change Research Unit at the University of Johannesburg</a></p>
<p>A continued lack of basic government services — things like water, sanitation and electricity — have led to mounting frustrations in poorer communities, and increased numbers of violent protests. Demonstrators throw rocks at cars, burn down community libraries and battle police.</p>
<p>“There have been limited gains for the working class in post-apartheid South Africa," according to the University of Johannesburg’s Social Change Research Unit. "The frustration is such people are willing to lose something for their cause.”</p>
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johannesburg south africa twenty years since end apartheid twenty years since south africa held historic first democratic elections people races say last choosing nelson mandela president anniversary day april 27 1994 public holiday freedom day year south africans preparing go polls elections scheduled may 7 fifth general election held since end racist white minority rule first since mandelas death mandelas party african national congress ruled 20 years160 two decades south africa road fulfill mandelas vision united nonracial nonsexist democratic prosperous society 160 160 lights south african homes creative commons adrian frith commenter 19941995 509 percent south african households access electricity according government performance review 2012 figure rocketed 853 percent statistics south africas general household survey found 160 murder rate halved south african policemen walk exit south gauteng high court johannesburg following attempted escape two man found guilty murdering reggae icon lucky dube 2009 strafpgetty images 1994 south africas murder rate 669 per 100000 people according institute security studies 20122013 313 per 100000 people south african police service said still extremely high us comparison homicide rate 47 per 100000 south africa fewer half murders two decades ago 160 south africans living proper houses rather structures like egoli informal settlement close strandfontein april 2 2014 cape town rodger boschafpgetty images proportion households living formal dwellings increased 651 percent 1996 776 percent 2011 according statistics south africa government body proportion living informal dwellings read shacks decreased 162 136 percent 160 160 south africa economically unequal ever township alexandra located north johannesburg rich suburb sandton alexander joeafpgetty images according world bank south africas gini coefficient measure income inequality increased 059 1993 063 2009 making country one unequal societies world 160 corruption gotten worse south african police chief jackie selebi accused corruption defeating ends justice links murder suspect aarives lawyers randburg magistrate court johannesburg februaury 2008 paballo thekisoafpgetty images south africa ranked 21st 42 countries transparency internationals corruptions perceptions index 1995 2004 ranked 44th 145 countries last year south africas ranking slid 72nd 177 countries world bank produces annual worldwide governance indicators 2012 south africas control corruption ranked 113th 210 countries erin conwaysmithglobalpost 160 young people stopped registering vote remember 1994 millions south africans lined cast ballots threeday voting period voters line 28 april 1994 south africas first multiracial elections zevenfontein squatter camp kevin carterafpgetty images well year 336 percent eligible born free voters meaning south africans born 1994 registered upcoming elections means million born frees wont casting ballots160 comparison 60 percent south africans twenties registered vote 90 percent people older 30 registered youth voter rate overall comparable probably even less united states voter turnout among 18 24yearolds declined 485 percent 2008 412 percent 2012 according us census bureau south africas official tone civic duty changed past 20 years leadup 1994 vote chaotic countrys electoral commission desperate convince south africans vote would go ahead like births birth democracy without pain time joy hope future matter convincing people vote hey south africa pretty darn good country perhaps fresh rock votetype ads order south africa 160 160 south africa one highest unemployment rates world supporters democratic alliance south africas main opposition party prepare take part march jobs johannesburg marco longariafpgetty images official unemployment rate 1994 around 20 percent according statistics south africa recent quarterly labor force survey reported unemployment rate 241 percent expanded rate unemployment includes people stopped actively looking work rate rose 315 percent 1994 34 percent last quarter 2013 160 architecture apartheid hasnt really changed adrian frithcreative commons apartheid legislation forced people different races ethnic groups live separately today many neighborhoods havent changed legacy apartheid still clearly visible wrote cape town web developer adrian frith made maps like one based 2001 2011 census data suppose expected 160 white people still earn much black people delegates attend opening ceremony south africas first broadbased black economic empowerment summit october 3 2013 stephane de sakutinafpgetty images according 2011 census incomes black south african households grew 169 percent preceding decade white south africans still earn six times much money average annual income black south african households r60613 5700 whiteheaded households r365134 34300 160on positive note overall household incomes doubled 10 years 2001 2011 160 160 things called service delivery protests 160 courtesy social change research unit university johannesburg continued lack basic government services things like water sanitation electricity led mounting frustrations poorer communities increased numbers violent protests demonstrators throw rocks cars burn community libraries battle police limited gains working class postapartheid south africa according university johannesburgs social change research unit frustration people willing lose something cause
| 747 |
<p>President Donald Trump delivered his inauguration speech after being sworn in as 45th president of the United States. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>Just&#160;as President Trump took to the podium to deliver his inaugural address, a light rain began to fall on the U.S. Capitol and those on the National Mall watching his first moment &#160;as the 45th president of the United States.</p>
<p>Consistent with the drizzle, much of Trump’s speech&#160;echoed his&#160;campaign messages&#160;of&#160;doom and gloom. But&#160;now with&#160;the start of his presidency, Trump promised&#160;bright days ahead.</p>
<p>“Today’s ceremony…has very special meaning because today, we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another or from one party to another, but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the people,” Trump said.</p>
<p>Trump’s dismal view of America included rants about rampant crime, drugs and gangs; a crumbling infrastructure; an education system that’s flush with cash but doesn’t prepare students for the future and a foreign policy that defends other nations’ borders “while refusing to defend our own.”</p>
<p>“We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power,” Trump said. “From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first, America first.”</p>
<p>In a possible signal the new president would seek to shift the nation’s alliances, such as embracing stronger ties with Russia, Trump said he would seek to build new partnerships, while keeping the old, to thwart Islamic extremism.</p>
<p>“We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate from the face of the Earth,” Trump said.</p>
<p>Trump also predicted expansion in what he called the “birth of the new millennium,” saying progress will consist of national unity and scientific advances.</p>
<p>“We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow,” Trump said. “A new national pride will stir ourselves, lift our sights and heal our divisions.”</p>
<p>In this new America, Trump said the nation will be protected “by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement,” but also and more importantly, “protected by God.”</p>
<p>“Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength,” Trump said. “I will fight for you with every breath in my body and I will never ever let you down. America will start winning again, winning like never before.”</p>
<p>Franklin Graham, an evangelical leader who endorsed Trump, delivered one of the closing benedictions at the inauguration ceremony and said the falling rain was a good sign.</p>
<p>“In the Bible, rain is a sign of God’s blessing, and it started to rain, Mr. President, when you came to the platform,” Graham said. “And it’s my prayer that God will bless you, your family, your administration and may he bless America.”</p>
<p>After being sworn in by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, Trump waved from his&#160;spot&#160;on the U.S. Capitol&#160;steps&#160;and shook his fist in the air to rally his supporters. Trump embraced his family who stood by him as he took the oath of office, then shook the hand of now former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joseph Biden.</p>
<p>Moments earlier, Vice President Mike Pence was sworn into office by U.S. Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, which relieved Biden of his role as vice president. Other prominent guests&#160;included&#160;former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush as well as former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton in her capacity as a former first lady.</p>
<p>Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign and steadfast supporter of Hillary Clinton during the election, said in a statement his organization intends to hold the new administration accountable.</p>
<p>“When Donald Trump took the oath of office today, he vowed to be a servant for all Americans. We will hold him to that oath,” Griffin said. “It is more important now than ever before for us to organize, mobilize, and fight in solidarity against hate and any attempts to roll back the rights of LGBTQ people. No matter who sits in the Oval Office, HRC won’t back down an inch in the fight for full equality and the equal dignity of each and every American. Forward.”</p>
<p>Unlike the inauguration of Obama in 2009, whose swearing-in packed the National Mall, noticeably fewer people braved the January rain to witness the beginning of the Trump presidency. An estimated attendance of 700,000 to 900,000 people was expected for the transition of power from Obama to Trump.</p>
<p>Trump supporters demonstrated solidarity on the National Mall by wearing “Make America Great Again” hats and pro-Trump material from his presidential campaign. At the same time, others attending the inauguration in protest held up portraits of people of color and the message “We the People.”</p>
<p>Shortly after Trump began his inauguration speech, a female protester&#160;was&#160;escorted out of the event before members of the press were seated. Carrying a sign in opposition to Trump, she shouted as she was taken away Trump is a “racist” and “not legitimate.”</p>
<p>Four years after Obama made history during his second inaugural address by comparing the Stonewall riots to the march on Selma and asserting the nation’s journey isn’t complete until gays are treated equally under the law, Trump made no reference to LGBT rights during his speech.</p>
<p>For LGBT inclusion during the inaugural event, one would have to look to Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) in remarks he delivered as part of his introduction&#160;of&#160;the event.</p>
<p>“We Americans have always been a forward-looking, problem-solving, optimistic, patriotic and decent people, whatever our race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, whether we are immigrants or native born, whether we live with disabilities or do not, in wealth or in poverty, we are all exceptional in our commonly held, yet fierce, devotion to our country,” Schumer said.</p>
<p>In the aftermath of defeat for Democrats on Election Day, Schumer sought to strike a populist tone not unlike Trump’s as he decried a system he said leaves people behind and “a fractured media.” Nonetheless, Trump supporters on the National Mall could be heard jeering the New York Democrat as he delivered the introduction.</p>
<p>After coming to power in a campaign that stirred racist sentiment and was embraced by white supremacists, Trump appeared to tamp down the perception his ascendance is a triumph for bigotry, asserting in hearts that are open to patriotism “there is no room for prejudice.”</p>
<p>“It’s time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget, that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots,” Trump added. “We all enjoy the same glorious freedoms and we all salute the same great American flag.”</p>
<p>But Trump didn’t forget his supporters, nor did they fail to support him in his remarks. Those in attendance on the National Mall could be heard shouting “Trump! Trump!” as the event began and — perhaps in response to visible protests happening away from the stage — chanting “USA! USA!”</p>
<p>Trump closed his address with a refrain of variations on his campaign theme of “Make America Great Again,” and his supporters could be heard joining him in his last words, which were identical to the slogan.</p>
<p>“Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams will define our American destiny,” Trump said. “And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way. Together, we will make America strong again. We will make America wealthy again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again. And yes, together we will make America great again.”</p>
<p>President Donald Trump (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Chad Griffin</a> <a href="" type="internal">Chuck Schumer</a> <a href="" type="internal">Donald Trump</a> <a href="" type="internal">Franklin Graham</a> <a href="" type="internal">Human Rights Campaign</a> <a href="" type="internal">inauguration</a></p>
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president donald trump delivered inauguration speech sworn 45th president united states washington blade photo michael key just160as president trump took podium deliver inaugural address light rain began fall us capitol national mall watching first moment 160as 45th president united states consistent drizzle much trumps speech160echoed his160campaign messages160of160doom gloom but160now with160the start presidency trump promised160bright days ahead todays ceremonyhas special meaning today merely transferring power one administration another one party another transferring power washington dc giving back people trump said trumps dismal view america included rants rampant crime drugs gangs crumbling infrastructure education system thats flush cash doesnt prepare students future foreign policy defends nations borders refusing defend assembled today issuing new decree heard every city every foreign capital every hall power trump said day forward new vision govern land day forward going america first america first possible signal new president would seek shift nations alliances embracing stronger ties russia trump said would seek build new partnerships keeping old thwart islamic extremism reinforce old alliances form new ones unite civilized world radical islamic terrorism eradicate face earth trump said trump also predicted expansion called birth new millennium saying progress consist national unity scientific advances stand birth new millennium ready unlock mysteries space free earth miseries disease harness energies industries technologies tomorrow trump said new national pride stir lift sights heal divisions new america trump said nation protected great men women military law enforcement also importantly protected god protection lead great prosperity strength trump said fight every breath body never ever let america start winning winning like never franklin graham evangelical leader endorsed trump delivered one closing benedictions inauguration ceremony said falling rain good sign bible rain sign gods blessing started rain mr president came platform graham said prayer god bless family administration may bless america sworn us chief justice john roberts trump waved his160spot160on us capitol160steps160and shook fist air rally supporters trump embraced family stood took oath office shook hand former president barack obama former vice president joseph biden moments earlier vice president mike pence sworn office us associate justice clarence thomas relieved biden role vice president prominent guests160included160former presidents jimmy carter george w bush well former president bill clinton hillary clinton capacity former first lady chad griffin president human rights campaign steadfast supporter hillary clinton election said statement organization intends hold new administration accountable donald trump took oath office today vowed servant americans hold oath griffin said important ever us organize mobilize fight solidarity hate attempts roll back rights lgbtq people matter sits oval office hrc wont back inch fight full equality equal dignity every american forward unlike inauguration obama 2009 whose swearingin packed national mall noticeably fewer people braved january rain witness beginning trump presidency estimated attendance 700000 900000 people expected transition power obama trump trump supporters demonstrated solidarity national mall wearing make america great hats protrump material presidential campaign time others attending inauguration protest held portraits people color message people shortly trump began inauguration speech female protester160was160escorted event members press seated carrying sign opposition trump shouted taken away trump racist legitimate four years obama made history second inaugural address comparing stonewall riots march selma asserting nations journey isnt complete gays treated equally law trump made reference lgbt rights speech lgbt inclusion inaugural event one would look senate minority leader charles schumer dny remarks delivered part introduction160of160the event americans always forwardlooking problemsolving optimistic patriotic decent people whatever race religion sexual orientation gender identity whether immigrants native born whether live disabilities wealth poverty exceptional commonly held yet fierce devotion country schumer said aftermath defeat democrats election day schumer sought strike populist tone unlike trumps decried system said leaves people behind fractured media nonetheless trump supporters national mall could heard jeering new york democrat delivered introduction coming power campaign stirred racist sentiment embraced white supremacists trump appeared tamp perception ascendance triumph bigotry asserting hearts open patriotism room prejudice time remember old wisdom soldiers never forget whether black brown white bleed red blood patriots trump added enjoy glorious freedoms salute great american flag trump didnt forget supporters fail support remarks attendance national mall could heard shouting trump trump event began perhaps response visible protests happening away stage chanting usa usa trump closed address refrain variations campaign theme make america great supporters could heard joining last words identical slogan voice hopes dreams define american destiny trump said courage goodness love forever guide us along way together make america strong make america wealthy make america proud make america safe yes together make america great president donald trump washington blade photo michael key chad griffin chuck schumer donald trump franklin graham human rights campaign inauguration
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<p>The weekend of May 3-5 marked the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Chancellorsville near Fredericksburg, Va. An ambitious reenactment was planned, with armies of men in blue and grey, the sounds of cannon fire and the excitement of make-believe battles. Re-enactors saluted the general of their loyalty: Hooker or Lee.&#160;</p>
<p>The Sunday before the battle’s anniversary, April 28, found this columnist in his costume as a 19th-century minister who lived during that time. As William E. Hatcher, I had returned to Spotsylvania to visit Salem Baptist Church, which figured in the Battle of Chancellorsville. The actual church house still stands and, owned by the National Park Service, remains in pristine condition. It is a quiet retreat shielded from a busy highway by a wooded thicket on one side and a cemetery on the other. In the spring of 1863, it was anything but a quiet spot as it served as a fortification as well as a hospital during battle. Earlier in the war, it had been a sanctuary for refugees escaping bombardment in nearby Fredericksburg.</p>
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<p>The Orange Plank Road, now heavily-used Highway 3, was a scene of turmoil and terror in May 1863. Ralph Happel wrote an engaging history for the National Park Service entitled Salem Church Embattled and in it he pictured the scene. Alabama regiments were around and inside the church “amid the clutter of furniture stored there by the Fredericksburg refugees.” The historian continued: “[The company was] directed to fire from the lower windows and from the windows in the gallery. Where the country people had made a joyful noise unto the Lord, the guns of war were ready to sound this Sunday, and there would be, instead of the evensong of thrushes, the singing of musket balls.”</p>
<p>Thousands of men on both sides of the conflict were engaged in the area. Again from Salem Church Embattled: “Everywhere the numbers of the wounded taxed the facilities of treatment. At Salem Church, house and yard turned to hospital. Wounded and dying carpeted the ground where the refugees had cooked their gypsy meals. Inside the church, surgeons hacked away, doing their best for fellow Rebels and captured Yankees. Fearing gangrene, surgeons were quick to amputate. A Georgia colonel remembered that ‘the amputated limbs were piled up in every corner almost as high as a man could reach [and] blood flowed in streams along the aisles and out at the doors.’ ”</p>
<p>“Burial of the dead was helter-skelter, pending reinterment at more suitable places.” Eye witnesses later recalled seeing “hands and feet sticking out of the makeshift graves.” “To war’s end and beyond, amid relics of death and havoc, windows broken, doors torn away, walls shaken, bricks scarred by the bolts of war, Salem Church stood desolate in a ravaged yard.”</p>
<p>It was after such a terrible disaster that the church’s pastor, Melzi Chancellor, attempted to revive Salem. The church was one of some four which were “on a field” of churches and all of them experienced the trauma of war. One of the major factors in the recovery of Baptist interests following the war was the reappearance in October 1865 of the Religious Herald, which had been purchased by J.B. Jeter and Alfred E. Dickinson. It provided a means of communication among the scattered Baptists.</p>
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<p>In January 1867 Chancellor wrote an appeal published in the Herald. He pictured the challenges: “Even before the war the four churches which I served were very feeble. I could then afford to serve them with little remuneration. But the war has left me pennyless [sic], with a large and helpless family.&#160; The churches, like their pastor, are broken up —all gone, but the land, and that poor, and the fencing destroyed. Even before the war, such was our poverty that the Goshen [Baptist Association] contributed to my support. What am I to do?”</p>
<p>It is amazing that even in the midst of such destitution, Chancellor reported, “God has greatly blessed my labors among this people [and] I have, in little over a year, baptized over 200 persons.” His plea was poignant:&#160; “Can anything be done?” The editor added a testimony to Chancellor’s worthiness of support: “He is a faithful, earnest and successful minister. He belongs to an association which, before the war, was widely known as the ‘Banner Association’ in matters of benevolence. But the old Goshen, during the war, was fought over until a goodly portion of it was in ruins and especially the section occupied by brother Chancellor’s churches. If any churches deserve aid, these do.”</p>
<p>At the same time, E.C. Rowe, an enterprising lay member of Salem, started a school at the site which in 1867 had 80 pupils; and despite all the odds against him, Rowe expected the school to quickly double in size. He planned to raise the necessary funds for the school.</p>
<p>Salem reopened after the war, but for a long time, it was a mere shadow of its former size. Before the war, there were 277 members, including 173 blacks. With freedom, the blacks moved along. The congregation dwindled to about 35. The one-room building in time would be restored but congregation-building required heroics. Much of that work fell to the remarkable pastor Walker J. Decker who, beginning in 1876, traveled by horseback across his wide field of churches and slowly reestablished the territory.&#160;</p>
<p>On my Sunday visit to present-day Salem which is just across the cemetery from historic Old Salem, my character tried to interpret what characterized the immediate post-war generation. While costumed soldiers will play war at the Chancellorsville battle’s anniversary, this columnist was trying to do more than play-act. I attempted to inspire today’s congregation, seven generations removed from the war, with their heritage. I surmised: “Your pastors —Chancellor and Decker — and the good laypeople of Salem tempered their fears with a deep faith that the same God who had led them from the church’s beginning would not desert them in their long darkness, bringing them into a marvelous light of a better age.”</p>
<p>Salem can reach into its heritage for inspiration in the living of its days in its present. Since 2010, Salem has been served in an intentional interim pastorate filled by Roy Thomas.&#160;</p>
<p>Interested in learning more about religion in the Civil War and emancipation? Visit <a href="http://www.baptisthistory.org" type="external">www.baptisthistory.org</a> for information on a national conference to be held on the subject in Richmond in May.&#160;</p>
<p>Fred Anderson ( <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>) is executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society.</p>
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weekend may 35 marked 150th anniversary battle chancellorsville near fredericksburg va ambitious reenactment planned armies men blue grey sounds cannon fire excitement makebelieve battles reenactors saluted general loyalty hooker lee160 sunday battles anniversary april 28 found columnist costume 19thcentury minister lived time william e hatcher returned spotsylvania visit salem baptist church figured battle chancellorsville actual church house still stands owned national park service remains pristine condition quiet retreat shielded busy highway wooded thicket one side cemetery spring 1863 anything quiet spot served fortification well hospital battle earlier war sanctuary refugees escaping bombardment nearby fredericksburg orange plank road heavilyused highway 3 scene turmoil terror may 1863 ralph happel wrote engaging history national park service entitled salem church embattled pictured scene alabama regiments around inside church amid clutter furniture stored fredericksburg refugees historian continued company directed fire lower windows windows gallery country people made joyful noise unto lord guns war ready sound sunday would instead evensong thrushes singing musket balls thousands men sides conflict engaged area salem church embattled everywhere numbers wounded taxed facilities treatment salem church house yard turned hospital wounded dying carpeted ground refugees cooked gypsy meals inside church surgeons hacked away best fellow rebels captured yankees fearing gangrene surgeons quick amputate georgia colonel remembered amputated limbs piled every corner almost high man could reach blood flowed streams along aisles doors burial dead helterskelter pending reinterment suitable places eye witnesses later recalled seeing hands feet sticking makeshift graves wars end beyond amid relics death havoc windows broken doors torn away walls shaken bricks scarred bolts war salem church stood desolate ravaged yard terrible disaster churchs pastor melzi chancellor attempted revive salem church one four field churches experienced trauma war one major factors recovery baptist interests following war reappearance october 1865 religious herald purchased jb jeter alfred e dickinson provided means communication among scattered baptists january 1867 chancellor wrote appeal published herald pictured challenges even war four churches served feeble could afford serve little remuneration war left pennyless sic large helpless family160 churches like pastor broken gone land poor fencing destroyed even war poverty goshen baptist association contributed support amazing even midst destitution chancellor reported god greatly blessed labors among people little year baptized 200 persons plea poignant160 anything done editor added testimony chancellors worthiness support faithful earnest successful minister belongs association war widely known banner association matters benevolence old goshen war fought goodly portion ruins especially section occupied brother chancellors churches churches deserve aid time ec rowe enterprising lay member salem started school site 1867 80 pupils despite odds rowe expected school quickly double size planned raise necessary funds school salem reopened war long time mere shadow former size war 277 members including 173 blacks freedom blacks moved along congregation dwindled 35 oneroom building time would restored congregationbuilding required heroics much work fell remarkable pastor walker j decker beginning 1876 traveled horseback across wide field churches slowly reestablished territory160 sunday visit presentday salem across cemetery historic old salem character tried interpret characterized immediate postwar generation costumed soldiers play war chancellorsville battles anniversary columnist trying playact attempted inspire todays congregation seven generations removed war heritage surmised pastors chancellor decker good laypeople salem tempered fears deep faith god led churchs beginning would desert long darkness bringing marvelous light better age salem reach heritage inspiration living days present since 2010 salem served intentional interim pastorate filled roy thomas160 interested learning religion civil war emancipation visit wwwbaptisthistoryorg information national conference held subject richmond may160 fred anderson fredandersonvbmborg executive director virginia baptist historical society
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<p>Around 7:30 on a 60-degree morning in early November, Cornell University ornithologist Marshall Iliff parked in the upper lot of Millennium Park, outside of Boston, and started walking.</p>
<p>Over the next two hours, he covered less than a mile through a landscape of scrubby brush, grassy hillsides and beaver swamp. The sky was calm and clear, a good day for bird watching. Iliff saw 45 species that day, including 22 Canada geese, eight mourning doves, a great egret and a red-headed woodpecker — a tally he recorded in real time through an app on his iPhone.</p>
<p>Iliff doesn’t always use an Internet-connected digital device while in nature; sometimes he chooses to bring a notebook to record birds instead. But more often than not the smartphone comes along, and with it <a href="http://ebird.org/content/ebird/" type="external">eBird</a>, one of the apps his team at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology developed.</p>
<p>“It’s almost impossible for me to leave it behind these days,” he says. “It’s just become a way of life.”</p>
<p>Smartphone users today can choose from thousands of nature-themed apps that allow them to keep track of what they see, take guided walks through national parks, collect data that researchers can tap and more. In a similar vein, museums are using new technologies to add immersion and interactivity to exhibits, making nature accessible to anyone — even when they’re indoors.</p>
<p>For people who value the wilderness as a place for escaping the always-connected world, though, such advances raise an unsettling question: Does technology enhance our relationship with nature or pull us further away?</p>
<p>Glimpse Into the Future</p>
<p>To assess the extent of the nature–tech landscape, Paul Jepson, head of an interdisciplinary conservation research lab at Oxford University in the United Kingdom, and Richard Ladle, a conservation biogeographer at Federal University of Alagoas in Brazil, teamed up to analyze the million-plus apps offered on Google Play. In early 2013, they conducted a targeted search with 100 nature-related words — including wildlife, collecting, environment and wetland. Then they filtered out irrelevant hits, such as “Tiger Insurance.”</p>
<p>In total, they found <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13280-015-0712-2" type="external">just over 6,300 apps that had something to do with nature.</a> Most were wallpapers, ringtones and games. Many others were digital versions of field guides and books.</p>
<p>But some offered a glimpse into the future of nature tech. In addition to eBird, the Cornell group has launched another app called <a href="http://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/" type="external">Merlin Bird ID</a>, which uses eBird data to help birders identify birds they spy in the field based on description, time of year, GPS coordinates and what’s been observed at that location in the past.</p>
<p>Innovations from other developers include an app called <a href="http://www.si.edu/apps/leafsnap" type="external">LeafSnap</a> that uses visual recognition software to identify trees based on their leaves; <a href="http://coralrekindlingvenus.com/" type="external">Coral RKV</a>, which uses a smartphone to turn two-dimensional posters of coral reefs into three-dimensional experiences; <a href="http://www.inaturalist.org/" type="external">iNaturalist</a>, which hosts a social network of nature observers, shares data with scientists and allows users to crowdsource species identifications; <a href="http://newforestcicada.info/app/" type="external">Cicada Hunt</a>, an app that listens for an insect that might be extinct and automatically lets scientists know if any peep up; and <a href="http://www.ibats.org.uk/" type="external">iBats,</a> which uses a plug-in microphone to record ultrasonic bat calls, processes that information to identify the species, and provides researchers with information they can use to monitor changes in biodiversity and other indicators of environmental quality.</p>
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<p>Meanwhile at museums, the race is on to offer simulations of outdoor experiences, often for urban kids (and grown-ups) who aren’t able to experience the real thing. London’s Natural History Museum now features a <a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/watch-the-trailer-for-david-attenboroughs-first-life.html" type="external">virtual reality film</a> that immerses viewers in a reconstructed ancient world, surrounded by sea creatures that lived more than 500 million years ago.</p>
<p>At the New York Hall of Science, an exhibit called <a href="http://nysci.org/connected-worlds/" type="external">Connected Worlds</a> transports visitors into a virtual ecosystem they can manipulate to see how ecosystems influence each other over time and space. The hope is to send people home with a new appreciation for the balance of nature, says Stephen Uzzo, chief scientist at the museum. He and his team are now developing a tablet app to offer the same experience at home. They’re also trying to assess whether the exhibit actually changes the way people think or how they behave.</p>
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<p>“One of the things we’re interested in investigating is whether any of this is generalizable,” he says. “Does it change attitudes toward day-to-day experiences, whether you walk in the woods and see a squirrel gathering nuts, or notice fruit from Chile or New Zealand in the grocery store?”</p>
<p>For Better or for Worse?</p>
<p>Whether apps and other technologies enhance or impede our ability to connect with nature is a complex question that is challenging to study. With apps like Merlin, Iliff suspects, gaining knowledge can help users take the first step toward caring.</p>
<p>“Once you put a name on a bird, you can learn more about its habitats and learn if it’s a bird in peril and why,” he says. “You can’t Google it until you know what it’s called.”</p>
<p>Even if they don’t increase individual users’ affinity for nature, apps like eBird, which compile entries into freely downloadable data sets, have other benefits. Available as a website since 2002 and an app more recently, eBird has so far collected some 280 million records and counting from around the world, Iliff says, which have contributed to time-lapse maps that show the timing of seasonal migration. Thousands of people have tapped in to the program’s database, he adds — including scientists, who have used eBird to inform more than 100 published peer-reviewed papers. Both eBird and iNaturalist make user observations available to an open-access database called the <a href="http://www.gbif.org/" type="external">Global Biodiversity Information Facility,</a> which now contains more than 570 million records.</p>
<p>Not everyone is so enthusiastic about the benefits of nature-based technologies, however. Those that offer shortcuts to species identifications and instructions about how to navigate through parks could cause people to forget how to appreciate the wonder of the natural world, says Bill Borrie, a professor of park and recreation management at the University of Montana. Data is important, he says, but collecting it shouldn’t come at the expense of noticing what’s happening around us.</p>
<p>“Being told what you should pay attention to and how you should pay attention to nature takes away from the mystery and the sense of discovery,” Borrie says, adding that there is value to experiencing the unpredictability and even discomfort of wild places. He once sat outside the IMAX movie theater at Yellowstone National Park and listened as tourists emerged into daylight after watching a hyper-real film of the park’s highlights.</p>
<p>“I remember hearing them say, ‘Wow, that was better than the park!’ and, ‘Mom, do we really have to go back to the park?’ I don’t want the outdoors to be disappointing to people.”</p>
<p>But Jepson sees it differently. Technology, he notes, has always mediated our relationship with nature: First came tool making and fire building, then books, binoculars and Gore-Tex. Cameras have long brought the world’s most remote places to coffee tables and television sets. Technology has built roads into wild places and the vehicles to get there. And few people find fault with using these tools to enhance our appreciation of the outdoors.</p>
<p>If anything, Jepson says, innovation lags behind the potential modern technology offers to engage users in nature.</p>
<p>“Everyone’s got smartphones —&#160;they’re not going to go away,” he says. “What an opportunity.”</p>
<p>The true balance may lie somewhere in the middle, in a still-elusive sweet spot where technology enhances nature without substituting for it. Still missing is an app that tells us when to look at the screen and when to look away.</p>
<p>This <a href="http://ensia.com/features/what-does-technology-do-to-our-relationship-with-the-environment/" type="external">story</a> was first published by our partners at <a href="http://ensia.com/" type="external">Ensia</a>, an environmental news magazine based at the University of Minnesota.</p>
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around 730 60degree morning early november cornell university ornithologist marshall iliff parked upper lot millennium park outside boston started walking next two hours covered less mile landscape scrubby brush grassy hillsides beaver swamp sky calm clear good day bird watching iliff saw 45 species day including 22 canada geese eight mourning doves great egret redheaded woodpecker tally recorded real time app iphone iliff doesnt always use internetconnected digital device nature sometimes chooses bring notebook record birds instead often smartphone comes along ebird one apps team cornell lab ornithology developed almost impossible leave behind days says become way life smartphone users today choose thousands naturethemed apps allow keep track see take guided walks national parks collect data researchers tap similar vein museums using new technologies add immersion interactivity exhibits making nature accessible anyone even theyre indoors people value wilderness place escaping alwaysconnected world though advances raise unsettling question technology enhance relationship nature pull us away glimpse future assess extent naturetech landscape paul jepson head interdisciplinary conservation research lab oxford university united kingdom richard ladle conservation biogeographer federal university alagoas brazil teamed analyze millionplus apps offered google play early 2013 conducted targeted search 100 naturerelated words including wildlife collecting environment wetland filtered irrelevant hits tiger insurance total found 6300 apps something nature wallpapers ringtones games many others digital versions field guides books offered glimpse future nature tech addition ebird cornell group launched another app called merlin bird id uses ebird data help birders identify birds spy field based description time year gps coordinates whats observed location past innovations developers include app called leafsnap uses visual recognition software identify trees based leaves coral rkv uses smartphone turn twodimensional posters coral reefs threedimensional experiences inaturalist hosts social network nature observers shares data scientists allows users crowdsource species identifications cicada hunt app listens insect might extinct automatically lets scientists know peep ibats uses plugin microphone record ultrasonic bat calls processes information identify species provides researchers information use monitor changes biodiversity indicators environmental quality meanwhile museums race offer simulations outdoor experiences often urban kids grownups arent able experience real thing londons natural history museum features virtual reality film immerses viewers reconstructed ancient world surrounded sea creatures lived 500 million years ago new york hall science exhibit called connected worlds transports visitors virtual ecosystem manipulate see ecosystems influence time space hope send people home new appreciation balance nature says stephen uzzo chief scientist museum team developing tablet app offer experience home theyre also trying assess whether exhibit actually changes way people think behave one things interested investigating whether generalizable says change attitudes toward daytoday experiences whether walk woods see squirrel gathering nuts notice fruit chile new zealand grocery store better worse whether apps technologies enhance impede ability connect nature complex question challenging study apps like merlin iliff suspects gaining knowledge help users take first step toward caring put name bird learn habitats learn bird peril says cant google know called even dont increase individual users affinity nature apps like ebird compile entries freely downloadable data sets benefits available website since 2002 app recently ebird far collected 280 million records counting around world iliff says contributed timelapse maps show timing seasonal migration thousands people tapped programs database adds including scientists used ebird inform 100 published peerreviewed papers ebird inaturalist make user observations available openaccess database called global biodiversity information facility contains 570 million records everyone enthusiastic benefits naturebased technologies however offer shortcuts species identifications instructions navigate parks could cause people forget appreciate wonder natural world says bill borrie professor park recreation management university montana data important says collecting shouldnt come expense noticing whats happening around us told pay attention pay attention nature takes away mystery sense discovery borrie says adding value experiencing unpredictability even discomfort wild places sat outside imax movie theater yellowstone national park listened tourists emerged daylight watching hyperreal film parks highlights remember hearing say wow better park mom really go back park dont want outdoors disappointing people jepson sees differently technology notes always mediated relationship nature first came tool making fire building books binoculars goretex cameras long brought worlds remote places coffee tables television sets technology built roads wild places vehicles get people find fault using tools enhance appreciation outdoors anything jepson says innovation lags behind potential modern technology offers engage users nature everyones got smartphones 160theyre going go away says opportunity true balance may lie somewhere middle stillelusive sweet spot technology enhances nature without substituting still missing app tells us look screen look away story first published partners ensia environmental news magazine based university minnesota
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<p>As he concluded his visit to the Middle East on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump championed the Gulf states and pitted himself as the world’s chief antagonist against Shiite Iran and its proxies, ISIS, Hezbollah and Hamas.</p>
<p>The Israeli diplomats and officials invited to hear the speech live in Jerusalem were delighted, rewarding Trump's remarks at the Israel Museum with frequent applause and numerous standing ovations.</p>
<p>“Believe me, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, that I can tell you,” the president told his excited audience, as a beaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nodded in satisfaction. “Iran’s leaders routinely call for Israel’s destruction. Not with Donald J. Trump.”</p>
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<p>Trump’s strategic re-positioning in the region has two parts. The first is the reversal of the Iran nuclear deal framework, brokered by former President Barack Obama in 2015, which calls for a restriction of Iran’s nuclear capacities in exchange for significant economic incentives from the West.</p>
<p>Netanyahu had ferociously opposed the Iran deal, claiming it posed an existential threat to Israel. He even attempted, unsuccessfully, to undermine Obama’s efforts by circumventing the White House and addressing his objections directly to Congress.</p>
<p>Referring to the deal, <a href="http://http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/PressRoom/2017/Pages/PM-Netanyahu-meets-with-US-President-Donald-Trump-22-May-2017.aspx" type="external">Trump told the Israeli public on Tuesday</a>, “We not only gave them [the Iranians] a lifeline, we gave them wealth and prosperity. And we also gave them an ability to continue with terror … no matter where we go we see the signs of Iran in the Middle East. … Instead of saying thank you to the United States, they now feel emboldened. … It was a terrible, terrible thing for the United States to enter that deal.”</p>
<p>The second part of Trump's strategy entails building a coalition against Iran&#160;and its Shiite proxies with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. And as part of that coalition-building, the United States will “encourage” the Gulf states to normalize their relationship with Israel, once Israel reaches an agreement with the Palestinians and withdraws from the West Bank.</p>
<p>Said Trump, “There are those who … say that we must choose between supporting Israel and supporting Arab and Muslim nations in the region. That is completely wrong. All decent people want to live in peace, and all humanity is threatened by the evils of terrorism. Diverse nations can unite around the goal of protecting innocent life, upholding human dignity, and promoting peace and stability in the region. My administration is committed to pursuing such a coalition, and we have already made substantial progress during this trip.”</p>
<p>This idea of what New Yorker contributor Nathan Thrall called an “ <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/trump-chases-his-ultimate-deal" type="external">outside-in peace process</a>” isn’t new. It dates back to the Arab Peace Initiative, first presented by the League of Arab States in 2002, and is based on the promise that the Arab states will normalize their relations with Israel once the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is resolved. But in his statements, Trump seemed to imply that he had reached some tentative agreements that would allow Israel to step toward normalization before, rather than after, resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.</p>
<p>Meir Javedanfar is an Iranian-born Israeli&#160;who teaches contemporary Iranian politics at a private research university in Israel, the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya. He says Israel already has some limited partnerships with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states in the field of intelligence, although officially they have no diplomatic relations. Commercial Israeli flights aren't even allowed to fly over Saudi Arabian airspace.</p>
<p>Which is why Israelis of almost all political persuasions were excited to see Air Force One touch down Tuesday from Riyadh,&#160;marking the first official direct flight from Saudi Arabia to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.</p>
<p />
<p>Marine One lands in southeast Jerusalem on Monday. President Donald Trump had landed in Tel Aviv, on a flight from Riyadh, earlier that morning.</p>
<p>Matan Gibson</p>
<p>Immediately after the speech, Isaac Herzog —&#160;head of the opposition from the Zionist Camp, the second-largest party in the Israeli Knesset —&#160;told Voice of Israel Radio that Trump’s remarks represented a “total change in the psychology of the Middle East.”</p>
<p>To arm Saudi Arabia so it can resist the Iranian threats, Trump has signed an arms deal with the kingdom worth <a href="" type="internal">$110 billion dollars</a> —&#160;but giving frenemy Saudi Arabia that much firepower leaves Israel uncomfortable. After all, Saudi Arabia promotes anti-Semitism and <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/us-news/1.790551" type="external">fundamentalist extremism</a>.</p>
<p>Commentator <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/1.790551" type="external">Chemi Shalev wrote in Haaretz</a> that the deal will give the Saudis a “hold” on Trump, “which means he won’t be quick to cross them. His shifting attitude toward the Saudi kingdom shows that he can change his mind violently literally from one day to the next, and turn his worst enemy into his greatest ally without thinking twice.”</p>
<p>Indeed, Israeli leaders&#160;are already worried that they might lose their edge in the region. Speaking on Israeli television, Yuval Steineitz, Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources, praised Trump’s promises but added soberly, “We will have to sit with the Americans to ensure that in any eventuality, Israel will maintain its military superiority.”</p>
<p>Trump has not offered public indications that he has any such intentions.</p>
<p>In recent presidential elections, Iranians rejected the hardline candidates and empowered relative moderate Hassan Rouhani, who seeks to engage with the wider world. But there is always the risk Trump’s strong anti-Iran position could actually exacerbate sectarianism.</p>
<p>While they lauded Trump’s anti-Iran stance, Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition didn’t cheer at all for what the US president had to say about the Palestinians.</p>
<p>“I had a great meeting this morning with President Mahmoud Abbas and I can tell you that he is ready to reach a peace deal. I am telling you that, that’s what I do,” Trump told the suddenly quiet audience in Jerusalem.</p>
<p>“We know, for instance, that both Israelis and Palestinians seek lives of hope for their children. And we know that peace is possible if we put aside the pain and disagreements of the past and commit together to finally resolving this crisis which has dragged on for nearly half [a] century.”</p>
<p>Right-wingers said they were at least relieved that Trump made no mention of the two-state solution, which they strongly oppose. Speaking on Israeli television, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked stated, “We know that Trump will soon come to realize that there is no partner for peace on the Palestinian side. And he will not impose anything on us, and he will not patronize us.&#160;There will never be a Palestinian state.”</p>
<p>And therein lies the catch: The willingness of the Sunni coalition to normalize relations between Israel and the Gulf states is predicated on the resolution of the Palestinian conflict. But Israel’s current hardline government has no intention of making the concessions that such a resolution would demand.</p>
<p>Former left-wing lawmaker Nitzan Horowitz, writing in the Jerusalem Post, <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Arab-Peace-Initiative-the-greatest-missed-opportunity-in-Israels-history-488952" type="external">warns that Netanyahu is merely</a> “playing the regional card as an attempt to dissolve any prospects for progress with the Palestinians.”</p>
<p>In the eyes of cynical Israelis, Trump, like Netanyahu in the past, is awarding himself the world title of Mr. Anti-Terror, this time against Iran. For his part, Netanyahu hasn’t mentioned Iran publicly in months.</p>
<p>And meanwhile, to the average Israeli, Iran and Saudi Arabia seem particularly far away in the face of ongoing clashes with the Palestinians.&#160;</p>
<p>Eetta Prince-Gibson reported from Jerusalem.</p>
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concluded visit middle east tuesday us president donald trump championed gulf states pitted worlds chief antagonist shiite iran proxies isis hezbollah hamas israeli diplomats officials invited hear speech live jerusalem delighted rewarding trumps remarks israel museum frequent applause numerous standing ovations believe iran never nuclear weapon tell president told excited audience beaming israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu nodded satisfaction irans leaders routinely call israels destruction donald j trump trumps strategic repositioning region two parts first reversal iran nuclear deal framework brokered former president barack obama 2015 calls restriction irans nuclear capacities exchange significant economic incentives west netanyahu ferociously opposed iran deal claiming posed existential threat israel even attempted unsuccessfully undermine obamas efforts circumventing white house addressing objections directly congress referring deal trump told israeli public tuesday gave iranians lifeline gave wealth prosperity also gave ability continue terror matter go see signs iran middle east instead saying thank united states feel emboldened terrible terrible thing united states enter deal second part trumps strategy entails building coalition iran160and shiite proxies saudi arabia gulf states part coalitionbuilding united states encourage gulf states normalize relationship israel israel reaches agreement palestinians withdraws west bank said trump say must choose supporting israel supporting arab muslim nations region completely wrong decent people want live peace humanity threatened evils terrorism diverse nations unite around goal protecting innocent life upholding human dignity promoting peace stability region administration committed pursuing coalition already made substantial progress trip idea new yorker contributor nathan thrall called outsidein peace process isnt new dates back arab peace initiative first presented league arab states 2002 based promise arab states normalize relations israel israelipalestinian conflict resolved statements trump seemed imply reached tentative agreements would allow israel step toward normalization rather resolution palestinianisraeli conflict meir javedanfar iranianborn israeli160who teaches contemporary iranian politics private research university israel interdisciplinary center herzliya says israel already limited partnerships saudi arabia gulf states field intelligence although officially diplomatic relations commercial israeli flights arent even allowed fly saudi arabian airspace israelis almost political persuasions excited see air force one touch tuesday riyadh160marking first official direct flight saudi arabia ben gurion airport tel aviv marine one lands southeast jerusalem monday president donald trump landed tel aviv flight riyadh earlier morning matan gibson immediately speech isaac herzog 160head opposition zionist camp secondlargest party israeli knesset 160told voice israel radio trumps remarks represented total change psychology middle east arm saudi arabia resist iranian threats trump signed arms deal kingdom worth 110 billion dollars 160but giving frenemy saudi arabia much firepower leaves israel uncomfortable saudi arabia promotes antisemitism fundamentalist extremism commentator chemi shalev wrote haaretz deal give saudis hold trump means wont quick cross shifting attitude toward saudi kingdom shows change mind violently literally one day next turn worst enemy greatest ally without thinking twice indeed israeli leaders160are already worried might lose edge region speaking israeli television yuval steineitz minister national infrastructure energy water resources praised trumps promises added soberly sit americans ensure eventuality israel maintain military superiority trump offered public indications intentions recent presidential elections iranians rejected hardline candidates empowered relative moderate hassan rouhani seeks engage wider world always risk trumps strong antiiran position could actually exacerbate sectarianism lauded trumps antiiran stance netanyahu rightwing coalition didnt cheer us president say palestinians great meeting morning president mahmoud abbas tell ready reach peace deal telling thats trump told suddenly quiet audience jerusalem know instance israelis palestinians seek lives hope children know peace possible put aside pain disagreements past commit together finally resolving crisis dragged nearly half century rightwingers said least relieved trump made mention twostate solution strongly oppose speaking israeli television justice minister ayelet shaked stated know trump soon come realize partner peace palestinian side impose anything us patronize us160there never palestinian state therein lies catch willingness sunni coalition normalize relations israel gulf states predicated resolution palestinian conflict israels current hardline government intention making concessions resolution would demand former leftwing lawmaker nitzan horowitz writing jerusalem post warns netanyahu merely playing regional card attempt dissolve prospects progress palestinians eyes cynical israelis trump like netanyahu past awarding world title mr antiterror time iran part netanyahu hasnt mentioned iran publicly months meanwhile average israeli iran saudi arabia seem particularly far away face ongoing clashes palestinians160 eetta princegibson reported jerusalem
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<p>The Chicago Public Schools’ tuition-based preschools, aimed at middle-class parents who can afford to pay, have become a North Side phenomenon. And this year, the district is subsidizing expansion to the tune of $2 million a year.</p>
<p>While the number of classrooms north of Madison Street continues to grow, the number south of the city’s north-south dividing line is dwindling.</p>
<p>“I’m having a hard time getting schools and parents south of Hyde Park interested,” says Marsha Brown, who this summer assumed responsibility for CPS tuition preschools. “Parents on the North Side say, ‘Cool.'”</p>
<p>Priced at nearly $7,000 a year, the program is too expensive for many families in communities like South Shore and South Chicago, say some principals.</p>
<p>“Money was an issue,” says Principal Robert Esenberg of Sullivan in South Chicago, where the program had dwindled to five families before it closed in 2002. “Our parents said they could find child care in the area for a lot less. This program didn’t work in our community.”</p>
<p>CPS needs to look into cutting the tuition, says Marie Cobb, community development director for the Coalition for Improved Education in South Shore (CIESS). “We haven’t done much work around early childhood education, but $145 a week is steep.”</p>
<p>However, the School Board says it can’t cut costs. The weekly tuition pays only part of the expenses for staff salaries and programs such as music, art and museum partnerships, explains Armando Almendarez, who oversees CPS curriculum development.</p>
<p>The program runs daily from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. and boasts such extras as classroom computers, field trips, fine arts projects and, in some schools, the well-regarded Suzuki-Orff music program. Classrooms are limited to 20 students and each is staffed by a certified teacher, a trained teacher’s aide and a parent tutor.</p>
<p>Tuition runs $145 a week for 48 weeks. Last year, the fee was $135 a week, or close to $6,500 a year.</p>
<p>Tuition preschools were created in 2001. The first sites opened in affluent communities on the city’s North Side. District officials say CPS responded to complaints that there were no programs on the South Side by opening sites in those communities, too.</p>
<p>However, those programs have not fared as well. More than two-thirds of the 30 tuition-based preschool classrooms are located on the North Side, with the highest concentration in Lake View, Lincoln Park and North Center.</p>
<p>Even with the tuition increase, some parents in these communities say the program is a bargain compared to private preschools, which cost an average of $10,000 a year.</p>
<p>Yet, some educators predict the higher fees will drive away parents in less affluent areas, causing more schools to discontinue tuition preschools.</p>
<p>Bouchet Elementary in South Shore lost four of its 20 tuition preschool students. “With the rise in tuition, I don’t know how many we will have this year,” says Principal Robert Lewis.</p>
<p>A tuition-based program at Douglas Elementary, located in a middle-class area on the Near South Side, closed this summer because of under enrollment. “There is something about the culture over there,” says Velma Thomas, a senior assistant to the early childhood education chief officer. Middle income families who live east of King Drive will send their kids to Pershing, but not to Douglas, which is nearby, she explains. “King Drive is a dividing line,” she says.</p>
<p>Two other tuition preschool programs—Sullivan in South Chicago and Schmid in Pullman—were shuttered a year ago. Clay Elementary in Hegewisch also closed one of its two classes last year.</p>
<p>“There is a lot of unemployment in these areas, and the parents wanted subsidies, which we don’t have,” explains Thomas.</p>
<p>Galileo on the Near West Side asked the board to remove its tuition preschool, citing conflicts with its schedule, says Thomas. Another tuition-based program was later opened two miles away at South Loop Elementary to accommodate parents in that area.</p>
<p>More families enrolling</p>
<p>This fall, tuition-based preschool programs have been opened in communities where space was available and parents possessed the desire and economic wherewithal to support them, say CPS officials.</p>
<p>The district anticipates serving 540 children this year, 50 percent more than last year, and it has budgeted $5.7 million to pay for the program. It anticipates tuition fees will recoup $3.7 million.</p>
<p>Five schools are new to the program this year: Audubon (North Center), Hamilton (Lake View), LeMoyne (Lake View), Otis (West Town) and Pershing. Only Pershing is on the South Side. Four other schools, Nettelhorst, Ray, Mayer and Alcott, each will add one classroom; Blaine, the system’s most popular site, is adding two, for a total of five.</p>
<p>Blaine Principal Gladys Vaccarezza says the new classrooms were sorely needed. Recently, a pregnant woman came to inquire about a slot for her unborn child. “We have people call us on a daily basis about the program,” she chuckles. “I have a waiting list already for next year.”</p>
<p>Pershing’s new program is expected to relieve South Loop, where last year parents camped out a day ahead to snare one of the school’s 40 tuition preschool seats. “One person was set up in a lawn chair with food and water,” laughs Almendarez. CPS began registering parents a day early, signing up families until 11 p.m. and opening at 7:30 the next morning, he notes.</p>
<p>Politicians ask for more</p>
<p>Demand for the program remains strong in some areas, says Lucinda Lee Katz, CPS chief officer of early childhood education. Two aldermen have approached her about opening tuition-based preschools and other early childhood programs in their wards. “They want parents to stay in their communities,” she says.</p>
<p>To serve less affluent areas where parents can’t afford the tuition, Katz is mulling a scholarship fund that will partially offset the expense. “The money would come from foundations, alumni and other groups,” she says. “We’d have to raise it.”</p>
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chicago public schools tuitionbased preschools aimed middleclass parents afford pay become north side phenomenon year district subsidizing expansion tune 2 million year number classrooms north madison street continues grow number south citys northsouth dividing line dwindling im hard time getting schools parents south hyde park interested says marsha brown summer assumed responsibility cps tuition preschools parents north side say cool priced nearly 7000 year program expensive many families communities like south shore south chicago say principals money issue says principal robert esenberg sullivan south chicago program dwindled five families closed 2002 parents said could find child care area lot less program didnt work community cps needs look cutting tuition says marie cobb community development director coalition improved education south shore ciess havent done much work around early childhood education 145 week steep however school board says cant cut costs weekly tuition pays part expenses staff salaries programs music art museum partnerships explains armando almendarez oversees cps curriculum development program runs daily 7 6 pm boasts extras classroom computers field trips fine arts projects schools wellregarded suzukiorff music program classrooms limited 20 students staffed certified teacher trained teachers aide parent tutor tuition runs 145 week 48 weeks last year fee 135 week close 6500 year tuition preschools created 2001 first sites opened affluent communities citys north side district officials say cps responded complaints programs south side opening sites communities however programs fared well twothirds 30 tuitionbased preschool classrooms located north side highest concentration lake view lincoln park north center even tuition increase parents communities say program bargain compared private preschools cost average 10000 year yet educators predict higher fees drive away parents less affluent areas causing schools discontinue tuition preschools bouchet elementary south shore lost four 20 tuition preschool students rise tuition dont know many year says principal robert lewis tuitionbased program douglas elementary located middleclass area near south side closed summer enrollment something culture says velma thomas senior assistant early childhood education chief officer middle income families live east king drive send kids pershing douglas nearby explains king drive dividing line says two tuition preschool programssullivan south chicago schmid pullmanwere shuttered year ago clay elementary hegewisch also closed one two classes last year lot unemployment areas parents wanted subsidies dont explains thomas galileo near west side asked board remove tuition preschool citing conflicts schedule says thomas another tuitionbased program later opened two miles away south loop elementary accommodate parents area families enrolling fall tuitionbased preschool programs opened communities space available parents possessed desire economic wherewithal support say cps officials district anticipates serving 540 children year 50 percent last year budgeted 57 million pay program anticipates tuition fees recoup 37 million five schools new program year audubon north center hamilton lake view lemoyne lake view otis west town pershing pershing south side four schools nettelhorst ray mayer alcott add one classroom blaine systems popular site adding two total five blaine principal gladys vaccarezza says new classrooms sorely needed recently pregnant woman came inquire slot unborn child people call us daily basis program chuckles waiting list already next year pershings new program expected relieve south loop last year parents camped day ahead snare one schools 40 tuition preschool seats one person set lawn chair food water laughs almendarez cps began registering parents day early signing families 11 pm opening 730 next morning notes politicians ask demand program remains strong areas says lucinda lee katz cps chief officer early childhood education two aldermen approached opening tuitionbased preschools early childhood programs wards want parents stay communities says serve less affluent areas parents cant afford tuition katz mulling scholarship fund partially offset expense money would come foundations alumni groups says wed raise
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<p><a href="" type="internal">Download file</a> | <a href="" type="internal">Play in new window</a></p>
<p>By Corey Fields</p>
<p>In a recent interview with News 9 in Oklahoma City, state representative Mike Turner said, “[My constituents are] willing to have that discussion about whether marriage needs to be regulated by the state at all.”</p>
<p>When I heard that quote in isolation, I jumped up, wondering if a lawmaker was actually considering something I’ve been calling for but never thought would see the light of day in a capitol building.</p>
<p>The state of Oklahoma is in the midst of its own battle over the issue of gay marriage. On Jan. 14, U.S. District Judge Terence Kern struck down Oklahoma’s ban. Kern wrote that Oklahoma’s gay couples are being denied state recognition and benefits “without a legally sufficient justification.”</p>
<p>In response, and pending an appeal, Rep. Mike Turner (R) has introduced a “ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_bill" type="external">shell bill</a>” that contains the idea of ending legal recognition of all marriages in Oklahoma, not just same-sex ones.</p>
<p>Such a move, which Turner claims would have bipartisan support in the legislature, would also seemingly have bipartisan opposition. Bloggers of multiple political persuasions are <a href="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_01/okiedokey_plan_to_ban_marriage048775.php" type="external">balking at the idea</a>, and news anchors have had trouble <a href="http://kwtv.videodownload.worldnow.com/KWTV_20140124194447933AA.mp4" type="external">reporting the story with a straight face</a>. To be sure, there’s reason to doubt that Turner has benevolent intentions with this contemplated move. As some bloggers have pointed out, it has eerily similar overtones with the reactions of some private and public entities during the civil rights era, opting to shut something down to avoid integrating.</p>
<p>But a small minority — myself included — are saying, “Pay attention.” Although this piece of legislation would face insurmountable hurdles and legal/logistical nightmares, the more basic idea of getting government out of the marriage business altogether is not a totally new concept and something I’ve supported for years.</p>
<p>What I advocate here is related to but different from the idea of marriage privatization, a political philosophy advocated by <a href="http://reason.com/archives/2013/06/28/lets-divorce-marriage-from-the-governmen" type="external">pundits</a>, <a href="http://lawrencetorcello.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/same-sex-marriage-civil-unions-and-the-marriage-privatization-model1.doc" type="external">scholars</a> and <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Marriage-proposal-Why-not-privatize-2523603.php" type="external">law experts</a> of many stripes. Mike Turner’s bill is not even the first time it has come up politically, as Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan has discussed the idea before. The marriage privatization movement is largely characterized by the desire to scale back the role of the state to that of enforcing the terms of a civil contract rather than setting those terms.</p>
<p>My main concern, however, is that the deeply personal and spiritual nature of marriage is watered down, or even lost, when it is bound up with state-regulated contracts. Indeed, the issue here is the word “marriage,” a word that I do not believe the government should be using. As things stand now, it’s a big messy entanglement of church and state, especially the practice of clergy signing state marriage licenses. In my ideal world, the state should simply grant contractual commitments to any legal, consenting adult pair that wants one. Couples who desire to exchange vows within a religious context can then do so, and the churches can simply exercise the right they already have to decide who can get married in their facilities and with their ministers.</p>
<p>Marriage is a religious word; a deeply spiritual concept that wades in the most profound realities of human life. Most supremely, it is about love — agape love, love as commitment. When on earth did we ever get the idea that deciding who I can fall in love with and how I relate to that person is the concern of Uncle Sam rather than the great I AM? Marriage should be returned to its rightful place in the spiritual realm and private sector. Even G. K. Chesterton came close to this kind of idea, once writing, “It may be said that this institution of the home is the one anarchist institution. That is to say, it is older than law, and stands outside the State.”</p>
<p>But it is part of government’s role to regulate contracts and adjudicate disputes. The state could still offer the benefits that are currently tangled up with marriage (which may be missing from Rep. Turner’s idea. As a shell bill, it lacks content to discuss).</p>
<p>Ceasing government involvement in marriage as a relationship of love and commitment is not an idea we can immediately dismiss, because it represents the only win-win solution in the gay marriage debate. Those fighting to maintain traditional relationships get what they want because they get the word “marriage” back. Those fighting for equality get what they want because any consenting adult would be treated equally under the law, as our Constitution demands.</p>
<p>Equality under the law is not up for debate. As Justice Sullivan wrote in the majority opinion of Westbrook v. Mihaly, “Constitutional rights may not be infringed simply because the majority of the people choose that they be.” Thanks to church and state separation, churches can deny anybody virtually anything, including a wedding ceremony, based on their religious beliefs and policies. The state, however, must produce entirely different reasons, which is why it has been interesting to watch this fight play out in court. Lawyers for traditional marriage proponents know that they have to go to court with more than their Bible, so they’ve tried arguments related to historical precedent, child-rearing propriety, etc., which the courts have consistently dismissed.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, this idea faces some hurdles at best. Perhaps the largest is that the Supreme Court, in several cases that span a century, has already declared that marriage (using that word) is a fundamental right. For example, the majority in opinion in Skinner v. Oklahoma ex rel. Williamson (1942) states that marriage is “one of the basic civil rights of man.” Or again in Loving v. Virginia (1967): “The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men.”</p>
<p>There are other logistical and legal issues that I am not equipped to understand, and of course, the power of precedent would loom large here, to say the least. But what I do know is that the marriage debate has featured the unfortunate spectacle of many Christians talking about the sacred institution of marriage in a way that is devoid of substance or value.</p>
<p>The only thing we seem to be saying is, “Marriage is between a man and a woman,” as if an opposite set of sexual organs is all you need for a healthy relationship. More than half of all heterosexual marriages end in a courtroom, so I’m pretty sure there’s more to it. We need to start talking about the “more to it” part, and we might need government to get out of the way.</p>
| false | 3 |
download file play new window corey fields recent interview news 9 oklahoma city state representative mike turner said constituents willing discussion whether marriage needs regulated state heard quote isolation jumped wondering lawmaker actually considering something ive calling never thought would see light day capitol building state oklahoma midst battle issue gay marriage jan 14 us district judge terence kern struck oklahomas ban kern wrote oklahomas gay couples denied state recognition benefits without legally sufficient justification response pending appeal rep mike turner r introduced shell bill contains idea ending legal recognition marriages oklahoma samesex ones move turner claims would bipartisan support legislature would also seemingly bipartisan opposition bloggers multiple political persuasions balking idea news anchors trouble reporting story straight face sure theres reason doubt turner benevolent intentions contemplated move bloggers pointed eerily similar overtones reactions private public entities civil rights era opting shut something avoid integrating small minority included saying pay attention although piece legislation would face insurmountable hurdles legallogistical nightmares basic idea getting government marriage business altogether totally new concept something ive supported years advocate related different idea marriage privatization political philosophy advocated pundits scholars law experts many stripes mike turners bill even first time come politically rep justin amash michigan discussed idea marriage privatization movement largely characterized desire scale back role state enforcing terms civil contract rather setting terms main concern however deeply personal spiritual nature marriage watered even lost bound stateregulated contracts indeed issue word marriage word believe government using things stand big messy entanglement church state especially practice clergy signing state marriage licenses ideal world state simply grant contractual commitments legal consenting adult pair wants one couples desire exchange vows within religious context churches simply exercise right already decide get married facilities ministers marriage religious word deeply spiritual concept wades profound realities human life supremely love agape love love commitment earth ever get idea deciding fall love relate person concern uncle sam rather great marriage returned rightful place spiritual realm private sector even g k chesterton came close kind idea writing may said institution home one anarchist institution say older law stands outside state part governments role regulate contracts adjudicate disputes state could still offer benefits currently tangled marriage may missing rep turners idea shell bill lacks content discuss ceasing government involvement marriage relationship love commitment idea immediately dismiss represents winwin solution gay marriage debate fighting maintain traditional relationships get want get word marriage back fighting equality get want consenting adult would treated equally law constitution demands equality law debate justice sullivan wrote majority opinion westbrook v mihaly constitutional rights may infringed simply majority people choose thanks church state separation churches deny anybody virtually anything including wedding ceremony based religious beliefs policies state however must produce entirely different reasons interesting watch fight play court lawyers traditional marriage proponents know go court bible theyve tried arguments related historical precedent childrearing propriety etc courts consistently dismissed unfortunately idea faces hurdles best perhaps largest supreme court several cases span century already declared marriage using word fundamental right example majority opinion skinner v oklahoma ex rel williamson 1942 states marriage one basic civil rights man loving v virginia 1967 freedom marry long recognized one vital personal rights essential orderly pursuit happiness free men logistical legal issues equipped understand course power precedent would loom large say least know marriage debate featured unfortunate spectacle many christians talking sacred institution marriage way devoid substance value thing seem saying marriage man woman opposite set sexual organs need healthy relationship half heterosexual marriages end courtroom im pretty sure theres need start talking part might need government get way
| 592 |
<p>LISBON, Portugal — Of course the warning had to come from the Germans.</p>
<p>With the two countries at loggerheads over Greece's economic program, it fell to German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen to voice the fears of many in NATO about the foreign policy goals of the new government in Athens.</p>
<p>Von der Leyen went as far as to suggest a new, more Russia-friendly stance could jeopardize Greece's position within the Western alliance.</p>
<p>"Greece will have to shift. You can argue all the time about reform in Europe, but there can be no doubt we have to agree on fundamental values. Greece must not put at risk the trust in the reliability of its security policy that has been developed over decades," she told the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung, ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers on Thursday.</p>
<p>Von der Leyen's comments triggered a furious response from her Greek counterpart Panos Kammenos.</p>
<p>He evoked Germany's Nazi past while suggesting Berlin was overriding international institutions to extend its own dominance in Europe.</p>
<p>“Greece always was at the side of the allies when they repelled the German occupation troops," Kammenos said in a statement Thursday. "The behavior and the statements of German officials who replace NATO and EU institutions are not only impermissible, but coercive."</p>
<p>As on the economy, Europe is struggling to understand where Greece is going on foreign policy.</p>
<p>The coalition of far-left and hard right parties elected on Jan. 25 has been sending out mixed messages — particularly over the vexed question of Europe's relations with Russia.</p>
<p>Kammenos flew to NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday to soothe concerns.</p>
<p>"We assured them that the new government will continue the cooperation and good relations with the alliance," he said. "I clarified that relations with third countries, non NATO members [that means Russia] will not affect our good relations with the alliance."</p>
<p>A swearing in ceremony in Athens meant Kammenos could not attend Thursday's meeting of NATO defense ministers, but his representatives did not seek to block the key decision to strengthen the alliance's eastern borders with reinforced rapid reaction forces — a move denounced by Moscow.</p>
<p>Yet as the NATO ministers were meeting, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was chatting on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, accepting an invitation to Moscow and mulling how to "substantially" strengthen bilateral ties — including through a Russian gas pipeline project that bypasses Ukraine.</p>
<p>Days after taking office, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias blasted the EU for issuing a statement threatening more sanctions against Russia after pro-Moscow forces intensified attacks on government troops in eastern Ukraine.</p>
<p>The following day, however, he largely went along with an EU agreement to impose more sanctions — although he may have been relieved to see that his EU colleagues were not exactly proposing to radically toughen their approach.</p>
<p>They only proposed adding the names of a few more Russians — expected to be relatively minor officials — to a list of those banned from traveling or moving assets through the EU. The incremental extension of that blacklist has proved wholly ineffectual in deterring Russian aggression in Ukraine.</p>
<p>A bigger test could come next Thursday, when Tsipras attends his first EU summit. That meeting is scheduled to discuss broader economic sanctions on Russia — as well as Greece's economic mess.</p>
<p>Tsipras has denied any link between the two issues. He has dismissed talk Greece could turn to Russia to bail out its economy if a race-against-the-clock effort to strike a deal with EU partners fails — although Moscow has offered to help out.</p>
<p>Diplomats in Brussels however fear the Greeks could seek to use the threat of blocking a tougher line on Russia to secure EU concessions on the economy.</p>
<p>While their declarations seem contradictory, there's no doubt the government comprised of Tsipras' Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) and Kammenos' nationalist Independent Greeks party (ANEL) carry a lot of pro-Russian baggage.</p>
<p>Tsipras has repeatedly complained about EU sanctions on Russia and called Europe to instead seek closer ties.</p>
<p>As fighting raged in Ukraine last year, SYRIZA repeated the Putin regime's claims that the government in Kyiv is a nest of "Neo-Nazis" operating with the support of "imperialist forces" in the West.</p>
<p>Pointedly, the first foreign visiter Tsipras received after becoming prime minister was the Russian ambassador.</p>
<p>A couple of days later he suggested Greece could become a "bridge of peace and cooperation between the EU and Russia." Officials from both countries are working to make 2016 a Russia-Greece friendship year.</p>
<p>Kammenos has been a frequent visitor to Moscow. While there in early January, he called for southern European nations to build an alliance to overturn the "stupid, stupid situation with sanctions against Russia."</p>
<p>Foreign Minister Kotzias was photographed hanging out with Russian ultra-nationalist Aleksandr Dugin who spoke at a Greek university in 2013 as part of a course tutored by Kotzias. Dugin, who is influential at the Kremlin, last year called for a "genocide" of a "race of bastards" in Ukraine.</p>
<p>Beyond Russia, the Greek government’s approach to other foreign policy issues also has allies worried.</p>
<p>SYRIZA has traditionally held strong pro-Palestinian views. Its election victory was warmly welcomed by the radical Hamas group. Although Israel may have been reassured by Kammenos' pledge to "continue to cooperate at both political and military level" it can be less happy with accusations of anti-Semitism leveled against members of his ANEL party.</p>
<p>Kammenos has also upset Turkey, Greece's neighbor, historic rival and NATO ally.</p>
<p>In one of his first acts after becoming minister he took a helicopter trip over a contested Aegean Sea islet that sparked a crisis between the two countries 20 years ago. Turkey scrambled fighter jets in response.</p>
<p>On Ukraine, Greece is hardly alone within the EU in its reluctance to get tough with Russia.</p>
<p>Cyprus, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain, France and Germany are among those reluctant to up the ante due to concern over economic interests or fear of Putin's response.</p>
<p>Yet few have ministers in power who have expressed such open sympathy for Russia as new Greek administration.</p>
<p>The Tspras government looks sure to make it harder to find consensus on further measures to deter Putin's designs on Ukraine — or even an extension of existing EU economic sanctions which start coming up for renewal in March.</p>
| false | 3 |
lisbon portugal course warning come germans two countries loggerheads greeces economic program fell german defense minister ursula von der leyen voice fears many nato foreign policy goals new government athens von der leyen went far suggest new russiafriendly stance could jeopardize greeces position within western alliance greece shift argue time reform europe doubt agree fundamental values greece must put risk trust reliability security policy developed decades told daily sueddeutsche zeitung ahead meeting nato defense ministers thursday von der leyens comments triggered furious response greek counterpart panos kammenos evoked germanys nazi past suggesting berlin overriding international institutions extend dominance europe greece always side allies repelled german occupation troops kammenos said statement thursday behavior statements german officials replace nato eu institutions impermissible coercive economy europe struggling understand greece going foreign policy coalition farleft hard right parties elected jan 25 sending mixed messages particularly vexed question europes relations russia kammenos flew nato headquarters brussels wednesday soothe concerns assured new government continue cooperation good relations alliance said clarified relations third countries non nato members means russia affect good relations alliance swearing ceremony athens meant kammenos could attend thursdays meeting nato defense ministers representatives seek block key decision strengthen alliances eastern borders reinforced rapid reaction forces move denounced moscow yet nato ministers meeting greek prime minister alexis tsipras chatting phone russian president vladimir putin accepting invitation moscow mulling substantially strengthen bilateral ties including russian gas pipeline project bypasses ukraine days taking office greek foreign minister nikos kotzias blasted eu issuing statement threatening sanctions russia promoscow forces intensified attacks government troops eastern ukraine following day however largely went along eu agreement impose sanctions although may relieved see eu colleagues exactly proposing radically toughen approach proposed adding names russians expected relatively minor officials list banned traveling moving assets eu incremental extension blacklist proved wholly ineffectual deterring russian aggression ukraine bigger test could come next thursday tsipras attends first eu summit meeting scheduled discuss broader economic sanctions russia well greeces economic mess tsipras denied link two issues dismissed talk greece could turn russia bail economy raceagainsttheclock effort strike deal eu partners fails although moscow offered help diplomats brussels however fear greeks could seek use threat blocking tougher line russia secure eu concessions economy declarations seem contradictory theres doubt government comprised tsipras coalition radical left syriza kammenos nationalist independent greeks party anel carry lot prorussian baggage tsipras repeatedly complained eu sanctions russia called europe instead seek closer ties fighting raged ukraine last year syriza repeated putin regimes claims government kyiv nest neonazis operating support imperialist forces west pointedly first foreign visiter tsipras received becoming prime minister russian ambassador couple days later suggested greece could become bridge peace cooperation eu russia officials countries working make 2016 russiagreece friendship year kammenos frequent visitor moscow early january called southern european nations build alliance overturn stupid stupid situation sanctions russia foreign minister kotzias photographed hanging russian ultranationalist aleksandr dugin spoke greek university 2013 part course tutored kotzias dugin influential kremlin last year called genocide race bastards ukraine beyond russia greek governments approach foreign policy issues also allies worried syriza traditionally held strong propalestinian views election victory warmly welcomed radical hamas group although israel may reassured kammenos pledge continue cooperate political military level less happy accusations antisemitism leveled members anel party kammenos also upset turkey greeces neighbor historic rival nato ally one first acts becoming minister took helicopter trip contested aegean sea islet sparked crisis two countries 20 years ago turkey scrambled fighter jets response ukraine greece hardly alone within eu reluctance get tough russia cyprus slovakia hungary italy czech republic spain france germany among reluctant ante due concern economic interests fear putins response yet ministers power expressed open sympathy russia new greek administration tspras government looks sure make harder find consensus measures deter putins designs ukraine even extension existing eu economic sanctions start coming renewal march
| 633 |
<p>On March 20, Leslie Jacobs and Shenita Johnson Garrard described how New Orleans is striving to convert a failed, corrupt school system into a decentralized system of schools. With some 60 percent of its public school students enrolled in charter schools, New Orleans has the most school autonomy and competition of any district in the country. Jacobs and Garrard spoke as part of the 2007 Chicago Schools Policy Luncheon Series, “Making School Autonomy Work for Children.” To listen to their full presentations, go to www.catalyst-chicago.org and click on “ <a href="" type="internal">On the Air</a>.”</p>
<p>Leslie Jacobs</p>
<p>Leslie Jacobs is a member of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. An insurance executive and native of New Orleans, she has been engaged in education reform for more than 20 years. She began as a business partner with an elementary school and then served on the Orleans Parish School Board.</p>
<p>HOW BAD WAS IT?</p>
<p>The valedictorian of one of the local high schools the spring before Katrina hit could not pass the state’s exit exam in math after six attempts. She took the ACT thinking that she would be a good college prospect. She got an 11, which is like random. And when this whole thing hit, there was absolutely no outrage. That is how abandoned in many ways the public schools in New Orleans were.</p>
<p>THE NEW SYSTEM</p>
<p>If you look at mayoral or state takeover of failing urban school districts, if you look at Chicago, New York, Philadelphia or St. Louis, you will see improvement not transformational change. It is change around the edges. We’re trying to do transformational change.</p>
<p>Number one is that we have built the most market-driven system in the United States. Every single school is a school of choice. No child has an attendance zone. Every school must provide transportation to the child if the child lives more than one mile away. Every school is in the state school accountability system. There is competition for employees. Schools set their own salary and benefits structures, work schedules, hours of operation. Service providers are competing for business, and this is pretty important in a devastated landscape like New Orleans.</p>
<p>Probably the most important thing is that the money follows the student. When I was on the [New Orleans] school board, it was an absolute culture shock how much of the student dollar is eaten up by central office. Now, 98 percent of the dollar follows the student to whatever school that student goes to. There are smaller class sizes. There are higher salaries—there is a labor shortage. You have more on-site administration.</p>
<p>NO UNION PROTECTIONS</p>
<p>We are now an employer at will. All charters are. They never were subject to collective bargaining or the tenure law, and the collective bargaining agreement is gone because the state’s Recovery School District was not a party to the New Orleans collective bargaining agreement.</p>
<p>CHARTER ADVANTAGES</p>
<p>We’ve lost respect for any and all governmental institutions because they all keep failing us. The recovery is really on the backs of individuals, and I liken charters to the individuals. So, you can’t get hot lunches? Charters will figure out how to have pizza Fridays, whereas the 25 schools operated by the school district just can’t respond that quickly.</p>
<p>The real advantage the charters have is that they’re able to cap enrollment. They enrolled their 400 students, they hired their teachers, and they got on their merry way. For the schools operated by the Recovery School District, the kids kept coming back, and the schools had to take them. We purposely opened schools throughout the city and began them with small student counts, so as people return they have a neighborhood school. But the effect was that no school could get its rhythm.</p>
<p>And there’s some pushback because people like neighborhood schools, and right now no school can give a preference based upon locale. We’re going to have to figure out how to blend it.</p>
<p>THE CHALLENGES</p>
<p>I could spend hours on this. We are starting from scratch in a devastated area. We’re creating a new national model that has absolutely no blueprint, and we’re doing so with just some unbelievable challenges. One is the students. Many did not attend school [after Katrina]. The emotional trauma these students have gone through is tremendous, and there’s like three child psychiatrists left in New Orleans.</p>
<p>We need to come up with coordinated registration so that there’s one place a parent can go and get information on all schools. You can’t have real choice unless you have informed choice. A group of us have been working with the Urban League to create one-stop shopping for parents and non-profits as well. So if you want to volunteer to tutor, if you want to give money as a business partner, there’s one place to call.</p>
<p>Capacity. More kids came back than we planned. We need more schools. We need more charter schools because charters are in big demand.</p>
<p>We have a divided public. The union was not supportive of this at all, nor were many of the legislators from New Orleans.</p>
<p>Probably the biggest challenge is quality educators. Pre-Katrina, this was a district that really never invested in people. It’s become a critical issue post-Katrina. The kids are returning, and they’re not bringing teachers, principals and social workers with them.</p>
<p>REPLACING CENTRAL OFFICE</p>
<p>We are trying to figure out what support schools need in the absence of a central office. One is purchasing certain services. So the state has created a shared service model that charters can opt in or out of. We’re looking to create new non-profits or expand existing ones to provide services usually handled by a central office. One example is New Schools for New Orleans. They’re really the ones that brought in New Leaders for New Schools, Teach for America and The New Teacher Project. They’re doing charter board recruitment and training, and educational quality audits.</p>
<p>We’ve gone to other institutions, so Xavier University has agreed to become a math and science center for professional development and alternative certification.</p>
<p>WHAT CHICAGO CAN LEARN</p>
<p>I was asked to do this. I don’t mean to be presumptuous here. Funding. What would happen if you went through the mental exercise of giving the money to the school site and then asking, how much should schools pay for what central office provides? And for true choice, you have to have transportation, parent information and what I call managed excessive space. If you’re going to have to have choice, there have to be good schools that can take in dissatisfied parents.</p>
<p>THE SOUL OF THE CITY</p>
<p>We’re fighting for the soul of the city, and not in the way people normally characterize it—rich, poor, black, white. I think that that national characterization, which our mayor helps promote, is not the real battle. Rather, we have a breakdown of the criminal justice system and some drug wars. So people who are back are not going to stay back if we don’t get control of our streets.</p>
<p>But you also have the allure of New Orleans as the domestic Peace Corps. There is a generation of 20-somethings and 30-somethings coming back to the city, bringing intellectual capital we’ve never had before. It’s not just in schooling. It’s in non-profits, housing, advocacy, entrepreneurship. I think that how New Orleans welcomes this generation, embraces them and enables them to get into positions of leadership is going to determine where the city goes.</p>
<p>Shenita Johnson Garrard</p>
<p>As a regional director of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA), Shenita Johnson Garrard oversees the state authorization process for New Orleans charters. Previously, she worked for the Chicago Public Schools, where, among other things, she coordinated recruitment, evaluation and community outreach components of Renaissance 2010.</p>
<p>CHARTERS PRE-KATRINA</p>
<p>Prior to the hurricane, the State of Louisiana only had a handful of charters, and there was very little infrastructure to support the state in its role as an authorizer. Charter authorizers are responsible for improving student performance, and to do this they must establish firm standards and expectations, provide oversight and support, and implement fair and transparent processes to measure performance and capacity. In addition to helping lead the process to establish charters, NACSA also supported Louisiana in developing an evaluation framework, a charter school contract, and other charter policies and procedures.</p>
<p>STILL TO BE DONE</p>
<p>Almost two years after the hurricane, Louisiana still has to develop a plan and dedicate a new team to focus on recruiting operators to come to the city and knit together some type of system.</p>
<p>Louisiana is faced with a daunting task: not only to rebuild the city’s infrastructure but to build and sustain the human capital that is necessary to elevate the quality of education in New Orleans.</p>
<p>Well-developed and executed plans in New Orleans and in Chicago depend not only on quality operators but also on visionary leaders.</p>
<p>EVALUATION COMES EARLY</p>
<p>What is unique about Louisiana’s charter accountability system is that while there is a five-year agreement, schools are required to make progress and meet goals by year three. It is in the third year that the State will decide to extend the contract or place the school on probation. Three years is a short period of time, but New Orleans cannot again afford to perpetuate generational failure and, honestly, neither can any other urban city in this country. Decisions to deny or rescind charters are tough and often bring political struggles and complexities. Louisiana has already faced these types of challenges and is prepared to continue making the tough calls that truly set the tone for high expectations and that will make a difference over the long term.</p>
| false | 3 |
march 20 leslie jacobs shenita johnson garrard described new orleans striving convert failed corrupt school system decentralized system schools 60 percent public school students enrolled charter schools new orleans school autonomy competition district country jacobs garrard spoke part 2007 chicago schools policy luncheon series making school autonomy work children listen full presentations go wwwcatalystchicagoorg click air leslie jacobs leslie jacobs member louisiana board elementary secondary education insurance executive native new orleans engaged education reform 20 years began business partner elementary school served orleans parish school board bad valedictorian one local high schools spring katrina hit could pass states exit exam math six attempts took act thinking would good college prospect got 11 like random whole thing hit absolutely outrage abandoned many ways public schools new orleans new system look mayoral state takeover failing urban school districts look chicago new york philadelphia st louis see improvement transformational change change around edges trying transformational change number one built marketdriven system united states every single school school choice child attendance zone every school must provide transportation child child lives one mile away every school state school accountability system competition employees schools set salary benefits structures work schedules hours operation service providers competing business pretty important devastated landscape like new orleans probably important thing money follows student new orleans school board absolute culture shock much student dollar eaten central office 98 percent dollar follows student whatever school student goes smaller class sizes higher salariesthere labor shortage onsite administration union protections employer charters never subject collective bargaining tenure law collective bargaining agreement gone states recovery school district party new orleans collective bargaining agreement charter advantages weve lost respect governmental institutions keep failing us recovery really backs individuals liken charters individuals cant get hot lunches charters figure pizza fridays whereas 25 schools operated school district cant respond quickly real advantage charters theyre able cap enrollment enrolled 400 students hired teachers got merry way schools operated recovery school district kids kept coming back schools take purposely opened schools throughout city began small student counts people return neighborhood school effect school could get rhythm theres pushback people like neighborhood schools right school give preference based upon locale going figure blend challenges could spend hours starting scratch devastated area creating new national model absolutely blueprint unbelievable challenges one students many attend school katrina emotional trauma students gone tremendous theres like three child psychiatrists left new orleans need come coordinated registration theres one place parent go get information schools cant real choice unless informed choice group us working urban league create onestop shopping parents nonprofits well want volunteer tutor want give money business partner theres one place call capacity kids came back planned need schools need charter schools charters big demand divided public union supportive many legislators new orleans probably biggest challenge quality educators prekatrina district really never invested people become critical issue postkatrina kids returning theyre bringing teachers principals social workers replacing central office trying figure support schools need absence central office one purchasing certain services state created shared service model charters opt looking create new nonprofits expand existing ones provide services usually handled central office one example new schools new orleans theyre really ones brought new leaders new schools teach america new teacher project theyre charter board recruitment training educational quality audits weve gone institutions xavier university agreed become math science center professional development alternative certification chicago learn asked dont mean presumptuous funding would happen went mental exercise giving money school site asking much schools pay central office provides true choice transportation parent information call managed excessive space youre going choice good schools take dissatisfied parents soul city fighting soul city way people normally characterize itrich poor black white think national characterization mayor helps promote real battle rather breakdown criminal justice system drug wars people back going stay back dont get control streets also allure new orleans domestic peace corps generation 20somethings 30somethings coming back city bringing intellectual capital weve never schooling nonprofits housing advocacy entrepreneurship think new orleans welcomes generation embraces enables get positions leadership going determine city goes shenita johnson garrard regional director national association charter school authorizers nacsa shenita johnson garrard oversees state authorization process new orleans charters previously worked chicago public schools among things coordinated recruitment evaluation community outreach components renaissance 2010 charters prekatrina prior hurricane state louisiana handful charters little infrastructure support state role authorizer charter authorizers responsible improving student performance must establish firm standards expectations provide oversight support implement fair transparent processes measure performance capacity addition helping lead process establish charters nacsa also supported louisiana developing evaluation framework charter school contract charter policies procedures still done almost two years hurricane louisiana still develop plan dedicate new team focus recruiting operators come city knit together type system louisiana faced daunting task rebuild citys infrastructure build sustain human capital necessary elevate quality education new orleans welldeveloped executed plans new orleans chicago depend quality operators also visionary leaders evaluation comes early unique louisianas charter accountability system fiveyear agreement schools required make progress meet goals year three third year state decide extend contract place school probation three years short period time new orleans afford perpetuate generational failure honestly neither urban city country decisions deny rescind charters tough often bring political struggles complexities louisiana already faced types challenges prepared continue making tough calls truly set tone high expectations make difference long term
| 885 |
<p>Around the globe, about 815 million people — 11 percent of the world’s population —&#160;went hungry in 2016, according to the latest data from the United Nations. This was the first increase in more than 15 years.</p>
<p>Between 1990 and 2015, due largely to a set of sweeping initiatives by the global community, the proportion of undernourished people in the world was cut in half. In 2015, UN&#160;member countries adopted the&#160; <a href="http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/" type="external">Sustainable Development Goals</a>, which doubled down on this success by setting out to end hunger entirely by 2030. But a recent UN&#160; <a href="http://www.fao.org/state-of-food-security-nutrition/en/" type="external">report</a>&#160;shows that, after years of decline, hunger is on the rise again.</p>
<p>As evidenced by nonstop news coverage of floods, fires, refugees and violence, our planet has become a more unstable and less predictable place over the past few years. As these disasters compete for our attention, they make it harder for people in poor, marginalized and war-torn regions to access adequate food.</p>
<p />
<p>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</p>
<p>I study decisions that smallholder&#160; <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10745-013-9579-7" type="external">farmers</a>&#160;and&#160; <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-017-9891-8" type="external">pastoralists</a>, or livestock herders, make about their crops, animals and land. These choices are limited by lack of access to services, markets or credit; by poor governance or inappropriate policies; and by ethnic, gender and educational barriers. As a result, there is often little they can do to maintain secure or sustainable food production in the face of crises.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Drought doesn't cause famine. People do.</a></p>
<p>The new UN&#160;report shows that to reduce and ultimately eliminate hunger, simply making agriculture more productive will not be enough. It also is essential to increase the options available to rural populations in an uncertain world.</p>
<p>Around the world, social and political&#160; <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022343316663032" type="external">instability</a>&#160;are on the rise. Since 2010, state-based conflict has increased by 60 percent and&#160; <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022343311431598" type="external">armed conflict within countries</a>&#160;has increased by 125 percent. More than half of the food-insecure people identified in the UN&#160;report (489 million out of 815 million) live in countries with ongoing violence. More than three-quarters of the world’s chronically malnourished children (122 million of 155 million) live in conflict-affected regions.</p>
<p>At the same time, these regions are experiencing&#160; <a href="https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/index.cfm/publications/bulletin-of-the-american-meteorological-society-bams/explaining-extreme-events-from-a-climate-perspective/" type="external">increasingly powerful storms, more frequent and persistent drought and more variable rainfall</a>&#160;associated with global climate change. These trends are not unrelated. Conflict-torn communities are more vulnerable to climate-related disasters, and crop or livestock failure due to climate can contribute to social unrest.</p>
<p>War hits farmers especially hard. Conflict can evict them from their land, destroy crops and livestock, prevent them from acquiring seed and fertilizer or selling their produce, restrict their access to water and forage, and disrupt planting or harvest cycles. Many conflicts play out in rural areas characterized by&#160; <a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/11/12/124010" type="external">smallholder</a>&#160;agriculture or pastoralism. These&#160; <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.10.041" type="external">small-scale</a>&#160;farmers are some of the&#160; <a href="http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/hlpe/hlpe_documents/HLPE_Reports/HLPE-Report-6_Investing_in_smallholder_agriculture.pdf" type="external">most vulnerable people on the planet</a>. Supporting them is one of the UN's&#160; <a href="http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/suc2014d5_en.pdf" type="external">key strategies</a>&#160;for reaching its food security targets.</p>
<p />
<p>A farmer receives grain at an emergency food aid distribution in the village of Estayish in Ethiopia's northern Amhara region, Feb. 11, 2016.</p>
<p>Katy Migiro/Reuters</p>
<p>Without other options to feed themselves, farmers and pastoralists in crisis may be forced to leave their land and communities. Migration is one of the most visible coping mechanisms for rural populations who face conflict or climate-related disasters.</p>
<p>Globally, the number of refugees and internally displaced persons&#160; <a href="http://visionofhumanity.org/app/uploads/2017/02/GPI-2016-Report_2.pdf" type="external">doubled between 2007 and 2016</a>. Of the estimated 64 million people who are currently displaced, more than 15 million are linked to one of the world’s most severe conflict-related&#160; <a href="http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/newsroom/docs/20170328_Full%20Report_Global%20Report%20on%20Food%20Crises_v1.pdf" type="external">food crises</a>&#160;in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, South Sudan, Nigeria and Somalia.</p>
<p>Related:&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Ugandans pose as refugees for food because the drought is so bad</a></p>
<p>While migrating is uncertain and difficult, those with the fewest resources may not even have that option. New research by my colleagues at the University of Minnesota shows that the most vulnerable populations may be “ <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su9050720" type="external">trapped</a>” in place, without the&#160; <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/psp.2033" type="external">resources to migrate</a>.</p>
<p>Displacement due to climate disasters also feeds conflict. Drought-induced migration in Syria, for example, has been&#160; <a href="https://theconversation.com/climate-change-and-drought-a-spark-in-igniting-syrias-civil-war-38275" type="external">linked</a>&#160;to the conflict there, and many&#160; <a href="http://www.africareview.com/News/Climate-change-fuels-Nigeria-terrorism/-/979180/1334472/-/vq4tja/-/index.html" type="external">militants in Nigeria</a>&#160;have been identified as farmers displaced by drought.</p>
<p />
<p>People displaced by the Syrian civil war carry boxes of food aid distributed by the UN's World Food Program&#160;at a refugee camp in Ain Issa, Syria, Oct.&#160;10, 2017.</p>
<p>Erik De Castro/Reuters</p>
<p>To reduce world hunger in the long term, rural populations need sustainable ways to support themselves in the face of crisis. This means investing in strategies to support rural livelihoods that are resilient, diverse and interconnected.</p>
<p>Many large-scale food security initiatives supply farmers with improved crop and livestock varieties, plus fertilizer and other necessary inputs. This approach is crucial, but can lead farmers to focus most or all of their resources on growing more productive maize, wheat or rice. Specializing in this way increases risk. If farmers cannot plant seed on time or obtain fertilizers, or if rains fail, they have little to fall back on.</p>
<p>Increasingly, agricultural research and development agencies, NGOs and aid programs are working to help farmers maintain traditionally diverse farms by providing financial, agronomic and policy support for&#160; <a href="https://www.bioversityinternational.org/fileadmin/user_upload/online_library/publications/pdfs/The_impact_of_Bioversity_International_s_African_leafy_vegetables_programme_in_Kenya_1418.pdf" type="external">production</a>&#160;and&#160; <a href="https://www.bioversityinternational.org/fileadmin/user_upload/online_library/publications/pdfs/Bioversity_-_Andean_lost_grains_in_Bolivia_and_Peru_1947.pdf" type="external">marketing</a>&#160;of native crop and livestock species. Growing many different locally adapted crops provides for a range of&#160; <a href="https://hivos.org/sites/default/files/web_nourishingdiversity_briefing_final.pdf" type="external">nutritional needs</a>&#160;and reduces farmers’ risk from variability in weather, inputs or timing.</p>
<p>Related:&#160; <a href="" type="internal">One-man NGO tries to save starving kids in Yemen</a></p>
<p>While investing in agriculture is viewed as the way forward in many developing regions, equally important is the ability of farmers to diversify their livelihood strategies beyond the farm. Income from off-farm employment can&#160; <a href="https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-102016-060946" type="external">buffer farmers against crop failure or livestock loss</a>, and is a&#160; <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1518384112" type="external">key component of food security</a>&#160;for many agricultural households.</p>
<p>Training, education, and literacy programs allow rural people to access a greater range of income and information sources. This is especially true for women, who are often more vulnerable to food insecurity than men.</p>
<p />
<p>A Pakistani farmer reads a text alert on best farming practices.</p>
<p>USAID Pakistan</p>
<p>Conflict also tears apart rural communities, breaking down traditional social structures. These networks and relationships facilitate exchanges of information, goods and services, help protect natural resources, and provide insurance and buffering mechanisms.</p>
<p>In many places, one of the best ways to bolster food security is by helping farmers connect to both traditional and innovative social networks, through which they can&#160; <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2011.09.003" type="external">pool resources</a>, store food, seed and inputs and make investments.&#160; <a href="https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/africa/2015-10-16/food-and-transformation-africa" type="external">Mobile phones</a>&#160;enable farmers to get information on weather and market prices, work cooperatively with other producers and buyers and obtain aid, agricultural extension or veterinary services. Leveraging multiple forms of connectivity is a central strategy for supporting resilient livelihoods.</p>
<p>In the past two decades the world has come together to fight hunger. This effort has produced innovations in agriculture, technology and knowledge transfer. Now, however, the compounding crises of violent conflict and a changing climate show that this approach is not enough. In the planet’s most vulnerable places, food security depends not just on making agriculture more productive, but also on making rural livelihoods diverse, interconnected and adaptable.</p>
<p>This&#160; <a href="https://theconversation.com/world-hunger-is-increasing-thanks-to-wars-and-climate-change-84506" type="external">story</a>&#160;was first published by&#160; <a href="http://theconversation.com/" type="external">The Conversation</a>.</p>
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around globe 815 million people 11 percent worlds population 160went hungry 2016 according latest data united nations first increase 15 years 1990 2015 due largely set sweeping initiatives global community proportion undernourished people world cut half 2015 un160member countries adopted the160 sustainable development goals doubled success setting end hunger entirely 2030 recent un160 report160shows years decline hunger rise evidenced nonstop news coverage floods fires refugees violence planet become unstable less predictable place past years disasters compete attention make harder people poor marginalized wartorn regions access adequate food food agriculture organization united nations study decisions smallholder160 farmers160and160 pastoralists livestock herders make crops animals land choices limited lack access services markets credit poor governance inappropriate policies ethnic gender educational barriers result often little maintain secure sustainable food production face crises related drought doesnt cause famine people new un160report shows reduce ultimately eliminate hunger simply making agriculture productive enough also essential increase options available rural populations uncertain world around world social political160 instability160are rise since 2010 statebased conflict increased 60 percent and160 armed conflict within countries160has increased 125 percent half foodinsecure people identified un160report 489 million 815 million live countries ongoing violence threequarters worlds chronically malnourished children 122 million 155 million live conflictaffected regions time regions experiencing160 increasingly powerful storms frequent persistent drought variable rainfall160associated global climate change trends unrelated conflicttorn communities vulnerable climaterelated disasters crop livestock failure due climate contribute social unrest war hits farmers especially hard conflict evict land destroy crops livestock prevent acquiring seed fertilizer selling produce restrict access water forage disrupt planting harvest cycles many conflicts play rural areas characterized by160 smallholder160agriculture pastoralism these160 smallscale160farmers the160 vulnerable people planet supporting one uns160 key strategies160for reaching food security targets farmer receives grain emergency food aid distribution village estayish ethiopias northern amhara region feb 11 2016 katy migiroreuters without options feed farmers pastoralists crisis may forced leave land communities migration one visible coping mechanisms rural populations face conflict climaterelated disasters globally number refugees internally displaced persons160 doubled 2007 2016 estimated 64 million people currently displaced 15 million linked one worlds severe conflictrelated160 food crises160in syria yemen iraq south sudan nigeria somalia related160 ugandans pose refugees food drought bad migrating uncertain difficult fewest resources may even option new research colleagues university minnesota shows vulnerable populations may trapped place without the160 resources migrate displacement due climate disasters also feeds conflict droughtinduced migration syria example been160 linked160to conflict many160 militants nigeria160have identified farmers displaced drought people displaced syrian civil war carry boxes food aid distributed uns world food program160at refugee camp issa syria oct16010 2017 erik de castroreuters reduce world hunger long term rural populations need sustainable ways support face crisis means investing strategies support rural livelihoods resilient diverse interconnected many largescale food security initiatives supply farmers improved crop livestock varieties plus fertilizer necessary inputs approach crucial lead farmers focus resources growing productive maize wheat rice specializing way increases risk farmers plant seed time obtain fertilizers rains fail little fall back increasingly agricultural research development agencies ngos aid programs working help farmers maintain traditionally diverse farms providing financial agronomic policy support for160 production160and160 marketing160of native crop livestock species growing many different locally adapted crops provides range of160 nutritional needs160and reduces farmers risk variability weather inputs timing related160 oneman ngo tries save starving kids yemen investing agriculture viewed way forward many developing regions equally important ability farmers diversify livelihood strategies beyond farm income offfarm employment can160 buffer farmers crop failure livestock loss a160 key component food security160for many agricultural households training education literacy programs allow rural people access greater range income information sources especially true women often vulnerable food insecurity men pakistani farmer reads text alert best farming practices usaid pakistan conflict also tears apart rural communities breaking traditional social structures networks relationships facilitate exchanges information goods services help protect natural resources provide insurance buffering mechanisms many places one best ways bolster food security helping farmers connect traditional innovative social networks can160 pool resources store food seed inputs make investments160 mobile phones160enable farmers get information weather market prices work cooperatively producers buyers obtain aid agricultural extension veterinary services leveraging multiple forms connectivity central strategy supporting resilient livelihoods past two decades world come together fight hunger effort produced innovations agriculture technology knowledge transfer however compounding crises violent conflict changing climate show approach enough planets vulnerable places food security depends making agriculture productive also making rural livelihoods diverse interconnected adaptable this160 story160was first published by160 conversation
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<p>Andre West</p>
<p>A budding talent</p>
<p>As a freshman, Andre West used to hop over the tall, wrought-iron fence that separates his home from Crane High School. But over the next 18 months, Andre himself proved to be the biggest obstacle to his getting an education. After three semesters and chronic absences, Andre was dropped from the school.</p>
<p>School records show Andre had no discipline problems, and teachers report he completed school work on the days he attended class. But he just wouldn’t go.</p>
<p>Art teacher Lori Real remembers Andre as a budding talent. “His first year he was great. He was shy, he did all his work.” His transcript shows he earned a B for the year in a course he took at the Art Institute as a student in the Metro program housed at Crane.</p>
<p>However, as the year progressed, Andre began to slip. His grades fell and his class rank dropped from top third to middle of the pack. Crane would not release Andre’s test scores, but his transcript reveals he was required to attend Summer Bridge in 1997 to bring up his math and reading scores. (High school attendance in Summer Bridge was so poor the board stopped funding the program in 1998. See Catalyst, November 1998.)</p>
<p>By sophomore year, Andre sealed his fate. During the fall of 1997, he racked up 41.5 absences and failed every single course.</p>
<p>“Andre’s been lost for a long time,” Real says. “He hit his turning point age, and no one was there to guide him.” From her classroom window, Real saw Andre shooting hoops and hosting afternoon parties on the patio.</p>
<p>Andre admits he sometimes played basketball instead of attending class, but more often slept late and watched television.</p>
<p>His mother, Barbara West, says part of the problem was lack of supervision. Mother to three sons and grandmother to three infants, West works as many as seven days a week as a rehabilitation aide at Mayfield Hospital. She says she received few if any written notices from Crane about Andre, but concedes if may not be the school’s fault. “I’m not saying they didn’t send it. I don’t know if they came and the children tore them up or what.”</p>
<p>However, West says in two instances Andre’s absences were for valid reasons and should have been excused by the school. In August 1997, he hit his head against a lamppost while playing football with a few buddies; he was treated at the hospital for a concussion. Later that semester the Wests traveled to Georgia for a family funeral.</p>
<p>School personnel say neither Andre nor his mother submitted documents to support an excused absence. But the two insist they gave school officials Andre’s hospital discharge papers and his great-grandmother’s obituary. (They produce the documents for a reporter to review.)</p>
<p>Attendance director William Harvey says he has no record of what transpired. Every year, Crane purges the files of students who are dropped by the school.</p>
<p>No one disputes that West visited Crane often to talk with teachers about how to help Andre. Andre’s division teacher, Larry Waites, remembers consoling West. “[She] was literally crying in this office,” he says. “She’s working. She’s trusting her kids to do what they’re supposed to do—get up and go to school. But they wouldn’t do it, and she didn’t know what to do.”</p>
<p>Crane finally dropped Andre in February 1998 for excessive absences. He and his mother visited the school and talked to a guidance counselor to get him reinstated. Andre showed surprising persistence himself—returning to Crane at regular intervals over the course of the following year to plead his case to be readmitted. No luck.</p>
<p>“We must keep them until they’re 16,” says Assistant Principal G.K. Smith. “Once they turn 16, it’s pretty much of a merit thing. Those students who toe the mark, who come to school, they are successful.”</p>
<p>Under state law, Crane should have conducted a due process hearing on Andre’s request because he had enough credits to be able to graduate by age 21 The hearing requirement is little known and rarely followed.</p>
<p>Real says Andre’s story is typical of chronic truants. “Truancy is my biggest heartbreak here,” she says. “I have watched kids who could go on to college just disappear. I’ve had two this year—seniors, they have all their credits. They were ready to graduate, and they just vanished.”</p>
<p>Marlen Rodriguez</p>
<p>A miscoded dropout</p>
<p>According to school documents, Marlen Rodriguez, 18, transferred in October 1998 from Amundsen High to Truman College. In fact, she is a dropout who has not set foot in any school the past seven months.</p>
<p>Marlen did not make much of an impression in the three years she was enrolled at Amundsen. Her photo appears only once—during her freshman year—in the school yearbook. Teachers and other school staff interviewed by Catalyst do not remember her.</p>
<p>Assistant Principal Pauline Tarvardian has to think a minute or two before she recalls Marlen. The last time she saw Marlen was in late October. Marlen and her mother, Olga Guevara, were in the attendance office for the last of a long series of conferences, calls and warnings regarding Marlen’s poor attendance. Now the warnings were over; both mother and daughter sign a withdrawal slip.</p>
<p>“I suggest you continue your education,” Tarvardian tells Marlen, encouraging her to enroll in Amundsen’s GED program at Truman College after her 18th birthday.</p>
<p>After signing the card, mother and daughter head down the hall to the program office. When they arrive, they hand the card to the clerk and ask for a transcript. “Transfer?” the clerk inquires. They nod.</p>
<p>Later inspection of Marlen’s record shows the clerk used code 37, “immediate transfer to evening school,” to record her discharge. As a result, Marlen will not be counted as a dropout at Amundsen. Marlen’s discharge should have been coded 66, which is used for dropouts who go to GED or vocational programs, or delay their enrollment into evening school.</p>
<p>Asked why Marlen was coded a transfer, Tarvardian answers, “She’s not [a dropout] if she goes to a GED program. It says GED, right?” After looking at the code instructions on a student withdrawal slip, she corrects herself. “Oh, no, it doesn’t.”</p>
<p>Marlen’s grammar school record shows an average student who arrived with her family from Mexico in 1990. Marlen entered school in the 4th grade. At first, the family moved a lot, but Marlen spent the bulk of her elementary school years at McPherson in Ravenswood. She had a D average, but by 8th grade had pulled up grades to B’s and C’s. She had only five absences during her last two years at McPherson.</p>
<p>At the time, Marlen’s command of English was not strong. She scored well below grade level on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. But she did much better on La Prueba, a standardized achievement test for Spanish-speakers.</p>
<p>By the time Marlen entered high school, family troubles were brewing. During the fall of her freshman year, Marlen’s mother got an order of protection against her father. Marlen missed fewer than 10 days of school that year, but barely passed her classes. Her highest grade was a B in art. Marlen says she wants to be either an architect or a fashion designer.</p>
<p>During her sophomore year, Marlen’s father returned to Mexico. She was distraught. “I started having problems, not going to school,” she recalls. “I wanted to stay home and think about my father.” In nine months, she missed 25 days of school. By the end of the year, she was not promoted. As a “sophomore demote,” Marlen was assigned to a new division teacher and guidance counselor, staff who are crucial contacts for troubled high school students.</p>
<p>Amundsen’s paper trail on Marlen includes a record of discipline problems—two suspensions and several truancy stops, when the police brought her to school.</p>
<p>Although Guevara admits she had her own emotional problems during the time, she says she remained attentive to her daughter’s state. At times, though, the way she expressed her concern was not always helpful. “She started to miss classes, and her grades got lower,” Guevara says through an interpreter. “There were times I knew she wasn’t going. Sometimes she would look really bad, and I would tell her not to go if she was feeling bad.”</p>
<p>During her third year of high school, Marlen missed 64 days—19 in the first semester and 35 in the second semester. When she did show up for class, Marlen says no one asked if she needed help. “They would just give me the homework.” Last fall, she was required to serve Saturday detention every week to make up for absences the previous year. Though she continued to cut class, Marlen says she always went to detention. “I liked to go, because I was away [from home]. I could do my homework.”</p>
<p>Guevara adds that her efforts to communicate with Amundsen were frustrating. Twice, she recalls taking time off work to meet with Amundsen personnel only to find them not available to see her. She concedes, however, that she did not mention the family’s problems to school officials until they threatened to drop Marlen for non-attendance.</p>
<p>Now Marlen says she’s a bit hesitant about going back to Amundsen to get a GED after being kicked out. But she and her mother say they bear no resentment against the school.</p>
<p>Marlen decided last fall to apply to Truman Middle College, a full-day diploma-granting program. She took the program’s entrance test on Feb. 8, but did not receive her results until April. Bad news—Marlen did not score high enough on the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) to get into Truman. Her reading is on par with a mid-year 7th-grader; her math, equivalent to a student finishing up 6th grade. Both need to be at the 7th-grade level for Marlen to be accepted.</p>
<p>For now, Marlen’s education is on hold. She works in a Ravenswood women’s clothing store. Both she and her mother are planning to register for summer GED classes at Truman.</p>
<p>Marlen is both wistful and self-critical when she looks back at her high school days. “Sometimes I think I was wrong and I wish I could go back. I wanted them to help me, to give me another opportunity. They didn’t treat me good. I think they should help people, not just tell them to go out. That’s crazy.”</p>
<p>Robert Nichols</p>
<p>‘They didn’t want him’</p>
<p>Robert Nichols (not his real name), 15, started 9th grade at Martin Luther King, Jr. High School in September 1997. Sometime that semester—no record says precisely when—he was dropped.</p>
<p>Robert says he liked some classes, especially English, but admits he cut class regularly and did not get caught. He would usually wait until after 4th period, then go to the lunchroom or the gym locker room. “I knew the security there, and they just let me walk right out the door,” he remembers.</p>
<p>But Robert stopped going to school a few weeks into first semester to stay home and care for his sick father. He did not notify King of his departure.</p>
<p>When he turned 16 that November, Robert learned from friends that King had dropped him. After his father died in January, Robert did not make an attempt to re-enroll. “I knew I wouldn’t [do] my homework,” Robert says, citing depression as the main reason. School records show Robert had racked up 65 absences and 2 tardies.</p>
<p>Out of school, his life got worse, not better. By May, Robert was serving an eight-month prison sentence for robbery, he says. After he was released in December, Robert says he tried to register for classes at King. School officials declined to enroll him and instead handed him a list of alternative schools. “They kept saying my attendance was too bad,” says Robert.</p>
<p>He made a second attempt to enroll the following month, but King turned him down again. After the second refusal, Robert asked parole officer Brent Jones to intervene. “I tried to fight for him to get back in school,” says Jones. “They really didn’t want him.”</p>
<p>Jones says he accompanied Robert on a visit to King in February. School administrators refused to allow Robert back into the school, even though his first-semester grades were “decent,” Jones says.</p>
<p>Robert is frustrated that King will not give him a second chance. “They say if my attendance was bad once, it’ll be bad again,” he explains.</p>
<p>Robert did have another opportunity to attend to school, says his current parole officer, Nikki Eisenberg. Last winter, he was enrolled at Healy Center, a high school diploma and GED program for juvenile parolees. But Robert was a no-show, and the program dropped him.</p>
<p>The Healy Center program, which pays students’ lunch and transportation costs, was a 30-minute commute from Robert’s house, notes Eisenberg. “I put money in the guy’s hand,” says Eisenberg, who drove to Robert’s house in March to encourage him to stay at the school.</p>
<p>Robert says that the commute was really 45 minutes and “too far” away. If Robert wants to re-enroll in Healy, it won’t be so easy the second time around, warns Eisenberg. “Those [seats] go like hotcakes. We can find another kid who wants another chance.”</p>
<p>In Robert’s defense, Jones notes that Healy has the stigma of being a jail school. Robert, he says, is a kid who’s trying to better himself. “His heart is in the right place, but [he] needs help.”</p>
<p>Robert, who dreams of someday becoming an architect, says he called nearby alternative high schools and put his name on the waiting list. Meanwhile, he is looking for a job. So far, the job hunt is “going so-so.”</p>
<p>Robert will turn 17 in November.</p>
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andre west budding talent freshman andre west used hop tall wroughtiron fence separates home crane high school next 18 months andre proved biggest obstacle getting education three semesters chronic absences andre dropped school school records show andre discipline problems teachers report completed school work days attended class wouldnt go art teacher lori real remembers andre budding talent first year great shy work transcript shows earned b year course took art institute student metro program housed crane however year progressed andre began slip grades fell class rank dropped top third middle pack crane would release andres test scores transcript reveals required attend summer bridge 1997 bring math reading scores high school attendance summer bridge poor board stopped funding program 1998 see catalyst november 1998 sophomore year andre sealed fate fall 1997 racked 415 absences failed every single course andres lost long time real says hit turning point age one guide classroom window real saw andre shooting hoops hosting afternoon parties patio andre admits sometimes played basketball instead attending class often slept late watched television mother barbara west says part problem lack supervision mother three sons grandmother three infants west works many seven days week rehabilitation aide mayfield hospital says received written notices crane andre concedes may schools fault im saying didnt send dont know came children tore however west says two instances andres absences valid reasons excused school august 1997 hit head lamppost playing football buddies treated hospital concussion later semester wests traveled georgia family funeral school personnel say neither andre mother submitted documents support excused absence two insist gave school officials andres hospital discharge papers greatgrandmothers obituary produce documents reporter review attendance director william harvey says record transpired every year crane purges files students dropped school one disputes west visited crane often talk teachers help andre andres division teacher larry waites remembers consoling west literally crying office says shes working shes trusting kids theyre supposed doget go school wouldnt didnt know crane finally dropped andre february 1998 excessive absences mother visited school talked guidance counselor get reinstated andre showed surprising persistence himselfreturning crane regular intervals course following year plead case readmitted luck must keep theyre 16 says assistant principal gk smith turn 16 pretty much merit thing students toe mark come school successful state law crane conducted due process hearing andres request enough credits able graduate age 21 hearing requirement little known rarely followed real says andres story typical chronic truants truancy biggest heartbreak says watched kids could go college disappear ive two yearseniors credits ready graduate vanished marlen rodriguez miscoded dropout according school documents marlen rodriguez 18 transferred october 1998 amundsen high truman college fact dropout set foot school past seven months marlen make much impression three years enrolled amundsen photo appears onceduring freshman yearin school yearbook teachers school staff interviewed catalyst remember assistant principal pauline tarvardian think minute two recalls marlen last time saw marlen late october marlen mother olga guevara attendance office last long series conferences calls warnings regarding marlens poor attendance warnings mother daughter sign withdrawal slip suggest continue education tarvardian tells marlen encouraging enroll amundsens ged program truman college 18th birthday signing card mother daughter head hall program office arrive hand card clerk ask transcript transfer clerk inquires nod later inspection marlens record shows clerk used code 37 immediate transfer evening school record discharge result marlen counted dropout amundsen marlens discharge coded 66 used dropouts go ged vocational programs delay enrollment evening school asked marlen coded transfer tarvardian answers shes dropout goes ged program says ged right looking code instructions student withdrawal slip corrects oh doesnt marlens grammar school record shows average student arrived family mexico 1990 marlen entered school 4th grade first family moved lot marlen spent bulk elementary school years mcpherson ravenswood average 8th grade pulled grades bs cs five absences last two years mcpherson time marlens command english strong scored well grade level iowa tests basic skills much better la prueba standardized achievement test spanishspeakers time marlen entered high school family troubles brewing fall freshman year marlens mother got order protection father marlen missed fewer 10 days school year barely passed classes highest grade b art marlen says wants either architect fashion designer sophomore year marlens father returned mexico distraught started problems going school recalls wanted stay home think father nine months missed 25 days school end year promoted sophomore demote marlen assigned new division teacher guidance counselor staff crucial contacts troubled high school students amundsens paper trail marlen includes record discipline problemstwo suspensions several truancy stops police brought school although guevara admits emotional problems time says remained attentive daughters state times though way expressed concern always helpful started miss classes grades got lower guevara says interpreter times knew wasnt going sometimes would look really bad would tell go feeling bad third year high school marlen missed 64 days19 first semester 35 second semester show class marlen says one asked needed help would give homework last fall required serve saturday detention every week make absences previous year though continued cut class marlen says always went detention liked go away home could homework guevara adds efforts communicate amundsen frustrating twice recalls taking time work meet amundsen personnel find available see concedes however mention familys problems school officials threatened drop marlen nonattendance marlen says shes bit hesitant going back amundsen get ged kicked mother say bear resentment school marlen decided last fall apply truman middle college fullday diplomagranting program took programs entrance test feb 8 receive results april bad newsmarlen score high enough test adult basic education tabe get truman reading par midyear 7thgrader math equivalent student finishing 6th grade need 7thgrade level marlen accepted marlens education hold works ravenswood womens clothing store mother planning register summer ged classes truman marlen wistful selfcritical looks back high school days sometimes think wrong wish could go back wanted help give another opportunity didnt treat good think help people tell go thats crazy robert nichols didnt want robert nichols real name 15 started 9th grade martin luther king jr high school september 1997 sometime semesterno record says precisely whenhe dropped robert says liked classes especially english admits cut class regularly get caught would usually wait 4th period go lunchroom gym locker room knew security let walk right door remembers robert stopped going school weeks first semester stay home care sick father notify king departure turned 16 november robert learned friends king dropped father died january robert make attempt reenroll knew wouldnt homework robert says citing depression main reason school records show robert racked 65 absences 2 tardies school life got worse better may robert serving eightmonth prison sentence robbery says released december robert says tried register classes king school officials declined enroll instead handed list alternative schools kept saying attendance bad says robert made second attempt enroll following month king turned second refusal robert asked parole officer brent jones intervene tried fight get back school says jones really didnt want jones says accompanied robert visit king february school administrators refused allow robert back school even though firstsemester grades decent jones says robert frustrated king give second chance say attendance bad itll bad explains robert another opportunity attend school says current parole officer nikki eisenberg last winter enrolled healy center high school diploma ged program juvenile parolees robert noshow program dropped healy center program pays students lunch transportation costs 30minute commute roberts house notes eisenberg put money guys hand says eisenberg drove roberts house march encourage stay school robert says commute really 45 minutes far away robert wants reenroll healy wont easy second time around warns eisenberg seats go like hotcakes find another kid wants another chance roberts defense jones notes healy stigma jail school robert says kid whos trying better heart right place needs help robert dreams someday becoming architect says called nearby alternative high schools put name waiting list meanwhile looking job far job hunt going soso robert turn 17 november
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<p>There was a time when the church was very powerful — in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators." But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Jim White</p>
<p />
<p>Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent — and often even vocal — sanction of things as they are.</p>
<p>But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.</p>
<p>The above is a passage from Letter from Birmingham Jail, written by Martin Luther King Jr. to address concerns raised by eight white clergymen, one of whom was Earl Stallings, pastor of the city’s First Baptist Church. King had gone to Birmingham to lead and participate in a non-violent demonstration protesting the discriminatory policies of the city and was jailed for eight days. The letter seeks to address, one after the other, the concerns the clergymen raised in an open letter to King challenging his methods. It takes on a pastoral tone as it instructs them in the injustices blacks routinely experienced.</p>
<p>In the letter, King expressed his deep disappointment in white church leaders, although he did commend Stallings by name for welcoming blacks who attended First Baptist the previous Sunday, which happened to be Easter. King’s disappointment sprang from his&#160; belief that individual Chris-tians together make up the body of Christ and that we should feel each other’s pain — a theological truth expressed by Paul in 1 Corinthians: “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink …. God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (12:13,24-26, NIV).</p>
<p>King speaks not as a critic of the church, but as one nurtured in its bosom. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all preachers. His high expectations of the church have fostered his deep disappointment.</p>
<p>Growing up, as I did, in the southern half of a border state, I was infused by my family and cultural contacts with a pervasive sense that things were good the way they were and rocking the boat was bad for everybody. Now, bear in mind these folks were good Christian Baptists. They were good hearted and kindly disposed to help folks who were hurting — all folks. They would literally give the shirt off their backs to any individual who needed it–white or black.</p>
<p>But when it came to seeing African-American individuals collectively and being aware of racial injustices, it was as if they saw through a glass, darkly. Part of the problem was society was so segregated that whites had little understanding of what it felt like to be black in those times. As a 12-year-old boy, I mistook the attitudes of my elders for truth. King’s letter is a masterpiece of persuasive logic as he listed the reasons for his actions. From the vantage point of half-a-century, I wonder that my family and the white church in general could have been so blind.</p>
<p>But King’s letter is ancient history, isn’t it? After all, there are college freshmen whose parents hadn’t yet been born when King uttered those words 50 years ago on April 16. And, fortunately, many of the injustices King describes have long since vanished. True, but King’s challenge to the church is as timeless as the moon and stars.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, his pastoral letter has proved prophetic and his challenge rings as true today as it did then. The unity of the church has always been challenged by divisions. If this were not true, Paul’s words quoted above would have been unnecessary. Cultural customs clashed, language differences impeded communication, class consciousness created suspicion and the haves and have-nots had little in common. But Paul, too, proclaimed a timeless truth. In Christ we are one!</p>
<p>Today, just as in times past, the church has an opportunity to be a thermometer describing what is, or a thermostat determining what can be. If we agree that we want to be a thermostat, by what means shall we create and control the climate around us? This is what Jerry Falwell tried to do with the Moral Majority. Others are attempting to do it through legislation while still others have resorted to demonstrations. They hold up signs and posters when the need is for signs and wonders.</p>
<p>The church needs to cease demanding change around it and increase being changed within. Let The church demonstrate purity within and goodwill without — all empowered by a sacrificial Spirit not of this world.</p>
<p>King was prophetic. If we fail to be authentically the church, we will become irrelevant. &#160; Jim White ( <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>) is executive editor of the Religious Herald.</p>
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time church powerful time early christians rejoiced deemed worthy suffer believed days church merely thermometer recorded ideas principles popular opinion thermostat transformed mores society whenever early christians entered town people power became disturbed immediately sought convict christians disturbers peace outside agitators christians pressed conviction colony heaven called obey god rather man small number big commitment god intoxicated astronomically intimidated effort example brought end ancient evils infanticide gladiatorial contests jim white things different often contemporary church weak ineffectual voice uncertain sound often archdefender status quo far disturbed presence church power structure average community consoled churchs silent often even vocal sanction things judgment god upon church never todays church recapture sacrificial spirit early church lose authenticity forfeit loyalty millions dismissed irrelevant social club meaning twentieth century every day meet young people whose disappointment church turned outright disgust passage letter birmingham jail written martin luther king jr address concerns raised eight white clergymen one earl stallings pastor citys first baptist church king gone birmingham lead participate nonviolent demonstration protesting discriminatory policies city jailed eight days letter seeks address one concerns clergymen raised open letter king challenging methods takes pastoral tone instructs injustices blacks routinely experienced letter king expressed deep disappointment white church leaders although commend stallings name welcoming blacks attended first baptist previous sunday happened easter kings disappointment sprang his160 belief individual christians together make body christ feel others pain theological truth expressed paul 1 corinthians baptized one spirit one body whether jews greeks slave free given one spirit drink god combined members body given greater honor parts lacked division body parts equal concern one part suffers every part suffers one part honored every part rejoices 12132426 niv king speaks critic church one nurtured bosom father grandfather greatgrandfather preachers high expectations church fostered deep disappointment growing southern half border state infused family cultural contacts pervasive sense things good way rocking boat bad everybody bear mind folks good christian baptists good hearted kindly disposed help folks hurting folks would literally give shirt backs individual needed itwhite black came seeing africanamerican individuals collectively aware racial injustices saw glass darkly part problem society segregated whites little understanding felt like black times 12yearold boy mistook attitudes elders truth kings letter masterpiece persuasive logic listed reasons actions vantage point halfacentury wonder family white church general could blind kings letter ancient history isnt college freshmen whose parents hadnt yet born king uttered words 50 years ago april 16 fortunately many injustices king describes long since vanished true kings challenge church timeless moon stars unfortunately pastoral letter proved prophetic challenge rings true today unity church always challenged divisions true pauls words quoted would unnecessary cultural customs clashed language differences impeded communication class consciousness created suspicion haves havenots little common paul proclaimed timeless truth christ one today times past church opportunity thermometer describing thermostat determining agree want thermostat means shall create control climate around us jerry falwell tried moral majority others attempting legislation still others resorted demonstrations hold signs posters need signs wonders church needs cease demanding change around increase changed within let church demonstrate purity within goodwill without empowered sacrificial spirit world king prophetic fail authentically church become irrelevant 160 jim white jwhitereligiousheraldorg executive editor religious herald
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<p />
<p>Early this morning, I drove north on Scenic Highway, one of the most beautiful coastal drives in America. And yet, as the sunrise glistened over Escambia Bay, the picturesque Florida scenery was scarred by nature’s whim. Stately oaks were uprooted, townhomes were blown from their foundation, homes stood minus their roofs and windows, and neighbors were helping neighbors sift through the debris.</p>
<p>The scene is far too familiar to me. In 1994 I was serving at the First Baptist Church of Williams near Jacksonville, Ala., when a tornado touched down on Palm Sunday near Ragland, Ala., and cut a trail to Rome, Ga., demolishing hundreds of homes, destroying five church campuses, and taking 29 lives before leaving that area.</p>
<p>&lt;!–more–&gt;</p>
<p>In 2005, when I began serving at First Baptist Church in Pensacola, we dealt with a series of destructive storms including Hurricanes Ivan, Cindy, Dennis, and Katrina. Later, we sent teams to assist with repair and rebuilding after tornadoes in Enterprise, Ala., and Sipsey, Ala.</p>
<p>Now, here in Escambia County, we have once again experienced two destructive storms within the same week. As we help others put life back together, let us employ the lessons learned from storms past as we help our neighbors rebuild after the storm.</p>
<p>Once a storm passes, residents are faced with a haunting reality. Life will never be the same. For many, friends have been injured, homes have been destroyed, and irreplaceable family heirlooms lost. A sense of despair prevails. But for most, at least, life will continue. In fact, this week’s storm cut an eight-mile path damaging over 300 homes, yet there were no fatalities and only minimal injuries.</p>
<p>Following the Palm Sunday tornado and the coastal hurricanes, the communities I served learned a lot about patience and perseverance. We learned a lot about grace and hope. We learned the importance of looking forward and not backward. We learned that our dreams trumped our nightmares. We learned a lot about faith and life.</p>
<p>At least seven crucial lessons learned from storms past have helped us to heal and move forward, slowly and progressively:</p>
<p>1. Life goes on after the storm. Once the initial shock of the devastation has been absorbed, it’s time to channel all of your energy to re-building and moving forward. Despite the grief over things lost, there is a unique kind of joy that arises when you begin dreaming of the new things you can build — together. And interestingly, the challenge of re-building had a healing effect and can be a healthy way to process the grief of storm-associated losses.</p>
<p>2. When a storm hits, no one is exempt. Storms result from a chaotic weather pattern and they tend to strike indiscriminately. Contrary to religious superstition, storms are not typically God’s way of punishing the most wicked of sinners. Storms affect everyone in their path, whether you are rich or poor, young or old, faithful or faithless. As Grady Nutt used to remind us, “It rains on the just and the unjust, and not always just on the ‘just’.”</p>
<p>3. When the going gets tough, people of faith mobilize and work together cooperatively. After each of the aforementioned storms, a variety of churches and missional partners organized, rolled up their sleeves, and went to work. Volunteers from faith-based groups often organize quickly and dispatch to the scene, while professional and government groups are often slowed by paperwork and red tape restrictions. I distinctly remember many of the professional workers who partnered with us telling me how they admired the work ethic, the productivity, and the cooperative spirit of the volunteer teams from churches and faith-based organizations.</p>
<p>4. All kinds of talents and skill levels are needed for clean-up and re-building. We were fortunate to have a huge corps of skilled personnel who managed chain saws, dozers, cranes, and front-end loaders. However, we also needed folks to cook food, drive trucks, pick up debris, run errands, care for children, visit the elderly, sweep the floor, manage communications, and do household cleaning. In disaster relief, every job is important and every volunteer has something to offer. Never underestimate the importance of doing all the good you can, where you can, when you can.</p>
<p>If you want to volunteer, always connect with a group such as the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, BRACE, or a church group. Don’t just strike out on your own. Our staff is currently exploring the best ways for us to connect in Century and Pensacola.</p>
<p>5. Relief work builds community. We learned that remarkable bonding occurs in the field. The sense of community born among those who work together following a storm forges a spiritual kinship that lasts for a lifetime — or longer.</p>
<p>6. You are wise not to live in fear of the next storm. Those affected by storms may be inclined to experience storm phobia, a fear of storms. Many begin to live in such a heightened state of anxiety, that every cloud invokes a near panic attack. One alternative to living in fear is to be better prepared for the next storm. Perhaps that means creating a storm preparation checklist. Or possibly that means better implementation of a storm safety plan. Time and energy spent worrying about something as unpredictable as a future storm is wasted energy. It is best to find creative ways to transform that energy into constructive preparation.</p>
<p>7. The process of going through a storm can deepen your spiritual faith. For some, simply the experience of having a “close call” with death provokes a profound sense of one’s mortality. For others, there is a sense of a “new lease on life,” that translates into a commitment to live in a deeper and more meaningful sort of way. For still others, during the rebuilding process they discover a community of friends who inspire them toward a more authentic and honest understanding of faith, a faith they want and often claim for themselves.</p>
<p>This week many of us have grieved with and prayed for friends and neighbors after storms have wreaked havoc in local neighborhoods. I am sure the local residents are feeling shock, anger, and a nearly overwhelming sense of despair.</p>
<p>But the people of Escambia County are resilient. In the next few days, relief agencies and churches will mobilize labor pools and resource centers. And residents will be drying their tears, rolling up their sleeves, and getting ready to repair and rebuild, because there are some things deep inside that the strongest storm cannot destroy.</p>
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early morning drove north scenic highway one beautiful coastal drives america yet sunrise glistened escambia bay picturesque florida scenery scarred natures whim stately oaks uprooted townhomes blown foundation homes stood minus roofs windows neighbors helping neighbors sift debris scene far familiar 1994 serving first baptist church williams near jacksonville ala tornado touched palm sunday near ragland ala cut trail rome ga demolishing hundreds homes destroying five church campuses taking 29 lives leaving area ltmoregt 2005 began serving first baptist church pensacola dealt series destructive storms including hurricanes ivan cindy dennis katrina later sent teams assist repair rebuilding tornadoes enterprise ala sipsey ala escambia county experienced two destructive storms within week help others put life back together let us employ lessons learned storms past help neighbors rebuild storm storm passes residents faced haunting reality life never many friends injured homes destroyed irreplaceable family heirlooms lost sense despair prevails least life continue fact weeks storm cut eightmile path damaging 300 homes yet fatalities minimal injuries following palm sunday tornado coastal hurricanes communities served learned lot patience perseverance learned lot grace hope learned importance looking forward backward learned dreams trumped nightmares learned lot faith life least seven crucial lessons learned storms past helped us heal move forward slowly progressively 1 life goes storm initial shock devastation absorbed time channel energy rebuilding moving forward despite grief things lost unique kind joy arises begin dreaming new things build together interestingly challenge rebuilding healing effect healthy way process grief stormassociated losses 2 storm hits one exempt storms result chaotic weather pattern tend strike indiscriminately contrary religious superstition storms typically gods way punishing wicked sinners storms affect everyone path whether rich poor young old faithful faithless grady nutt used remind us rains unjust always 3 going gets tough people faith mobilize work together cooperatively aforementioned storms variety churches missional partners organized rolled sleeves went work volunteers faithbased groups often organize quickly dispatch scene professional government groups often slowed paperwork red tape restrictions distinctly remember many professional workers partnered us telling admired work ethic productivity cooperative spirit volunteer teams churches faithbased organizations 4 kinds talents skill levels needed cleanup rebuilding fortunate huge corps skilled personnel managed chain saws dozers cranes frontend loaders however also needed folks cook food drive trucks pick debris run errands care children visit elderly sweep floor manage communications household cleaning disaster relief every job important every volunteer something offer never underestimate importance good want volunteer always connect group red cross salvation army brace church group dont strike staff currently exploring best ways us connect century pensacola 5 relief work builds community learned remarkable bonding occurs field sense community born among work together following storm forges spiritual kinship lasts lifetime longer 6 wise live fear next storm affected storms may inclined experience storm phobia fear storms many begin live heightened state anxiety every cloud invokes near panic attack one alternative living fear better prepared next storm perhaps means creating storm preparation checklist possibly means better implementation storm safety plan time energy spent worrying something unpredictable future storm wasted energy best find creative ways transform energy constructive preparation 7 process going storm deepen spiritual faith simply experience close call death provokes profound sense ones mortality others sense new lease life translates commitment live deeper meaningful sort way still others rebuilding process discover community friends inspire toward authentic honest understanding faith faith want often claim week many us grieved prayed friends neighbors storms wreaked havoc local neighborhoods sure local residents feeling shock anger nearly overwhelming sense despair people escambia county resilient next days relief agencies churches mobilize labor pools resource centers residents drying tears rolling sleeves getting ready repair rebuild things deep inside strongest storm destroy
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<p>In Oklahoma, a scandal over the state's execution methods has inspired a move to enshrine the death penalty in the state constitution.</p>
<p>In Nebraska, a governor unhappy with lawmakers' repeal of the death penalty has bankrolled a campaign to bring it back.</p>
<p>And in California, where condemned killers wait decades to meet their fates, residents will decide either to speed up the process or ban it entirely.</p>
<p>These three states sit at a crossroads in America's conflicted relationship with capital punishment, with voters set to determine next month whether the practice continues to fade away or stubbornly persists.</p>
<p>The ballot initiatives come at a critical time, as the death penalty appears to be slouching toward obsolescence.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Supreme Court Considers Role of Race in Sentencing</a></p>
<p>Twenty states have abolished capital punishment, and another four have stopped the practice by decree of governors. The 15 people executed so far this year is the lowest number since 1991, <a href="http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/FactSheet.pdf" type="external">according to the Death Penalty Information Center</a>, a drop-off driven in part by shortages of execution drugs and successful challenges to capital sentences. National polls show that the public's support for the death penalty has <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/1606/death-penalty.aspx" type="external">been declining</a> for decades, while opposition <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/09/29/support-for-death-penalty-lowest-in-more-than-four-decades/" type="external">has grown</a>.</p>
<p>But the number of Americans who approve of it still outnumber those who don't.</p>
<p>And in places where the death penalty has come under attack, proponents are seeking ways to keep it alive.</p>
<p>"What you have are attempts here not to mount any kind of revival of the death penalty, but to stop the bleeding," said Franklin Zimring, a criminologist at U.C. Berkeley School of Law.</p>
<p>None of this is surprising to Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, D.C. When a social or government institution appears imperiled, it is natural for adherents to rally around it.</p>
<p>"The death penalty is eroding everywhere," Dunham said. "One by one, states are eliminating it, and even in states that keep it, prosecutors are seeking it less and juries are returning it less frequently. You can see the public support draining away. So for those with a vested interest in retaining the policy, they feel under siege. And they respond."</p>
<p>The revolt underway in Nebraska is in response to last year's move by the Republican-controlled state Legislature to repeal the death penalty on grounds it was costly, inefficient and wrong (the state hasn't executed anyone since 1997). Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts vetoed it, and the lawmakers overrode him.</p>
<p>Ricketts and his wealthy father then helped finance a campaign to take the issue directly to voters with a Nov. 8 referendum that asks whether the death penalty ban should be reversed.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Ohio to Resume Lethal Injections After Three-Year Pause</a></p>
<p>"There’s a storm going on in Nebraska," Dunham said, part of the broader "political climate change" underway in regard to capital punishment.</p>
<p>The results will test whether America's slow turn against the death penalty can move into the country's deeply conservative areas.</p>
<p>Oklahoma is a different matter. It pursues the death penalty more aggressively than most states, with 112 executions in the last four decades, and another 47 people on death row. But a series of botched lethal injections forced Gov. Mary Fallin to issue a moratorium on executions until the state adopted new procedures.</p>
<p>Death penalty proponents responded by getting a referendum placed on the Nov. 8 ballot that seeks to add capital punishment to the state constitution. That would make it harder to repeal it, and would protect it from court rulings. But critics say the move subverts government checks and balances.</p>
<p>"The referendum in Oklahoma looks very much like a disproportionate response by individuals who feel as though the policy is under siege," Dunham said.</p>
<p>Then there's California, which has the largest number of people on death row (741), in large part because the appeals process is so burdensome. There have been no executions there in a decade, compared with 13 in the previous three decades.</p>
<p>California voters rejected an attempt to abolish the death penalty four years ago. But abolitionists believe they'll have better luck next month. They've gotten a question on the Nov. 8 ballot that asks whether the death penalty should be repealed.</p>
<p>But death penalty supporters, who acknowledge that the system is deeply flawed, back a second ballot question that asks to make the appeal process faster, a change that would speed the rate of executions.</p>
<p>If that measure passes, executions would begin again, and momentum could shift in favor of counter-repeal efforts elsewhere.</p>
<p>But if the repeal question wins, it will mark a huge leap toward ending the death penalty nationwide, said Douglas Berman, a law professor at The Ohio State University who specializes in criminal law and sentencing.</p>
<p>"If they do repeal, to me that will not only speed the path for politicians nationwide feeling comfortable with voicing their own repeal affinities, but will also embolden judges who, although they're not supposed to follow the election cycle, are shaped by a sense of which way the winds blow," Berman said.</p>
<p>Because the ballot questions are separate, both might pass. In that scenario, the one that received the most yes votes would prevail.</p>
<p>Barring a comprehensive ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, Berman said, the death penalty will probably never disappear in America.</p>
<p>That's because, between the stalwart proponents and abolitionists, a sizable proportion of people understand the death penalty's shortcomings but don't want to preclude using it in the most heinous crimes, Berman said.</p>
<p>He predicted that use of the death penalty will diminish to the point where it's applied in those narrowest of circumstances.</p>
<p>Robert Blecker agrees. He's a professor at New York Law School and author of "The Death of Punishment: Searching for Justice Among the Worst of the Worst." Support for the death penalty, he said, is rooted in a "deeply felt moral intuition" that particularly horrific crimes should be punished with death.</p>
<p>"There are those of us who will stay angry and morally focused and care about justice," he said. "We will not be argued out of it on the basis of cost and inefficiency."</p>
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oklahoma scandal states execution methods inspired move enshrine death penalty state constitution nebraska governor unhappy lawmakers repeal death penalty bankrolled campaign bring back california condemned killers wait decades meet fates residents decide either speed process ban entirely three states sit crossroads americas conflicted relationship capital punishment voters set determine next month whether practice continues fade away stubbornly persists ballot initiatives come critical time death penalty appears slouching toward obsolescence related supreme court considers role race sentencing twenty states abolished capital punishment another four stopped practice decree governors 15 people executed far year lowest number since 1991 according death penalty information center dropoff driven part shortages execution drugs successful challenges capital sentences national polls show publics support death penalty declining decades opposition grown number americans approve still outnumber dont places death penalty come attack proponents seeking ways keep alive attempts mount kind revival death penalty stop bleeding said franklin zimring criminologist uc berkeley school law none surprising robert dunham executive director death penalty information center washington dc social government institution appears imperiled natural adherents rally around death penalty eroding everywhere dunham said one one states eliminating even states keep prosecutors seeking less juries returning less frequently see public support draining away vested interest retaining policy feel siege respond revolt underway nebraska response last years move republicancontrolled state legislature repeal death penalty grounds costly inefficient wrong state hasnt executed anyone since 1997 republican gov pete ricketts vetoed lawmakers overrode ricketts wealthy father helped finance campaign take issue directly voters nov 8 referendum asks whether death penalty ban reversed related ohio resume lethal injections threeyear pause theres storm going nebraska dunham said part broader political climate change underway regard capital punishment results test whether americas slow turn death penalty move countrys deeply conservative areas oklahoma different matter pursues death penalty aggressively states 112 executions last four decades another 47 people death row series botched lethal injections forced gov mary fallin issue moratorium executions state adopted new procedures death penalty proponents responded getting referendum placed nov 8 ballot seeks add capital punishment state constitution would make harder repeal would protect court rulings critics say move subverts government checks balances referendum oklahoma looks much like disproportionate response individuals feel though policy siege dunham said theres california largest number people death row 741 large part appeals process burdensome executions decade compared 13 previous three decades california voters rejected attempt abolish death penalty four years ago abolitionists believe theyll better luck next month theyve gotten question nov 8 ballot asks whether death penalty repealed death penalty supporters acknowledge system deeply flawed back second ballot question asks make appeal process faster change would speed rate executions measure passes executions would begin momentum could shift favor counterrepeal efforts elsewhere repeal question wins mark huge leap toward ending death penalty nationwide said douglas berman law professor ohio state university specializes criminal law sentencing repeal speed path politicians nationwide feeling comfortable voicing repeal affinities also embolden judges although theyre supposed follow election cycle shaped sense way winds blow berman said ballot questions separate might pass scenario one received yes votes would prevail barring comprehensive ruling us supreme court berman said death penalty probably never disappear america thats stalwart proponents abolitionists sizable proportion people understand death penaltys shortcomings dont want preclude using heinous crimes berman said predicted use death penalty diminish point applied narrowest circumstances robert blecker agrees hes professor new york law school author death punishment searching justice among worst worst support death penalty said rooted deeply felt moral intuition particularly horrific crimes punished death us stay angry morally focused care justice said argued basis cost inefficiency
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<p>By Jonathan Waits</p>
<p>While some parents like the surprise element, my wife and I wanted to know. I remember the moment with each of our boys. We headed to the doctor for a regular checkup with a bonus: an ultrasound. But at 20 weeks this wasn’t simply a hear-the-heartbeat ultrasound. This was the big one. Our favorite ultrasound tech, Angela, started looking around and three straight times announced: It’s a boy!</p>
<p>Now, I’ll be honest with you: sitting in that dark room waiting to find out what to expect with baby number three, we were at least a little hopeful that he was a she. We had two boys already and were looking forward to adding some balance to the mix. And yet, Angela said the same three words she had said two times before: It’s a boy!</p>
<p>Admittedly there was a flash of disappointment in each of us as reality didn’t cohere neatly with our expectations, but that passed in a moment and we were celebrating when we welcomed boy number three into the world (rather unexpectedly, in the middle of the night no less!). At nine months along in his development he is an absolute delight. We wouldn’t trade him for all the gold in Fort Knox.</p>
<p>Now again — no, he’s not what we were initially hoping and planning for (namely, a girl), but it’s not like we can take him back. And besides, who would we blame for the mix up? God? Theologically that’s the most correct, but it probably won’t get us very far. Me? After all, technically speaking, I contributed the Y chromosome. How about my wife? After all, she was the last one with him (with a nod to Bill Cosby, I like that explanation best).</p>
<p>Give me a break! Of course we didn’t blame anyone for the switch. It’s not like we ordered him from a catalog and the shipping company messed up the order. We accepted the gift God gave us and are adjusting to an increasingly rowdy household. It’s a blast .. mostly.</p>
<p>But what if a couple did essentially order their baby from a catalog and they ended up with something other than they expected? Well, this seemingly dystopian fantasy notion is actually a real case going on right now in Ohio. As the Chicago Tribune reports, a white couple who could not conceive together naturally (both partners are women) contacted a sperm bank in Downers Grove, Ill., because they wanted a child of their own. After looking through a catalog of donor information, the couple selected an anonymous white man with a genetic profile that appealed to them and essentially sent off for their baby.</p>
<p>A few months after their doctor received the vials of sperm and the child’s biological mother was successfully impregnated, she learned that instead of getting sperm from donor 380 whom they had selected, the company goofed and sent the sperm of donor 330 to the doctor. The problem was, donor 330 isn’t a white man. He’s black. And so, a few weeks later, the mother gave birth to a beautiful biracial girl.</p>
<p>But here’s where things get sad. The mix up and birth of the little girl happened two years ago. Now the couple is suing the sperm bank for it. Think about this: They wanted a child when they could not have one on their own. They used ethically questionable methods to get a child in spite of their biological limitations. They now have a beautiful little girl. But she’s not the color they ordered, and so they are suing the company for it. They didn’t get what they ordered — and they’re suing. That’s what you do if Amazon sends you the wrong thing. That should never happen with a child — ever. Now, yes, the couple did pay probably a lot of money in order to have their little girl and, yes, she was not what they ordered. But the fact that this kind of lawsuit is even a possibility suggests that the ethics of the approach they took to having their daughter is still in need of some attention.</p>
<p>The language of the suit itself doesn’t make this sound any better. The couple lives in a small, all-white community, and they are fearful of what the child’s (and their) life might be like growing up in a community in which she doesn’t look like everyone else. I’ll just quote this from the Tribune article because you can’t make up stuff like this:</p>
<p>“Raising a mixed-race daughter has been stressful in [the couple’s] small, all-white community, according to the suit. [The mother] was raised around people with stereotypical attitudes about nonwhites, the lawsuit states, and did not know African-Americans until she attended college. … Because of this background and upbringing, [the mother] acknowledges her limited cultural competency relative to African-Americans and a steep learning curve, particularly in small, homogeneous Uniontown, which she regards as too racially intolerant.”</p>
<p>The couple has to drive to an all-black neighborhood to get their daughter’s hair cut where they are “not overtly welcome.” The birth mother fears her family, which hasn’t been accepting of her homosexual lifestyle, will also not be accepting of her biracial daughter. She worries about sending her to an all-white school someday. They may have to move — for their daughter’s sake, of course. And, $50,000 will make it all easier (not better, but easier).</p>
<p>My question is this: what are they going to tell their daughter? How do you explain to your child that you sued the company that made her life possible because she wasn’t the color you ordered? How do you explain that you were willing for her to grow up without a father active in her life (a circumstance that study after study has shown to be tremendously detrimental for children and sets them behind their peers in pretty much every social category), but her being half-black was a bridge too far? How do you explain that while you love her dearly no matter what color she is, you’ve treated her like she was simply something you picked up from the store?</p>
<p>When as a culture we start treating people like commodities, we’ve got a problem. Whatever happened to children being a gift from God? Now, at least in this case, they are a commodity to be purchased when desired. And, if they don’t conform to our expectations, the subjects of a lawsuit. With other advances in genetic technology coming at a faster pace than ethics can keep up, a brave new world is upon us and not many are stopping to ask if it’s the kind of world we want to have.</p>
<p>As Christians we need to speak up, analyze the myriad of ethical issues at play here, and offer loving and gentle guidance to a culture that is increasingly calling every desire right without thought of the consequences. Let us be prepared to minister to people when their choices don’t lead to the rosy outcomes they were expecting. And let us pray for this little family, because they have some hard conversations ahead of them.</p>
| false | 3 |
jonathan waits parents like surprise element wife wanted know remember moment boys headed doctor regular checkup bonus ultrasound 20 weeks wasnt simply heartheheartbeat ultrasound big one favorite ultrasound tech angela started looking around three straight times announced boy ill honest sitting dark room waiting find expect baby number three least little hopeful two boys already looking forward adding balance mix yet angela said three words said two times boy admittedly flash disappointment us reality didnt cohere neatly expectations passed moment celebrating welcomed boy number three world rather unexpectedly middle night less nine months along development absolute delight wouldnt trade gold fort knox hes initially hoping planning namely girl like take back besides would blame mix god theologically thats correct probably wont get us far technically speaking contributed chromosome wife last one nod bill cosby like explanation best give break course didnt blame anyone switch like ordered catalog shipping company messed order accepted gift god gave us adjusting increasingly rowdy household blast mostly couple essentially order baby catalog ended something expected well seemingly dystopian fantasy notion actually real case going right ohio chicago tribune reports white couple could conceive together naturally partners women contacted sperm bank downers grove ill wanted child looking catalog donor information couple selected anonymous white man genetic profile appealed essentially sent baby months doctor received vials sperm childs biological mother successfully impregnated learned instead getting sperm donor 380 selected company goofed sent sperm donor 330 doctor problem donor 330 isnt white man hes black weeks later mother gave birth beautiful biracial girl heres things get sad mix birth little girl happened two years ago couple suing sperm bank think wanted child could one used ethically questionable methods get child spite biological limitations beautiful little girl shes color ordered suing company didnt get ordered theyre suing thats amazon sends wrong thing never happen child ever yes couple pay probably lot money order little girl yes ordered fact kind lawsuit even possibility suggests ethics approach took daughter still need attention language suit doesnt make sound better couple lives small allwhite community fearful childs life might like growing community doesnt look like everyone else ill quote tribune article cant make stuff like raising mixedrace daughter stressful couples small allwhite community according suit mother raised around people stereotypical attitudes nonwhites lawsuit states know africanamericans attended college background upbringing mother acknowledges limited cultural competency relative africanamericans steep learning curve particularly small homogeneous uniontown regards racially intolerant couple drive allblack neighborhood get daughters hair cut overtly welcome birth mother fears family hasnt accepting homosexual lifestyle also accepting biracial daughter worries sending allwhite school someday may move daughters sake course 50000 make easier better easier question going tell daughter explain child sued company made life possible wasnt color ordered explain willing grow without father active life circumstance study study shown tremendously detrimental children sets behind peers pretty much every social category halfblack bridge far explain love dearly matter color youve treated like simply something picked store culture start treating people like commodities weve got problem whatever happened children gift god least case commodity purchased desired dont conform expectations subjects lawsuit advances genetic technology coming faster pace ethics keep brave new world upon us many stopping ask kind world want christians need speak analyze myriad ethical issues play offer loving gentle guidance culture increasingly calling every desire right without thought consequences let us prepared minister people choices dont lead rosy outcomes expecting let us pray little family hard conversations ahead
| 575 |
<p>My new book, <a href="http://www.welcomebooks.com/americanteacher/" type="external">American Teacher: Heroes in the Classroom</a>, shares the personal histories and innovative methods of 50 extraordinary K-12 teachers from across the country. Though the research and selection process was time-consuming (there are more than 3 million public school teachers in the U.S from which to choose) and not uncomplicated (candidates were considered based on a variety of criteria, from professional achievements and awards to pioneering classroom techniques), the ultimate intent of the project was conversely simple: to celebrate and communicate the soul of great teaching. The following are just eight of the fifty passion-driven teachers featured in the book, whose stories are guaranteed to inspire, entertain, and perhaps, most of all, make you wish you could turn back the clock and be a student again.</p>
<p>7th–8th Grade English, Ecology, Theater, and GardeningOdyssey Charter School, Altadena, CA</p>
<p><a href="http://youtu.be/MRjuZyObQ60" type="external">Daryl Bilandzija</a> has turned the great outdoors into his classroom and introduced his students to the profound value and power of nature by repurposing half an acre of his school’s campus into a thriving Edible Learning Garden, which includes chickens, an orchard, and an open air stage. “Rather than teach subjects in isolation,” explains Bilandzija, “we use the gardens as a means to integrate learning, to make connections among different subjects. Students don’t just learn about a subject, they also learn how to apply their knowledge in a real-world context.”</p>
<p>6th Grade General Studies Valley Elementary School, Eden, UT</p>
<p>Michelle Evans prepares her 6th graders for the fiscal realities of adulthood through her pioneering and highly engaging classroom management system called econoME—a mock community that includes its own classroom currency (ebucks), government, banking system, retail store (beef jerky is a big seller!), and employees. Students pay rent for their desks, purchase insurance, apply for jobs to earn salaries, and even participate in an often emotional end-of-year simulated disaster that tests both their financial skills and good citizenship. Photo: Ashley Detrick</p>
<p>10th Grade English Parkdale High School, Riverdale, MD</p>
<p>An award-winning spoken word artist, English teacher <a href="http://youtu.be/saREW_BfxwY" type="external">Clint Smith’s</a> passion for language inspires his students to find, express, and believe in their own inner voices. Says Smith, “We sit in our classroom as ambassadors of our past, I tell my students. We will learn to read critically, write consciously, speak clearly, and tell our truth because that is the only way this world will ever listen to what we have to say. We are not here to celebrate the status quo of stereotypes. Whether it is what you look like, what you sound like, what your name is, or where your family is from, our role is to break out of these boxes the world has put us in. Every day in my class, we try to use literature to break out of these boxes. We question. We criticize. We agitate. We advocate. We read. We write. We recognize that we all have a story.” Photo: Roman Cho</p>
<p>5th Grade English Language Arts Cunningham Elementary School, Austin, TX</p>
<p>Seeking a way to instill her 5th graders with a sense of belonging and to engage them more meaningfully in their education, <a href="http://www.kxan.com/community/new-book-celebrates-american-teachers" type="external">Emily Smith</a> conceived of an utterly unique classroom culture where kids would become members of an exclusive literary club named the Hive Society (inspired by the classic eighties film Dead Poets Society). Smith designed a complimentary “literature-rich” curriculum and physical environment that encourages independent thought and an open and honest exchange of ideas among her young scholars. Even her classroom defies convention—“Every surface is fair game to spread out and work on. It is like a think tank!” Smith says. Photo: Erich Schlegel</p>
<p>6th–8th Grade and 11th–12th Grade Museum Connections and Honors Archaeology &amp; Artifacts Monticello Trails Middle School, Shawnee, KS</p>
<p><a href="http://youtu.be/TPn8cGmH_Mk" type="external">Keil Hileman’s</a> passion for hands-on learning drove him to create a classroom museum populated with more than 20,000 donated historical artifacts, which he uses every day to bring history to life for his students. The collection includes an amazing variety of objects, ranging from a piece of concrete from the World Trade Center to a 1790s slave collar. “The moment I walked into Mr. Hileman’s classroom and inhaled the scent of history, I knew this would be not just a class, but also an experience,” writes one former student. Photo: Peter Feldstein</p>
<p>6th–8th Grade Computer Systems and Business Education Southmoreland Middle School, Scottdale, PA</p>
<p>Think that learning computer programs like Excel, FileMaker, and Photoshop is destined to be a bore? One day in Janey Layman’s class will make you think again. Laymen teaches her students to use computer systems exclusively through their application in real world business scenarios—such as launching an actual cupcake company, organizing a golf open to raise funds for charity, inventing retail products like a new burger for the local Wendy’s, or creating a statistical analysis of past Super Bowls in order to predict this year’s likely winner.</p>
<p>Kindergarten–12th Grade Special Education and Career Technical Education Bronx Community School District 8, New York, NY</p>
<p><a href="http://youtu.be/Cww_dUh5FUI" type="external">Stephen Ritz</a> is an inner-city teacher in NYC’s South Bronx who introduced a groundbreaking program that teaches at-risk youth how to grow food and plant gardens within an urban environment. “I want to embed the lens of sustainability, conservation, health, nutrition, and wellness into every single content area: grades K-12 and beyond. We’re planting all kinds of seeds—academic seeds, cultural seeds, seeds of hope—I call it cultivating minds and harvesting hope,” explains Ritz.</p>
<p>5th Grade General Studies Hobart Boulevard Elementary School, Los Angeles, CA</p>
<p>“I have three great loves in the world,” says <a href="http://www.hobartshakespeareans.org/" type="external">Rafe Esquith</a>. “Baseball, rock ’n’ roll, and Shakespeare. None of these are in the California curriculum, but they are all part of my classroom.” For instance, Esquith's Shakespeare program (the subject of a PBS documentary) culminates each year in a masterful production performed by his students, who volunteer their time after school, on weekends, and during vacations to prepare. "This is not about acting," explains Esquith. "Here the kids are learning how to speak in front of other people, how to work as a team, take chances, sometimes fail and then correct their mistakes. The focus of the class is not about the show; we care about the thousands of rehearsals leading up to the show." For more than three decades, Esquith has been bringing his passions into his classroom and using them as vehicles to deliver crucial life lessons and academic skills. His pioneering methods have inspired generations of other teachers and profoundly impacted the futures of hundreds of his students.</p>
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new book american teacher heroes classroom shares personal histories innovative methods 50 extraordinary k12 teachers across country though research selection process timeconsuming 3 million public school teachers us choose uncomplicated candidates considered based variety criteria professional achievements awards pioneering classroom techniques ultimate intent project conversely simple celebrate communicate soul great teaching following eight fifty passiondriven teachers featured book whose stories guaranteed inspire entertain perhaps make wish could turn back clock student 7th8th grade english ecology theater gardeningodyssey charter school altadena ca daryl bilandzija turned great outdoors classroom introduced students profound value power nature repurposing half acre schools campus thriving edible learning garden includes chickens orchard open air stage rather teach subjects isolation explains bilandzija use gardens means integrate learning make connections among different subjects students dont learn subject also learn apply knowledge realworld context 6th grade general studies valley elementary school eden ut michelle evans prepares 6th graders fiscal realities adulthood pioneering highly engaging classroom management system called economea mock community includes classroom currency ebucks government banking system retail store beef jerky big seller employees students pay rent desks purchase insurance apply jobs earn salaries even participate often emotional endofyear simulated disaster tests financial skills good citizenship photo ashley detrick 10th grade english parkdale high school riverdale md awardwinning spoken word artist english teacher clint smiths passion language inspires students find express believe inner voices says smith sit classroom ambassadors past tell students learn read critically write consciously speak clearly tell truth way world ever listen say celebrate status quo stereotypes whether look like sound like name family role break boxes world put us every day class try use literature break boxes question criticize agitate advocate read write recognize story photo roman cho 5th grade english language arts cunningham elementary school austin tx seeking way instill 5th graders sense belonging engage meaningfully education emily smith conceived utterly unique classroom culture kids would become members exclusive literary club named hive society inspired classic eighties film dead poets society smith designed complimentary literaturerich curriculum physical environment encourages independent thought open honest exchange ideas among young scholars even classroom defies conventionevery surface fair game spread work like think tank smith says photo erich schlegel 6th8th grade 11th12th grade museum connections honors archaeology amp artifacts monticello trails middle school shawnee ks keil hilemans passion handson learning drove create classroom museum populated 20000 donated historical artifacts uses every day bring history life students collection includes amazing variety objects ranging piece concrete world trade center 1790s slave collar moment walked mr hilemans classroom inhaled scent history knew would class also experience writes one former student photo peter feldstein 6th8th grade computer systems business education southmoreland middle school scottdale pa think learning computer programs like excel filemaker photoshop destined bore one day janey laymans class make think laymen teaches students use computer systems exclusively application real world business scenariossuch launching actual cupcake company organizing golf open raise funds charity inventing retail products like new burger local wendys creating statistical analysis past super bowls order predict years likely winner kindergarten12th grade special education career technical education bronx community school district 8 new york ny stephen ritz innercity teacher nycs south bronx introduced groundbreaking program teaches atrisk youth grow food plant gardens within urban environment want embed lens sustainability conservation health nutrition wellness every single content area grades k12 beyond planting kinds seedsacademic seeds cultural seeds seeds hopei call cultivating minds harvesting hope explains ritz 5th grade general studies hobart boulevard elementary school los angeles ca three great loves world says rafe esquith baseball rock n roll shakespeare none california curriculum part classroom instance esquiths shakespeare program subject pbs documentary culminates year masterful production performed students volunteer time school weekends vacations prepare acting explains esquith kids learning speak front people work team take chances sometimes fail correct mistakes focus class show care thousands rehearsals leading show three decades esquith bringing passions classroom using vehicles deliver crucial life lessons academic skills pioneering methods inspired generations teachers profoundly impacted futures hundreds students
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<p>LONDON, UK - Britain's extended news vacuum continues as the annual fall party political conference season staggers on. The Conservatives are meeting in Birmingham this week.</p>
<p>We had been expecting an announcement from the Church of England about the next Archbishop of Canterbury. But the C of E is pathologically committed to seeing all sides of an issue and is therefore incapable of reaching decisions.</p>
<p>The issue holding things up is gay clergy and gay marriage. The Archbishop of York, Uganda-born John Sentamu, would be a shoo-in except for his vociferously anti-gay stance. Instead, the compromise choice is the Bishop of Durham, Justin Welby, who found his religious vocation after making a small fortune in the oil business.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/121009/nato-turkey-syria" type="external">NATO ready to defend Turkey from Syria attacks</a></p>
<p>Welby's previous career isn't the problem; it's the fact that he went to Eton. That's a major strike against him at a time when so many British institutions are in the hands of the handful of sons of riches who attended that and a few other elite schools.</p>
<p>The Crown Nominations Commission, the official body that makes the choice, is trying to square the circle, but it's clearly a difficult task.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the political parties are busy rhetorically tacking to the center by stealing from each other's history. Last week in Manchester, Labour's Ed Milliband pulled a Mitt Romney by rising above low expectations to deliver a commanding performance when the cameras were on him. His speech rebranded Labour as a "one nation" party. But it just so happens that "One Nation" was the Conservative catchphrase for more than 150 years, since the time of Benjamin Disraeli.</p>
<p>Milliband's claiming Dizzy for Labour was trumped yesterday when the Tories? George Osborne called, a la Marx, for "Workers of the World to Unite" by embracing his <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/georgeosborne/9593955/George-Osborne-workers-of-the-world-unite...and-give-up-your-employment-rights.html" type="external">plan for employees</a> to acquire shares in the businesses they work for in exchange for giving up union membership and other employment rights.</p>
<p>Like I say: It's silly season.</p>
<p>So I found myself thinking of Dan Senor.</p>
<p>Britain's political shenanigans reminded me of Mitt Romney's reboot of his foreign policy last week. I'm sure he thought his speech's neo-con nostrums were new and vibrant. I'm equally certain his political advisers are cynical enough to know they weren't. But they're also aware that many Americans' sense of history doesn't extend further back than what they had for breakfast, therefore you can always claim something is new and shiny even when it's old and never passed its road test in the first place.</p>
<p>Senor is one of Romney's <a href="http://insideout.wbur.org/documentaries/fearandanger/notebook.asp" type="external">key foreign policy advisers</a> and one of the most visible of neo-cons. I thought of him because I passed through Baghdad in April 2004 when he was the chief spokesman for the Coalition Provisional Authority and attended one of the daily press briefings he oversaw.</p>
<p>It was an interesting day to be there. The regular Baghdad press corps had just got wind of the soon-to-be notorious abuses at Abu Ghraib prison and were asking pointed, detailed questions that indicated they were building a forensic case about some serious problems.</p>
<p>Senor wasn't answering questions that day. He simply stood to one side as a military man and, I believe, the CPA's administrator Paul Bremer batted away the questions by giving no comments. The reason I noticed him was he was wearing a Bush-Cheney 2004 election pin on his jacket collar, clearly visible to the cameras. It was free political advertising and it seemed inappropriate.</p>
<p>War, once waged, should remain above party politics. But the not-so-subtle message was that the war in Iraq was a Bush-Cheney enterprise. GOP supporters were first among equals.</p>
<p>That idea was reinforced by the fact that Bremer's security detail was provided by Blackwater, the notorious private military outfit whose founder Erik Prince has longstanding ties to the Republican Party. The company had obtained its multi-million dollar contract without bidding.</p>
<p>I thought that too was odd. US Marines have traditionally provided protection for American diplomats; relieving them of that duty seemed like taking privatization too far.</p>
<p>As an American who thought the overthrow of Saddam Hussein a good thing, I was offended that Senor and company seemed to be making foreign and security policy a subsidiary of the Republican Party.</p>
<p>I wanted to ask Senor about the pin but didn't - the questions my Baghdad colleagues were asking about Abu Ghraib were more important - but I still regret not having confronted him afterward with my tape recorder on.</p>
<p>A few days after I left Baghdad, four Blackwater mercenaries were lynched in the city of Fallujah. Around the same time, a long-planned confrontation with the radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army began. The Mahdi Army fought back. Overnight, the United States found itself fighting a second war, and on two fronts. The following week, 60 Minutes broke the Abu Ghraib story.</p>
<p>If there were ever a sequence of events that should have left someone in government chastened, that was it. For even the truest believers in the neo-con worldview, surely Iraq's catastrophic collapse precisely one year after Saddam's successful overthrow should have been cause to re-assess the gap between their rhetoric and the reality that comes in the wake of overthrowing a government with military force.</p>
<p>However, in the eight years since Iraq spun out of control, neither Senor nor Bremer has said anything to indicate they absorbed the lessons of those weeks. Nor will you hear sadder but wiser words from John Bolton and William Kristol, two other prominent neo-cons who advise Mitt Romney.</p>
<p>That's why you won't have heard that chastened re-assessment of how America should conduct foreign policy in the dangerous words Mitt Romney spoke yesterday.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/japan/121009/imf-world-bank-tokyo-global-economy" type="external">IMF warns of possible global recession</a></p>
<p>Romney's idea that America today commands the world with the same force it did in the 18 months between 9/11 and the brief war to overthrow Saddam goes past delusional to clinically insane.</p>
<p>The second war in Iraq, the resilience of the Taliban and the financial crisis have all served to erode America's standing and undermine its ability to dictate the course of events.</p>
<p>When Romney regally says, as he did in his recent speech, that "I will call on our NATO allies to keep the greatest military alliance in history strong by honoring their commitment to each devote 2 percent of their GDP to security spending," then notes that only 3 of the 28 currently meet their commitment, I can hear the leaders of the other 25, mired in an economic recession spawned in America, saying, "Go f*** yourself."</p>
<p>More politically clued-in readers might counter that Romney is just spouting election tosh, that he wouldn't be able to compel the alliance to do his bidding. But having seen how Dan Senor and co. ruined a country by standing by their rhetoric and ignoring reality, I'm not sure.</p>
<p>Foolish as the neo-cons' ideas are, they aren't the product of silly seasons and should be treated very seriously.&#160;</p>
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london uk britains extended news vacuum continues annual fall party political conference season staggers conservatives meeting birmingham week expecting announcement church england next archbishop canterbury c e pathologically committed seeing sides issue therefore incapable reaching decisions issue holding things gay clergy gay marriage archbishop york ugandaborn john sentamu would shooin except vociferously antigay stance instead compromise choice bishop durham justin welby found religious vocation making small fortune oil business globalpost160 nato ready defend turkey syria attacks welbys previous career isnt problem fact went eton thats major strike time many british institutions hands handful sons riches attended elite schools crown nominations commission official body makes choice trying square circle clearly difficult task meanwhile political parties busy rhetorically tacking center stealing others history last week manchester labours ed milliband pulled mitt romney rising low expectations deliver commanding performance cameras speech rebranded labour one nation party happens one nation conservative catchphrase 150 years since time benjamin disraeli millibands claiming dizzy labour trumped yesterday tories george osborne called la marx workers world unite embracing plan employees acquire shares businesses work exchange giving union membership employment rights like say silly season found thinking dan senor britains political shenanigans reminded mitt romneys reboot foreign policy last week im sure thought speechs neocon nostrums new vibrant im equally certain political advisers cynical enough know werent theyre also aware many americans sense history doesnt extend back breakfast therefore always claim something new shiny even old never passed road test first place senor one romneys key foreign policy advisers one visible neocons thought passed baghdad april 2004 chief spokesman coalition provisional authority attended one daily press briefings oversaw interesting day regular baghdad press corps got wind soontobe notorious abuses abu ghraib prison asking pointed detailed questions indicated building forensic case serious problems senor wasnt answering questions day simply stood one side military man believe cpas administrator paul bremer batted away questions giving comments reason noticed wearing bushcheney 2004 election pin jacket collar clearly visible cameras free political advertising seemed inappropriate war waged remain party politics notsosubtle message war iraq bushcheney enterprise gop supporters first among equals idea reinforced fact bremers security detail provided blackwater notorious private military outfit whose founder erik prince longstanding ties republican party company obtained multimillion dollar contract without bidding thought odd us marines traditionally provided protection american diplomats relieving duty seemed like taking privatization far american thought overthrow saddam hussein good thing offended senor company seemed making foreign security policy subsidiary republican party wanted ask senor pin didnt questions baghdad colleagues asking abu ghraib important still regret confronted afterward tape recorder days left baghdad four blackwater mercenaries lynched city fallujah around time longplanned confrontation radical cleric muqtada alsadrs mahdi army began mahdi army fought back overnight united states found fighting second war two fronts following week 60 minutes broke abu ghraib story ever sequence events left someone government chastened even truest believers neocon worldview surely iraqs catastrophic collapse precisely one year saddams successful overthrow cause reassess gap rhetoric reality comes wake overthrowing government military force however eight years since iraq spun control neither senor bremer said anything indicate absorbed lessons weeks hear sadder wiser words john bolton william kristol two prominent neocons advise mitt romney thats wont heard chastened reassessment america conduct foreign policy dangerous words mitt romney spoke yesterday globalpost160 imf warns possible global recession romneys idea america today commands world force 18 months 911 brief war overthrow saddam goes past delusional clinically insane second war iraq resilience taliban financial crisis served erode americas standing undermine ability dictate course events romney regally says recent speech call nato allies keep greatest military alliance history strong honoring commitment devote 2 percent gdp security spending notes 3 28 currently meet commitment hear leaders 25 mired economic recession spawned america saying go f politically cluedin readers might counter romney spouting election tosh wouldnt able compel alliance bidding seen dan senor co ruined country standing rhetoric ignoring reality im sure foolish neocons ideas arent product silly seasons treated seriously160
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<p>Mar. 2, 2010</p>
<p>The recent stories of state workers abusing vacation policies and comp-time serves as another reminder that there are two sets of rules and laws in California — one for private sector employers and one for the state and union-friendly employers.</p>
<p>According to a February 28, 2010 Sacramento Bee <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2010/02/28/2570815/unused-vacation-time-carries-high.html" type="external">story</a>— originally reported by <a href="http://californiawatch.org/" type="external">California Watch</a> — state employees have been receiving excessively large vacation payouts upon retirement or&#160; termination despite the cap of 80 days of vacation accrual. “Records show that supervisors routinely allow state employees to exceed that limit,” reported the Bee. “State personnel officials acknowledge that at least $100 million, and perhaps tens of millions more, was paid between 2006 and mid-2009 to retiring state employees who went over the state caps.”</p>
<p>Most private employers do not allow employees to roll over unused vacation from year to year. Not only would it would be nearly impossible to pay such large amounts in one lump sum, planning financially for the future payments&#160; is not realistic for businesses. Just as with California’s unfunded pensions, when government makes unrealistic promises to employees, the state’s inability to continue to pay these benefits makes for a house of cards.</p>
<p>According to the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), the state agency that manages working conditions for California’s wage earners and oversees employment law, most state employees are allowed to bank up to 80 days (640 hours) worth of unused vacation, which is then paid in a lump sum when they leave state service.</p>
<p>For private sector employers, a more realistic and typical cap on vacation time is 200 hours (25 days) in one year, according to employment law attorneys. Some employers even pay employees for their unused vacation at the end of each year instead of capping the accrual.</p>
<p>Using the state’s practice, a public employee who earns $60,000 a year&#160;would receive a check upon retirement or termination for $18,461 for 80 days of unused vacation, whereas a cap of 25 days (200 hours) of unused vacation hours would make the payout just&#160;$5,769.</p>
<p>In the private sector, a standard for paid time-off benefits is&#160;nine to 12 paid holidays, one to four weeks of vacation per year based on length of service with a company or industry, and often a few sick leave days or floating personal days. A typical first year employee can receive a total of 17 days off in a year, or 136 hours or paid time off which includes holidays, sick days and five vacation days.</p>
<p>In a standard employment year, a full-time employee works 2,080 hours (260 days). One week of vacation is considered 40 hours, four weeks is 180 hours, and six weeks of vacation is 240 hours. Never mind that individual state employees may carry more than six weeks of unused vacation on the state’s books, the law is written allowing state employees to carry 16 weeks of unused vacation for eventual payout, and that law is being abused.</p>
<p>Vacation is supposed to be used within the year as labor laws were written to ensure that employees received proper time off when working full-time. The California Labor Commissioner allows employers to cap or put a “ceiling” on vacation pay accruals, which most private sector employers include in their policies according to labor attorneys. When then does the state not use this policy?</p>
<p>The problem with the law is that state agency managers are supposed to make sure their employees stay under the cap, except under “extenuating circumstances.” This language turns the cap into nothing more than a recommendation.</p>
<p>Since vacation time is an earned benefit, it’s treated legally as earned wages. In California, it’s unlawful to have a use-it-or lose-it policy, and an employee cannot forfeit earned wages. Employers, as well as the state, can direct and control when vacation time will be used by the employee, and how much is taken at one time.</p>
<p>The abuse of comp time is problematic with the state as well. Most private sector employers are heavily discouraged by employment law attorneys from using comp time, as it is extremely difficult to manage and fraught with legal intricacies. The way the laws are written, the use of comp time defeats the purpose of having such a benefit. But collective bargaining agreements seem to sidestep the legalities.</p>
<p>In fact, collective bargaining agreements are out of control, as shown by the California Department of Personnel Administration’s attempted crack down on the vacation-payout cap during labor talks in 2005. But they ended up giving in to the unions. This state department, which&#160;oversees employment issues for all 237,000 state employees, caved to public employee unions, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of unnecessary dollars in unused vacation and comp time, demonstrating that many of those in charge at the state appear to be reckless and unconcerned with how they spend other people’s money.</p>
<p>The&#160;DIR’s <a href="http://www.dir.ca.gov/" type="external">homepage</a>says the department was “established to improve working conditions for California’s wage earners, and to advance opportunities for profitable employment in California.” For state employees, the word “profitable” doesn’t even begin to describe their situation.</p>
<p>-Katy Grimes</p>
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mar 2 2010 recent stories state workers abusing vacation policies comptime serves another reminder two sets rules laws california one private sector employers one state unionfriendly employers according february 28 2010 sacramento bee story originally reported california watch state employees receiving excessively large vacation payouts upon retirement or160 termination despite cap 80 days vacation accrual records show supervisors routinely allow state employees exceed limit reported bee state personnel officials acknowledge least 100 million perhaps tens millions paid 2006 mid2009 retiring state employees went state caps private employers allow employees roll unused vacation year year would would nearly impossible pay large amounts one lump sum planning financially future payments160 realistic businesses californias unfunded pensions government makes unrealistic promises employees states inability continue pay benefits makes house cards according department industrial relations dir state agency manages working conditions californias wage earners oversees employment law state employees allowed bank 80 days 640 hours worth unused vacation paid lump sum leave state service private sector employers realistic typical cap vacation time 200 hours 25 days one year according employment law attorneys employers even pay employees unused vacation end year instead capping accrual using states practice public employee earns 60000 year160would receive check upon retirement termination 18461 80 days unused vacation whereas cap 25 days 200 hours unused vacation hours would make payout just1605769 private sector standard paid timeoff benefits is160nine 12 paid holidays one four weeks vacation per year based length service company industry often sick leave days floating personal days typical first year employee receive total 17 days year 136 hours paid time includes holidays sick days five vacation days standard employment year fulltime employee works 2080 hours 260 days one week vacation considered 40 hours four weeks 180 hours six weeks vacation 240 hours never mind individual state employees may carry six weeks unused vacation states books law written allowing state employees carry 16 weeks unused vacation eventual payout law abused vacation supposed used within year labor laws written ensure employees received proper time working fulltime california labor commissioner allows employers cap put ceiling vacation pay accruals private sector employers include policies according labor attorneys state use policy problem law state agency managers supposed make sure employees stay cap except extenuating circumstances language turns cap nothing recommendation since vacation time earned benefit treated legally earned wages california unlawful useitor loseit policy employee forfeit earned wages employers well state direct control vacation time used employee much taken one time abuse comp time problematic state well private sector employers heavily discouraged employment law attorneys using comp time extremely difficult manage fraught legal intricacies way laws written use comp time defeats purpose benefit collective bargaining agreements seem sidestep legalities fact collective bargaining agreements control shown california department personnel administrations attempted crack vacationpayout cap labor talks 2005 ended giving unions state department which160oversees employment issues 237000 state employees caved public employee unions costing taxpayers hundreds millions unnecessary dollars unused vacation comp time demonstrating many charge state appear reckless unconcerned spend peoples money the160dirs homepagesays department established improve working conditions californias wage earners advance opportunities profitable employment california state employees word profitable doesnt even begin describe situation katy grimes
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<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Editor's Note: This story is part of a GlobalPost Special Report on income inequality around the world, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/special-reports/global-income-inequality-great-divide-globalpost" type="external">"The Great Divide."</a></p>
<p>HONG KONG — There are few places for ordinary people to escape the mobs of tourists, touts and handbag hawkers in Tsim Sha Tsui — Hong Kong’s commercial hub — but for members of the city’s upper crust, there’s always the Platinum Lounge.</p>
<p>Tucked away in the perfume section of luxury retailer Lane Crawford, the Platinum Lounge is available to cardholders who spend more than $10,000 a year at the department store. Inside this opulent oasis, uniformed attendants bring free drinks and mushroom quiche on silver trays. An original Andy Warhol screen print hangs from the wall.</p>
<p>I am here on the invitation of Don, 30, for whom the platinum membership is an afterthought. A member of the city’s elite, Don said that in a typical month, he spends around $13,000 on his credit cards, though in December the total came to $65,000. The free miles he earns on these sums have taken him to Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Morocco, Germany, and Malaysia in the last year alone.</p>
<p>We are here to discuss inequality in Hong Kong, which has one of the steepest wealth gaps in Asia. Since 2001, the city’s Gini coefficient — a measure of inequality from 0 to 1, in which a score of one indicates a country where all the income goes to one person — has risen from 0.525 to 0.537, higher than New York City or Washington, DC.</p>
<p>“I’m not that moved by the unequal distribution of wealth,” says Don, a pseudonym used at his request. “It’s never going to be perfect. Communism has taught us that doesn’t work.”</p>
<p>Don freely admits that he and his cohort of young, wealthy Hong Kongers have become the objects of local resentment. That marks a change from the 1980s and 1990s, he says, when wealthy people and tycoons such as Li Ka Shing were widely admired.</p>
<p>“The middle and working classes no longer feel like they have the opportunity to become rich,” Don says. “You hear a lot more snide comments.”</p>
<p>More so than perhaps anywhere else, conspicuous consumption remains part of the lifeblood of Hong Kong. This city of 7 million owns more Rolls Royces and drinks more cognac per capita than any place on Earth. It has the world’s most expensive retail real estate and the highest concentration of luxury stores. And Hong Kong is consistently ranked as having the “freest” economy in the world, thanks to its low income taxes and untaxed capital gains.</p>
<p>But as with other places around the world, inequality has become so great that social tensions are increasing. Public anger over unaffordable housing and inequality erupted repeatedly in 2012. In July, up to 400,000 people took to the streets following the inauguration of new Chief Executive CY Leung. Between 2001 and 2010, incomes for Hong Kong’s top 10 percent grew by 60 percent, while the bottom 10 percent saw their incomes drop by a fifth.</p>
<p>“Over the last 15 years, things have gotten worse for poor people in Hong Kong,” said Lee Tai Shing, chief community organizer for an alliance of CSSA, an alliance of anti-poverty organizations.</p>
<p>The growing gap is attributable to several inexorable trends. Over the last two decades the city’s economy has hollowed out, as manufacturers seeking cheaper labor moved factories across the border into China. In addition, Hong Kong’s population is aging fast. In 2011, the median age of Hong Kong was 41, and more than 28 percent of households included an elderly person over age 65. Every public park is filled with elderly retirees playing Chinese chess, or taking advantage of free seating. Finally, expansion in the city’s high-flying financial sector has concentrated income gains in the hands of a few high-skilled workers.</p>
<p>“After the financial crisis, our economy became more rigid. More than 90 percent of our economy is now services, where income grows slower. Now we don’t see upward mobility,” says Li Kui-wai, professor of economics at the City University of Hong Kong.</p>
<p>But perhaps the single biggest factor in rising inequality is real estate. By just about any measure, Hong Kong is the world’s most expensive place to own a home. Since 2009, housing prices have surged 85 percent, exceeding their peak before the real-estate bubble burst in 1997. To buy a one-bedroom, 852-square-foot apartment at The Belcher’s, a building on the west side of Hong Kong island, costs over $1.5 million. (For reference, that’s a little smaller than a badminton court.) At the upper end, houses on Victoria Peak — the tallest mountain on Hong Kong island — start selling at $20 million or more. In November, a Frank Gehry-designed apartment on the peak sold for an astounding $60 million.</p>
<p>Even for ordinary homes, housing prices have been on a relentless tear. The median home price in Hong Kong is now nearly 13 times the annual median household income, according to the research group Demographia. In the US that figure is three.</p>
<p>Such statistics help explain the plight of people like Woo Shin, 62. Woo — a spry man sporting sandals on a January afternoon — lives with his wife in a “cubicle” in Kowloon that was created by splitting a single apartment into four units. Their entire living quarters measures 60 square feet. (That’s a bit bigger than a ping-pong table.) The apartment’s single door can open barely halfway. Almost all of the apartment is taken up by the bed, which lies heaped with laundry and spare bags. The stove, which is at the foot of the bed, stands beside the toilet. Rent is $280 a month.</p>
<p>“Living in that place is very hard,” Woo said. “I like doing calligraphy, but I can’t even open a piece of paper. When I have a guest, there’s nowhere to sit. … I sometimes feel like I’m a wandering ghost. It’s not a home.”</p>
<p>Woo’s wife works as a security guard, making Hong Kong’s minimum wage of $3.87 an hour. They have applied for public housing — small, heavily subsidized apartments — and have been on the wait list for nearly three years. Almost half of Hong Kong’s population now lives in these public housing estates: massive, 40-story high-rises that lie on the far edges of the city. Residents are typically granted about 140 square feet per person, and the average rent ranges from $33 a month to $450. The wait list as of March of last year was more than 189,000 people long.</p>
<p>The government of Chief Executive CY Leung, who took office last summer, has given some poor people hope by promising to tamp down on the real-estate frenzy, and expand the availability of public housing. In late 2012, he rolled out a measure intended to discourage foreign — and, more particularly, mainland Chinese — buyers of Hong Kong property by imposing a 15 percent tax on property purchased by non-residents. Yet many doubt that Leung will allow prices to fall significantly.</p>
<p>“If he wants to make fair policies, he will have to conflict with business people,” says Lee, the community organizer. “I don’t think he has the guts to do it.”</p>
<p>“It’s not going to work because the whole system is so speculative,” says Li, the economist. “The political will is not there. … All the leaders in Hong Kong here, they all have multiple homes. So do you expect them to reduce their wealth? Nobody likes to see a drop in property price. It’s a very selfish attitude, but that’s how it is.”</p>
<p>Among the wealthy in Hong Kong, there’s even a feeling that the government is perhaps already giving too much. At the Platinum Lounge, Don remarked that while Hong Kong people take to the streets to air their discontents quite frequently, they actually enjoy a higher quality of life than most of the world--including America.</p>
<p>“I think the lower and working class don’t have it so bad, because there’s housing, health care, education. The access is still there, which is more than can be said for more than most places," he said.</p>
<p>“Here, you live in a room as big as two of these carpets,” he said, gesturing at the silver rug beneath our feet, “and your toilet’s the size of that stool. But it’s effectively free. And your kids can go to school. If you get cancer tomorrow, your health care is taken care of... Maybe people should be given more opportunities, but I don’t think society is necessarily unfair. Obviously there aren’t enough resources to go around so that everyone can live the way I live.”</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/special-reports/global-income-inequality-great-divide-globalpost" type="external">The Great Divide: Global income inequality and its cost</a></p>
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160 editors note story part globalpost special report income inequality around world great divide hong kong places ordinary people escape mobs tourists touts handbag hawkers tsim sha tsui hong kongs commercial hub members citys upper crust theres always platinum lounge tucked away perfume section luxury retailer lane crawford platinum lounge available cardholders spend 10000 year department store inside opulent oasis uniformed attendants bring free drinks mushroom quiche silver trays original andy warhol screen print hangs wall invitation 30 platinum membership afterthought member citys elite said typical month spends around 13000 credit cards though december total came 65000 free miles earns sums taken japan thailand singapore morocco germany malaysia last year alone discuss inequality hong kong one steepest wealth gaps asia since 2001 citys gini coefficient measure inequality 0 1 score one indicates country income goes one person risen 0525 0537 higher new york city washington dc im moved unequal distribution wealth says pseudonym used request never going perfect communism taught us doesnt work freely admits cohort young wealthy hong kongers become objects local resentment marks change 1980s 1990s says wealthy people tycoons li ka shing widely admired middle working classes longer feel like opportunity become rich says hear lot snide comments perhaps anywhere else conspicuous consumption remains part lifeblood hong kong city 7 million owns rolls royces drinks cognac per capita place earth worlds expensive retail real estate highest concentration luxury stores hong kong consistently ranked freest economy world thanks low income taxes untaxed capital gains places around world inequality become great social tensions increasing public anger unaffordable housing inequality erupted repeatedly 2012 july 400000 people took streets following inauguration new chief executive cy leung 2001 2010 incomes hong kongs top 10 percent grew 60 percent bottom 10 percent saw incomes drop fifth last 15 years things gotten worse poor people hong kong said lee tai shing chief community organizer alliance cssa alliance antipoverty organizations growing gap attributable several inexorable trends last two decades citys economy hollowed manufacturers seeking cheaper labor moved factories across border china addition hong kongs population aging fast 2011 median age hong kong 41 28 percent households included elderly person age 65 every public park filled elderly retirees playing chinese chess taking advantage free seating finally expansion citys highflying financial sector concentrated income gains hands highskilled workers financial crisis economy became rigid 90 percent economy services income grows slower dont see upward mobility says li kuiwai professor economics city university hong kong perhaps single biggest factor rising inequality real estate measure hong kong worlds expensive place home since 2009 housing prices surged 85 percent exceeding peak realestate bubble burst 1997 buy onebedroom 852squarefoot apartment belchers building west side hong kong island costs 15 million reference thats little smaller badminton court upper end houses victoria peak tallest mountain hong kong island start selling 20 million november frank gehrydesigned apartment peak sold astounding 60 million even ordinary homes housing prices relentless tear median home price hong kong nearly 13 times annual median household income according research group demographia us figure three statistics help explain plight people like woo shin 62 woo spry man sporting sandals january afternoon lives wife cubicle kowloon created splitting single apartment four units entire living quarters measures 60 square feet thats bit bigger pingpong table apartments single door open barely halfway almost apartment taken bed lies heaped laundry spare bags stove foot bed stands beside toilet rent 280 month living place hard woo said like calligraphy cant even open piece paper guest theres nowhere sit sometimes feel like im wandering ghost home woos wife works security guard making hong kongs minimum wage 387 hour applied public housing small heavily subsidized apartments wait list nearly three years almost half hong kongs population lives public housing estates massive 40story highrises lie far edges city residents typically granted 140 square feet per person average rent ranges 33 month 450 wait list march last year 189000 people long government chief executive cy leung took office last summer given poor people hope promising tamp realestate frenzy expand availability public housing late 2012 rolled measure intended discourage foreign particularly mainland chinese buyers hong kong property imposing 15 percent tax property purchased nonresidents yet many doubt leung allow prices fall significantly wants make fair policies conflict business people says lee community organizer dont think guts going work whole system speculative says li economist political leaders hong kong multiple homes expect reduce wealth nobody likes see drop property price selfish attitude thats among wealthy hong kong theres even feeling government perhaps already giving much platinum lounge remarked hong kong people take streets air discontents quite frequently actually enjoy higher quality life worldincluding america think lower working class dont bad theres housing health care education access still said places said live room big two carpets said gesturing silver rug beneath feet toilets size stool effectively free kids go school get cancer tomorrow health care taken care maybe people given opportunities dont think society necessarily unfair obviously arent enough resources go around everyone live way live globalpost great divide global income inequality cost
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<p>Parents expect a lot from youth ministers.</p>
<p>Above all they want them to host safe gatherings where their kids can hang out with friends. At the same time they want their youth to learn how to say no to drugs, alcohol and pre-marital sex. Along the way they must be exposed to the theologically correct doctrines and practices needed to be a good (insert denomination here). And ministers are expected to (subtly) take parents’ sides in family disagreements.</p>
<p>Carol Harston</p>
<p>“The reality is parents want it all,” said Carol Harston, the former minister to youth at Highland Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky.</p>
<p>The other reality, she said, is that youth ministers rarely have much time with students at all, given today’s fast-paced family and school life.</p>
<p>So, youth pastors tend to have a much narrower focus in their ministries.</p>
<p>It centers mostly on developing relationships with youth and guiding them to become disciples of Jesus Christ, said Harston, who recently stepped down as president of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Youth Ministry Network.</p>
<p>Getting parents on board with that requires communication.</p>
<p>“It’s about caring for parents and reminding them what the church is and what we are called to do,” she said.</p>
<p>‘Their own set of priorities’</p>
<p>But that may be a tall order according some new research.</p>
<p>The Barna Group, in partnership with Youth Specialties and YouthWorks, recently <a href="https://www.barna.com/research/pastors-parents-differ-youth-ministry-goals/" type="external">released a study</a> which found that parents and ministers share widely divergent goals for youth ministry.</p>
<p>Senior pastors and youth ministers are in agreement that discipleship and spiritual instruction is the purpose of youth ministry with, respectively, 71 percent and 75 percent strongly agreeing.</p>
<p><a href="http://1648o73kablq2rveyn64glm1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Barna_Youth_charts_v1.jpg" type="external" />Building relationships was a secondary youth ministry goal for both kinds of ministers: 40 percent for senior pastors, and 48 percent for youth ministers.</p>
<p>Other categories, from evangelism, outreach and serving the community dropped off sharply down the scale.</p>
<p>But for parents, not only were the goals different from ministers but all of them are held in relatively high percentages.</p>
<p>Chief among them was providing safe spaces to explore faith: 69 percent of parents said that was very important to them. Building positive peer relationships was very important to 67 percent of parents while 58 percent said providing a place to bring friends was very important.</p>
<p>Other goals included offering career guidance and direction in life (56 percent), providing mentorship opportunities (53 percent) and outreach for unchurched teens (51 percent).</p>
<p>Barna also asked parents about their expectations for youth pastors. Disciplining teens (72 percent), helping youth navigate friend relationships (62 percent) and navigating family relationships (60 percent) rounded out the top three.</p>
<p>They were followed by warning teens about drugs and alcohol, teaching safe media use, talking about sex and dating and offering career guidance, Barna found.</p>
<p>“Parents have their own set of priorities when it comes to their kids’ youth ministry experience,” Barna said in its report, “Pastors and Parents Differ on Youth Ministry Goals.</p>
<p>“And … most parents have a hard time narrowing them down,” Harston said.</p>
<p>‘Make sure he doesn’t do drugs’</p>
<p>Several ministers told Baptist News Global that the Barna poll is on target. They testify to both spoken and unspoken parental assumptions that ministers to youth can —&#160;or should —&#160;be able to solve the social, spiritual and educational problems faced by young people.</p>
<p>“In our culture we go to specialists to solve things and the idea here is the youth minister is a specialist and kids are a problem to be fixed,” Harston said.</p>
<p>Parents often believe that youth ministers have far more influence over their children than they really do, she said.</p>
<p>“Parents come to you and say ‘talk to my youth —&#160;but don’t let them know I asked you to.’”</p>
<p>Those requests usually come with some pretty tall orders, said Ben Brown, minster of discipleship, families and youth at <a href="http://firstbaptistwboro.org/" type="external">First Baptist Church</a> in Waynesboro, Va.</p>
<p>Ben Brown leads youth at First Baptist Church in Waynesboro, Va. through a game during a Disciple Now weekend in 2015. (Photo/Courtesy of Ben Brown)</p>
<p>“They’ll say ‘I want my kids to have good morals and to be productive members of society,’” he said.</p>
<p>In youth group, parents often want their child to learn safe driving habits.</p>
<p>“’Can you tell him not to text and drive? He won’t listen to me,’” is a common request, Browns said. “’And just make sure he doesn’t do drugs.’”</p>
<p>‘Opportunities for parents’</p>
<p>It isn’t much different on the international level.</p>
<p>The parental demand for youth group safety, as noted in the Barna study, is common around the world, said Randy Raus, president and CEO of <a href="http://lifeteen.com/" type="external">Life Teen</a>, a Catholic youth program used by 1,850 parishes in 31 nations.</p>
<p>Randy Raus</p>
<p>“There is a mentality to have a good, safe place for teens —&#160;and we don’t dispel that,” said Raus, who is based in Atlanta.</p>
<p>But the core focus of Life Teen is on the spiritual development of youth through catechism, worship and service.</p>
<p>“We try to go deeper so there is a lifelong change,” he said. “We try to be bold —&#160;we want them to be saints.”</p>
<p>However, there is little conflict over these differing visions, Raus said, because parents are given multiple ways to participate in the program.</p>
<p>When students cover a certain theological, liturgical or other topic during a Life Teen gathering in their parish, parents are provided with related questions to ask their teens.</p>
<p>A new website and blogs will debut soon providing resources for the parents of teenagers. It’s often the case that some parents haven’t had the deeper education and conversion the ministry seeks in its youth, Raus said.</p>
<p>Parents can become core team members of Life Teen chapters and there is even parallel groups that provides ongoing catechism for the adults.</p>
<p>“So we try to create opportunities for parents to come along side,” he said.</p>
<p>‘We have stepped up our game’</p>
<p>But some parents are adamant that the safety of youth be a top priority, and David Burroughs is one of them.</p>
<p><a href="http://1648o73kablq2rveyn64glm1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Barna_Youth_charts_v13.jpg" type="external" />“As a parent of seniors in high school, I’m concerned about the safety of children, as well,” said Burroughs, the president and founder of <a href="http://passportcamps.org/about/" type="external">Passport, Inc.</a>, a national summer camp ministry.</p>
<p>“I side with the parents” in the Barna survey, he said.</p>
<p>And Passport has the security focus to prove it.</p>
<p>It has lockdown procedures for active shooter situations for Passport camps hosted on college campuses. The ministry also employs a system of background checks for volunteers and employees.</p>
<p>Passport requires one adult for every six&#160;students at a camp or mission site.</p>
<p>“We have stepped up our game as far as safety policies go,” Burroughs said.</p>
<p>Still, Passport campers and mission groups regularly venture into impoverished areas. Burroughs said parents seem to understand that.</p>
<p>“There is a certain amount of risk going and serving, but Jesus calls us to serve,” he said.</p>
<p>But it’s important for ministers who are confronted by parents on issues like these to think of families and ministers as a team, said Brown.</p>
<p>“In those conversations it’s essential to listen and be open to saying ‘what are the resolutions we can find?’”</p>
<p>It’s natural that parents want to know their kids are emotionally safe in an environment free from bullying or being teased.</p>
<p>It’s about meeting parents in the middle, according to Harston.</p>
<p>“You have to meet parents where they are and you expect parents to meet you where you are.”</p>
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parents expect lot youth ministers want host safe gatherings kids hang friends time want youth learn say drugs alcohol premarital sex along way must exposed theologically correct doctrines practices needed good insert denomination ministers expected subtly take parents sides family disagreements carol harston reality parents want said carol harston former minister youth highland baptist church louisville ky reality said youth ministers rarely much time students given todays fastpaced family school life youth pastors tend much narrower focus ministries centers mostly developing relationships youth guiding become disciples jesus christ said harston recently stepped president cooperative baptist fellowship youth ministry network getting parents board requires communication caring parents reminding church called said set priorities may tall order according new research barna group partnership youth specialties youthworks recently released study found parents ministers share widely divergent goals youth ministry senior pastors youth ministers agreement discipleship spiritual instruction purpose youth ministry respectively 71 percent 75 percent strongly agreeing building relationships secondary youth ministry goal kinds ministers 40 percent senior pastors 48 percent youth ministers categories evangelism outreach serving community dropped sharply scale parents goals different ministers held relatively high percentages chief among providing safe spaces explore faith 69 percent parents said important building positive peer relationships important 67 percent parents 58 percent said providing place bring friends important goals included offering career guidance direction life 56 percent providing mentorship opportunities 53 percent outreach unchurched teens 51 percent barna also asked parents expectations youth pastors disciplining teens 72 percent helping youth navigate friend relationships 62 percent navigating family relationships 60 percent rounded top three followed warning teens drugs alcohol teaching safe media use talking sex dating offering career guidance barna found parents set priorities comes kids youth ministry experience barna said report pastors parents differ youth ministry goals parents hard time narrowing harston said make sure doesnt drugs several ministers told baptist news global barna poll target testify spoken unspoken parental assumptions ministers youth 160or 160be able solve social spiritual educational problems faced young people culture go specialists solve things idea youth minister specialist kids problem fixed harston said parents often believe youth ministers far influence children really said parents come say talk youth 160but dont let know asked requests usually come pretty tall orders said ben brown minster discipleship families youth first baptist church waynesboro va ben brown leads youth first baptist church waynesboro va game disciple weekend 2015 photocourtesy ben brown theyll say want kids good morals productive members society said youth group parents often want child learn safe driving habits tell text drive wont listen common request browns said make sure doesnt drugs opportunities parents isnt much different international level parental demand youth group safety noted barna study common around world said randy raus president ceo life teen catholic youth program used 1850 parishes 31 nations randy raus mentality good safe place teens 160and dont dispel said raus based atlanta core focus life teen spiritual development youth catechism worship service try go deeper lifelong change said try bold 160we want saints however little conflict differing visions raus said parents given multiple ways participate program students cover certain theological liturgical topic life teen gathering parish parents provided related questions ask teens new website blogs debut soon providing resources parents teenagers often case parents havent deeper education conversion ministry seeks youth raus said parents become core team members life teen chapters even parallel groups provides ongoing catechism adults try create opportunities parents come along side said stepped game parents adamant safety youth top priority david burroughs one parent seniors high school im concerned safety children well said burroughs president founder passport inc national summer camp ministry side parents barna survey said passport security focus prove lockdown procedures active shooter situations passport camps hosted college campuses ministry also employs system background checks volunteers employees passport requires one adult every six160students camp mission site stepped game far safety policies go burroughs said still passport campers mission groups regularly venture impoverished areas burroughs said parents seem understand certain amount risk going serving jesus calls us serve said important ministers confronted parents issues like think families ministers team said brown conversations essential listen open saying resolutions find natural parents want know kids emotionally safe environment free bullying teased meeting parents middle according harston meet parents expect parents meet
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<p>FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta, Canada — The four-seat plane we’ve hired circles one of the factory complexes owned by Suncor, one of the world’s largest processors of bitumen, a gooey crude oil found in subterranean deposits mixed with water, sand and clay.</p>
<p>The aircraft rolls, lifting its right side and revealing a careening panorama of industrialized land through photographer Alex MacLean’s open window. The complex in the foreground, called an “upgrader,” ingests raw bitumen ore and expels synthetic crude.&#160;</p>
<p>It’s a half a square mile of steel tanks, smoke stacks, hulking factories and silver pipes. An even bigger upgrader, similarly outfitted, looms in the distance. On the periphery of that one, workers have cast bright yellow blocks of sulfur — a byproduct of bitumen processing — into four huge, unfinished pyramids. Some are nearly as bulky as the Great Pyramid of Giza.</p>
<p>This is some of what we can see above the Athabasca (or Alberta) tar sands, also known as oil sands, the world’s largest deposit of extra-heavy crude oil. According to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), mining of tar sands has disturbed nearly 300 square miles of forest and peat marsh, known as muskeg. It has created more than 70 square miles of toxic settling ponds, most of which await cleanup. CAPP downplays and normalizes this vast land transformation of virgin forest.</p>
<p>Canada’s environmentally concerned citizens, often in tandem with indigenous activists, have drawn a symbolic line in these tar sands—they flat out oppose further exploitation of this huge deposit. They invoke, among other arguments, 19th-century treaties that protected Indian rights to continue such traditional activities such as harvesting walleye, moose and blueberries. Mining has obliterated hunting grounds. Over an even larger area, mercury contamination has befouled fish and birds.</p>
<p>From up here, 1,000 feet above a deeply gouged, gray vista of rubble that used to be bogs and forest, it’s plain that the tar mining and refining industry have turned this region inside out. The companies that profit from digging out the ore say they will clean up these huge sites after they’re done digging out ore. They say that they’ve in fact stored peat bogs that previously carpeted the land for later replanting.</p>
<p>Light glints of oil of wastewater ponds at Syncrude Mildred Lake mining site, Alberta, Canada. (Alex MacLean/GlobalPost)</p>
<p>Steven Smith, a vice president of Alberta Energy Regulator, the agency with primary oversight of oil sands activities, says his office requires that the sites be restored, virtually to their pristine state. He’s confident that industry will do it.</p>
<p>“Some of best minds and science are working toward that end,” he says.</p>
<p>For decades industry executives and regulators denied what seems obvious even to a casual observer of dust clouds trailing mammoth dump trucks and effluent blossoming from factory stacks: that tar sands mining and processing spreads pollution beyond company fences. In recent years, however, independent studies of air and water pollution have made such assertions impossible to defend. Now mining spokesman and regulators tout a $50 million-per-year, industry-funded <a href="http://www.albertaoilmagazine.com/2014/06/big-brother-watching/" type="external">monitoring program</a> that could, in time, indicate if the industry poses any threats.</p>
<p>“The key for us is for the data to be out there,” says Greg Stringham, a vice president at the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.</p>
<p>Steven Smith of the Alberta Energy Authority says the monitoring campaign will help his agency do its job. “Our interest is to make sure we understand the problem well. You manage what you measure and measure what you care about.”</p>
<p>* * * *</p>
<p>Oil swirls on tailing pond, Suncor Mining Site, Alberta, Canada. (Alex MacLean/GlobalPost)</p>
<p>The aerial photographer <a href="http://www.alexmaclean.com/" type="external">Alex MacLean</a> has leaned out of small aircraft all over the world. His photos offer fresh perspectives on familiar experiences. His photo of a freeway near my home in Boston, for instance, opened my eyes to the twisted knot of rush hour cars arriving at a local interchange, that unfurls farther down the road. He’s invited me join him in Alberta, flying over these Alberta mines. Few people in the US have seen tar sands. <a href="http://inthecapital.streetwise.co/all-series/bullet-points-understanding-the-hold-up-behind-the-keystone-xl-pipeline/" type="external">US citizens have become concerned with the Keystone XL pipeline</a> but not generally with where the oil originates.</p>
<p>Yet, as Alex predicted, overhead shots of the vast destruction on the ground illustrate further the human and natural costs of the <a href="http://fuelfix.com/blog/2014/07/08/groups-tell-obama-dont-wait-on-keystone/" type="external">proposed Keystone XL project</a>.</p>
<p>In Fort McMurray, Alex rented a Cessna 172, the most popular plane ever built. It feels flimsy — more golf cart than limousine. Alex had told me I’d be sorry if I looked down to take computer notes during the flight. Keep your eyes on the horizon — avoid air sickness, he’d said. I hadn’t listened, to my regret.</p>
<p>Alex is clearly in his element, though, 1,000 feet aloft above the mines. He’s not wearing his lap belt — that would restrict his movement. His door keeps popping open and he’s compensated by wedging himself into the cockpit. He flips his window latch and pokes a camera out, steadying the lens against his hand. His face stretches into a grimace pressed against the eyepiece. He clicks the shutter. “Raise the wing,” he tells the pilot, setting up for another shot.</p>
<p>From the vast strip mines below, dust billows behind giant dump trucks bearing 400-ton loads of newly dug tar sands ore. I see at least a dozen of the mammoth trucks below. They operate 24 hours a day. Mining companies chase bitumen veins hundreds of feet below the surface. But the profundity of these depressions barely shows from the air. The land just looks razed and scarred, from horizon to horizon across dozens of miles in every direction.&#160;</p>
<p>The companies’ vast factories remove unwanted liquids and solids from ore. The extracted bitumen ends up hundreds of times thicker than light crude oil, generally too viscous to transport by either pipeline or truck. Upgrader plants come next, mile-square yards of pipe, tanks and stacks. They convert the bitumen into synthetic crude oil, thinner and fit for shipment.</p>
<p>Light glints off scores of wastewater ponds. Many hold tailings—the dregs after desirable constituents are removed from ore. Toxic wastes emanate from each stage of oil production, from digging right on through distribution of final product. All along the way, the oil producers release waste mixed with toxic compounds into air, land and water. Through nearly half a century of such work, the huge factories have filled dozens of ponds with a combined surface the size of Manhattan and a volume that could bury that entire fuel-hungry island in two stories of poisonous sludge</p>
<p>David Schindler, a freshwater biologist and chemist, has been calling attention to the environmental impacts of tar sands mining for several decades. Perhaps he seemed like the boy who cried wolf at first. But his early concerns have been borne out. He’s now an emeritus professor at the University of Alberta, and at this stage of his career, he speaks bluntly of the industry’s effects.</p>
<p>"You could fly a plane full of village idiots selected from around the world over that area and ask them 'Yes or no, is this significant environmental impact?’ Schindler says in an office crammed with stacks of industry studies. “I don’t think any idiot would dispute that. It’s a horrible impact."</p>
<p>Industry spokespeople and provincial regulators constantly insist that Alberta's tar sands can be exploited without permanently polluting the region. They say the huge and growing mountains of waste materials associated with tar sands mines are stored securely and will eventually be either rendered harmless or permanently buried.</p>
<p>They say yes, pollutants are released into the air but that they are diluted and of no significant consequence.</p>
<p>View south to Syncrude's Mildred Lake site, where bitumen is extracted from oil sands. Tailing pond is in the foreground, with steam and smoke rising from the upgrading facility behind it. (Alex MacLean/GlobalPost)</p>
<p>Stringham, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers vice president, acknowledges that the industry “does have an environmental impact,” including release of pollutants. But, he says, “the levels are below concern.”</p>
<p>Recent studies by the <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/federal-study-says-oil-sands-toxins-are-leaching-into-groundwater-athabasca-river/article17016054/" type="external">Canadian government</a> and the <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/oil-sands-pollutants-affect-first-nations-diets-according-to-study/article19484551/" type="external">University of Alberta</a>, among others, call these assurances into question, and some scientists not employed by the oil companies speculate that the oil industry’s sudden enthusiasm for environmental research — after denying for so long that contamination off site was even a possibility — is a tactic for further delay. All five representatives from aboriginal communities appointed to a committee overseeing the environmental program have resigned. A representative of the Fort McMurray First Nation said that <a href="http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2014/07/03/fort-mckay-first-nation-loses-court-challenge" type="external">their concerns had been ignored</a>.</p>
<p>Environmentalists and outside scientists often say that government officials appear to be working in cahoots with the companies to prevent actual regulation of the industry.</p>
<p>A year ago environmentalists and some Canadian newspapers howled after the Alberta Minister of Energy appointed Gerry Protti as board chairman of the Alberta Energy Regulator, the agency with primary oversight of tar sands activities. Protti had served as founding president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and had held <a href="http://www.desmog.ca/2013/05/04/new-alberta-energy-regulator-gerry-protti-alberta-oil-lobby-golden-goose" type="external">high positions at several large energy companies</a>.</p>
<p>“We have a government that is basically a servant for the industry,” says Kevin Timoney, an ecologist and environmental consultant. “The whole concept of the resources being for the benefit of the people has been lost.”</p>
<p>This story was made possible in part by a travel grant from the <a href="http://pulitzercenter.org/" type="external">Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting</a>. You can support Dan and Alex's next reporting project on the tar sands <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/tar-sands-truth" type="external">here at Indiegogo</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/groundtruth/tar-sands-alberta-signs-wealth-destruction" type="external">Read Part One here.&#160;</a></p>
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fort mcmurray alberta canada fourseat plane weve hired circles one factory complexes owned suncor one worlds largest processors bitumen gooey crude oil found subterranean deposits mixed water sand clay aircraft rolls lifting right side revealing careening panorama industrialized land photographer alex macleans open window complex foreground called upgrader ingests raw bitumen ore expels synthetic crude160 half square mile steel tanks smoke stacks hulking factories silver pipes even bigger upgrader similarly outfitted looms distance periphery one workers cast bright yellow blocks sulfur byproduct bitumen processing four huge unfinished pyramids nearly bulky great pyramid giza see athabasca alberta tar sands also known oil sands worlds largest deposit extraheavy crude oil according canadian association petroleum producers capp mining tar sands disturbed nearly 300 square miles forest peat marsh known muskeg created 70 square miles toxic settling ponds await cleanup capp downplays normalizes vast land transformation virgin forest canadas environmentally concerned citizens often tandem indigenous activists drawn symbolic line tar sandsthey flat oppose exploitation huge deposit invoke among arguments 19thcentury treaties protected indian rights continue traditional activities harvesting walleye moose blueberries mining obliterated hunting grounds even larger area mercury contamination befouled fish birds 1000 feet deeply gouged gray vista rubble used bogs forest plain tar mining refining industry turned region inside companies profit digging ore say clean huge sites theyre done digging ore say theyve fact stored peat bogs previously carpeted land later replanting light glints oil wastewater ponds syncrude mildred lake mining site alberta canada alex macleanglobalpost steven smith vice president alberta energy regulator agency primary oversight oil sands activities says office requires sites restored virtually pristine state hes confident industry best minds science working toward end says decades industry executives regulators denied seems obvious even casual observer dust clouds trailing mammoth dump trucks effluent blossoming factory stacks tar sands mining processing spreads pollution beyond company fences recent years however independent studies air water pollution made assertions impossible defend mining spokesman regulators tout 50 millionperyear industryfunded monitoring program could time indicate industry poses threats key us data says greg stringham vice president canadian association petroleum producers steven smith alberta energy authority says monitoring campaign help agency job interest make sure understand problem well manage measure measure care oil swirls tailing pond suncor mining site alberta canada alex macleanglobalpost aerial photographer alex maclean leaned small aircraft world photos offer fresh perspectives familiar experiences photo freeway near home boston instance opened eyes twisted knot rush hour cars arriving local interchange unfurls farther road hes invited join alberta flying alberta mines people us seen tar sands us citizens become concerned keystone xl pipeline generally oil originates yet alex predicted overhead shots vast destruction ground illustrate human natural costs proposed keystone xl project fort mcmurray alex rented cessna 172 popular plane ever built feels flimsy golf cart limousine alex told id sorry looked take computer notes flight keep eyes horizon avoid air sickness hed said hadnt listened regret alex clearly element though 1000 feet aloft mines hes wearing lap belt would restrict movement door keeps popping open hes compensated wedging cockpit flips window latch pokes camera steadying lens hand face stretches grimace pressed eyepiece clicks shutter raise wing tells pilot setting another shot vast strip mines dust billows behind giant dump trucks bearing 400ton loads newly dug tar sands ore see least dozen mammoth trucks operate 24 hours day mining companies chase bitumen veins hundreds feet surface profundity depressions barely shows air land looks razed scarred horizon horizon across dozens miles every direction160 companies vast factories remove unwanted liquids solids ore extracted bitumen ends hundreds times thicker light crude oil generally viscous transport either pipeline truck upgrader plants come next milesquare yards pipe tanks stacks convert bitumen synthetic crude oil thinner fit shipment light glints scores wastewater ponds many hold tailingsthe dregs desirable constituents removed ore toxic wastes emanate stage oil production digging right distribution final product along way oil producers release waste mixed toxic compounds air land water nearly half century work huge factories filled dozens ponds combined surface size manhattan volume could bury entire fuelhungry island two stories poisonous sludge david schindler freshwater biologist chemist calling attention environmental impacts tar sands mining several decades perhaps seemed like boy cried wolf first early concerns borne hes emeritus professor university alberta stage career speaks bluntly industrys effects could fly plane full village idiots selected around world area ask yes significant environmental impact schindler says office crammed stacks industry studies dont think idiot would dispute horrible impact industry spokespeople provincial regulators constantly insist albertas tar sands exploited without permanently polluting region say huge growing mountains waste materials associated tar sands mines stored securely eventually either rendered harmless permanently buried say yes pollutants released air diluted significant consequence view south syncrudes mildred lake site bitumen extracted oil sands tailing pond foreground steam smoke rising upgrading facility behind alex macleanglobalpost stringham canadian association petroleum producers vice president acknowledges industry environmental impact including release pollutants says levels concern recent studies canadian government university alberta among others call assurances question scientists employed oil companies speculate oil industrys sudden enthusiasm environmental research denying long contamination site even possibility tactic delay five representatives aboriginal communities appointed committee overseeing environmental program resigned representative fort mcmurray first nation said concerns ignored environmentalists outside scientists often say government officials appear working cahoots companies prevent actual regulation industry year ago environmentalists canadian newspapers howled alberta minister energy appointed gerry protti board chairman alberta energy regulator agency primary oversight tar sands activities protti served founding president canadian association petroleum producers held high positions several large energy companies government basically servant industry says kevin timoney ecologist environmental consultant whole concept resources benefit people lost story made possible part travel grant pulitzer center crisis reporting support dan alexs next reporting project tar sands indiegogo read part one here160
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<p>By Bob Allen</p>
<p>An expert in church-state issues says recent remarks by vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan show that even after 50 years, many Americans misunderstand a landmark Supreme Court ruling that banned the mandatory recitation of prayers in public schools.</p>
<p>Asked at a campaign stop in Utah if states should have the right to allow a “prayer or pledge” in schools, the Wisconsin congressman said “that’s a constitutional issue of the states.” He added, however, that in Utah such a measure “would have a pretty good chance” of passage.</p>
<p>Rob Boston, senior policy analyst at Americans United for Separation of Church and State, responded in a <a href="http://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/prayer-puzzlement-after-50-years-some-still-misunderstand-high-court-prayer" type="external">blog</a> Sept. 6 that Ryan is just plain wrong.</p>
<p>“State legislators can, of course, pass school prayer laws if they want, but it’s a waste of time,” Boston wrote. “If a law mandates or compels young people to take part in prayer or religious worship, the courts will strike it down.”</p>
<p>Boston wrote a feature <a href="http://www.au.org/church-state/june-2012-church-state/featured/awesome-anniversary" type="external">article</a> in the June 2012 issue of Church and State magazine marking the 50th anniversary of <a href="http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&amp;vol=370&amp;invol=421" type="external">Engel v. Vitale</a>, the June 25, 1962, Supreme Court decision that declared recitation of state-written prayers in public schools a violation of the First Amendment’s ban on establishment of religion.</p>
<p>Two cases the following year resulted in similar rulings against Bible reading and reciting the Lord’s Prayer in schools, setting up a cultural divide that resonates in current-day controversies such as whether high-school graduation ceremonies can be held in churches or government bodies can open public meetings with ceremonial prayer.</p>
<p>Roots of the debate go back to the earliest days of America’s founding.</p>
<p>The Puritans were the first to point out the need for some system of public education, establishing schools to teach not only how to read and write but also to pass on the fundamentals of their faith.</p>
<p>After disestablishment of the Anglican Church during the Revolutionary War, Thomas Jefferson suggested the new nation needed an educational system and that tax dollars should pay for it.</p>
<p>The idea didn’t take root until the 1840s. Horace Mann, a pioneer in public education and a Unitarian, thought Bible reading useful for moral instruction and promoted its use in public schools as long as it was done without comment.</p>
<p>Bible reading and devotions were prevalent in communities that viewed Protestant Christianity as the norm and had little contact with outsiders. Religion became a bigger political issue following World War II, when heightened fears over communist influence in American institutions prompted laws like adding “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance to differentiate between loyal Americans and a godless enemy.</p>
<p>In 1951, New York’s state board of education approved a 22-word “nondenominational prayer” to be said aloud at the beginning of each school day: “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country.”</p>
<p>The parents of 10 pupils in New Hyde Park, N.Y., filed a lawsuit claiming use of the prayer was contrary to their own religious beliefs and practices. The local court found the prayer constitutional as long as the students whose parents objected were not forced to participate. The decision was upheld by the New York Court of Appeals.</p>
<p>The U.S. Supreme Court disagreed in a 6-1 ruling (two justices had no part in the decision) finding the practice “wholly inconsistent with the Establishment Clause.”</p>
<p>“There can, of course, be no doubt that New York’s program of daily classroom invocation of God’s blessings as prescribed in the Regents’ prayer is a religious activity,” Associate Justice Hugo Black wrote in the majority <a href="http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&amp;vol=370&amp;invol=421" type="external">opinion</a>. “It is a solemn avowal of divine faith and supplication for the blessings of the Almighty.”</p>
<p>The decision was controversial, but Baptists, historically supportive of the separation of church and state, supported it by and large. Herschel Hobbs, president of the Southern Baptist Convention at the time, <a href="http://media.sbhla.org.s3.amazonaws.com/1611,12-Jul-1962.pdf" type="external">pronounced</a> it “one of the most powerful blows in our lifetime, maybe since the Constitution was adopted, for the freedom of religion in our nation.”</p>
<p>The ensuing years witnessed a series of efforts by lawmakers to amend the Constitution to re-establish the practice of school prayer. The Southern Baptist Convention passed a <a href="http://sbc.net/resolutions/amResolution.asp?ID=859" type="external">resolution</a> in 1971 supporting only “prayer experiences that are voluntary and uncoerced by governmental or ecclesiastical authorities.”</p>
<p>The SBC reversed course in 1982 with a <a href="http://sbc.net/resolutions/amResolution.asp?ID=862" type="external">resolution</a> supporting a constitutional amendment <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/18/us/reagan-proposes-school-prayer-amendment.html" type="external">proposed</a> by President Ronald Reagan that would have said: “Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prohibit individual or group prayer in public schools or other public institutions. No person shall be required by the United States or by any state to participate in prayer.”</p>
<p>In 1991, the SBC Christian Life Commission (now called the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission) filed a brief <a href="http://media.sbhla.org.s3.amazonaws.com/7147,16-May-1991.pdf" type="external">asking</a> the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse its 1971 decision in <a href="http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0403_0602_ZS.html" type="external">Lemon v. Kurtzman</a> that established a three-prong test to determine whether a law passes constitutional muster: It must have some secular, or non-religious legal purpose; neither promote or inhibit the practice of religion and not create “an excessive government entanglement with religion.”</p>
<p>The Supreme Court disagreed, ruling June 24, 1992, in <a href="http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/90-1014.ZS.html" type="external">Lee v. Weisman</a> that principals of middle and high schools in Providence, R.I., could not invite members of the clergy to give invocations and benedictions at their schools’ graduation ceremonies.</p>
<p>Boston said many of the parents in the 1962 case argued that the government had no business instructing children about when, whether or how to pray. For that reason, he said, he’s always been puzzled why more conservatives don’t support the ruling.</p>
<p>Boston said he agreed with Ryan about one thing: If put to a vote, school prayer would easily pass in Utah.</p>
<p>“He’s right about that, and most likely the prayer recited would reflect the majority faith of Mormonism,” Boston said. “The faiths and philosophies of everyone else would be relegated to second-class status. Compulsion, not choice, would become the operating principle for religious liberty as a type of religious mob rule carried the day. And all of this would be imposed on children, some of whom would be too young to even figure out what was going on.”</p>
<p>“You can call that a lot of things,” Boston observed. “’Conservative’ isn’t one of them.”</p>
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bob allen expert churchstate issues says recent remarks vice presidential nominee paul ryan show even 50 years many americans misunderstand landmark supreme court ruling banned mandatory recitation prayers public schools asked campaign stop utah states right allow prayer pledge schools wisconsin congressman said thats constitutional issue states added however utah measure would pretty good chance passage rob boston senior policy analyst americans united separation church state responded blog sept 6 ryan plain wrong state legislators course pass school prayer laws want waste time boston wrote law mandates compels young people take part prayer religious worship courts strike boston wrote feature article june 2012 issue church state magazine marking 50th anniversary engel v vitale june 25 1962 supreme court decision declared recitation statewritten prayers public schools violation first amendments ban establishment religion two cases following year resulted similar rulings bible reading reciting lords prayer schools setting cultural divide resonates currentday controversies whether highschool graduation ceremonies held churches government bodies open public meetings ceremonial prayer roots debate go back earliest days americas founding puritans first point need system public education establishing schools teach read write also pass fundamentals faith disestablishment anglican church revolutionary war thomas jefferson suggested new nation needed educational system tax dollars pay idea didnt take root 1840s horace mann pioneer public education unitarian thought bible reading useful moral instruction promoted use public schools long done without comment bible reading devotions prevalent communities viewed protestant christianity norm little contact outsiders religion became bigger political issue following world war ii heightened fears communist influence american institutions prompted laws like adding god pledge allegiance differentiate loyal americans godless enemy 1951 new yorks state board education approved 22word nondenominational prayer said aloud beginning school day almighty god acknowledge dependence upon thee beg thy blessings upon us parents teachers country parents 10 pupils new hyde park ny filed lawsuit claiming use prayer contrary religious beliefs practices local court found prayer constitutional long students whose parents objected forced participate decision upheld new york court appeals us supreme court disagreed 61 ruling two justices part decision finding practice wholly inconsistent establishment clause course doubt new yorks program daily classroom invocation gods blessings prescribed regents prayer religious activity associate justice hugo black wrote majority opinion solemn avowal divine faith supplication blessings almighty decision controversial baptists historically supportive separation church state supported large herschel hobbs president southern baptist convention time pronounced one powerful blows lifetime maybe since constitution adopted freedom religion nation ensuing years witnessed series efforts lawmakers amend constitution reestablish practice school prayer southern baptist convention passed resolution 1971 supporting prayer experiences voluntary uncoerced governmental ecclesiastical authorities sbc reversed course 1982 resolution supporting constitutional amendment proposed president ronald reagan would said nothing constitution shall construed prohibit individual group prayer public schools public institutions person shall required united states state participate prayer 1991 sbc christian life commission called ethics religious liberty commission filed brief asking us supreme court reverse 1971 decision lemon v kurtzman established threeprong test determine whether law passes constitutional muster must secular nonreligious legal purpose neither promote inhibit practice religion create excessive government entanglement religion supreme court disagreed ruling june 24 1992 lee v weisman principals middle high schools providence ri could invite members clergy give invocations benedictions schools graduation ceremonies boston said many parents 1962 case argued government business instructing children whether pray reason said hes always puzzled conservatives dont support ruling boston said agreed ryan one thing put vote school prayer would easily pass utah hes right likely prayer recited would reflect majority faith mormonism boston said faiths philosophies everyone else would relegated secondclass status compulsion choice would become operating principle religious liberty type religious mob rule carried day would imposed children would young even figure going call lot things boston observed conservative isnt one
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<p>For decades, Brazil saw its citizens look beyond its shores for work. But these days, the South American nation is playing host.</p>
<p>A burgeoning oil and gas industry — and preparations for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics — are the latest fuel feeding Brazil's economic engine. Among the places seeing a rush of people headed to Brazil: its former colonial master, Portugal.</p>
<p>Ines Sousa came to Brazil for a new start. In January, the 25-year-old from Portugal decided to leave her home country and join her Portuguese boyfriend, 5,000 miles away in Brazil.</p>
<p>"I came with two bags to live here and I didn't know the place. I've never been before. I came to live and work here," said Sousa.</p>
<p>Unemployment in Portugal stands at more than 15 percent. And Portugal is enduring its third recession in four years.</p>
<p>In that environment, Sousa realized that her master's degree in international relations wouldn't be enough to secure her a good job back home. And she's not alone. Sousa is one of thousands of Portuguese flocking to Brazil.</p>
<p>"I really love Portugal. It's an amazing country and I really want to live there later. But now, I wouldn't be able to pay for a room. Your family and yourself invest so much money and time and patience and for such a long time. It's really hard to live there now," Sousa said.</p>
<p>Sousa works part-time at an non-governmental organization while she looks for permanent work. Her boyfriend, Francisco Cruz, had an easier time when he moved here a few months before her. But he's a civil engineer.</p>
<p>In his industry, business is especially good, with lots of construction projects underway in preparation for the upcoming 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. So he and others like him are seizing the moment.</p>
<p>"In Portugal, things are really bad because of the crisis. And here things are so good, and even better for engineers because there's so much work to do, so many things to do. So I noticed if I wanted to move to come here, it was the right time to come," said Cruz.</p>
<p>Brazil's government says the number of Portuguese workers in Brazil shot up from 277,000 in 2010 to at least 330,000 last year — and that's just the people here legally.</p>
<p>This isn't the first time the Portuguese have looked to their former colonies for their own economic survival. Sousa's grandparents made the same journey decades ago. But unlike that generation, which earned a reputation for being hard-working, manual laborers — many of today's Portuguese migrants are armed with college degrees and better.</p>
<p>"This is the saddest thing of all. Portugal is a country that could give us a good education and prepare us for this competitive world but couldn't give us a job and that's just crazy," said Rui Matos da Costa, a Portuguese lawyer who's lived here since last year.</p>
<p>While Brazil's economy has taken a dip recently, it's still relatively strong. In April, it surpassed the UK as the world's sixth largest economy. Da Costa says the shared language and bilateral cultural exchange through television and film made Brazil a natural choice. He's now licensed to practice law in both Portugal and Brazil.</p>
<p>Over a plate of traditional Portuguese pastries, da Costa explained what he saw at home in Portugal was a struggle ahead — for all generations.</p>
<p>"Right now, people feel like there's no future. Not only for my friends of my age, but for my parents as well. It's really hard right now. There is no Portuguese dream," said da Costa.</p>
<p>That's the prevailing attitude among the many Portuguese who now call Rio home. As they have so many times before, they seem to have accepted their fate. And Brazil has accepted them — despite Portugal's one-time subjugation of its former colony.</p>
<p>"We treated them really bad and now, we kind of need them. And they're being better for us, than we were to them. I think it's fair to say it," da Costa said.</p>
<p>In Rio, it certainly seems like the past is the past.</p>
<p>"They come here, they do well. But they are really hard workers. That's for certain. Brazil accepts everyone," said Jose Barros, a Brazilian who has spent 30 years working as a waiter at a Portuguese restaurant. He says Brazil welcomes all immigrants, and the Portuguese are no exception.</p>
<p>Although visa regulations don't always make it easy for migrants to work here legally, many are desperate enough to come anyway, hoping permission to work will work itself out. Economist Marcelo Neri says the current situation is a win-win for everyone: The Portuguese need jobs and Brazil needs more skilled workers.</p>
<p>"The labor market is doing pretty well and there's a lack of well-educated people. I think Brazil is really a land of opportunity. Especially during the current scenario, to work here, you earn good money, there's a need for highly skilled professionals," Neri said.</p>
<p>Hugo Gonçalves, a Portuguese journalist based in Rio, recalled the outrage when officials back home — including Portugal's prime minister — actually advised people to leave the country if they couldn't find work.</p>
<p>"I guess he was being honest but if you're the prime minister, it's your job to provide that people from that country can stay in that country. At least that," said Gançalves. "When you say you have to go, even if it's sincere, it's almost like you're saying, well, 'I don't care anymore.'"</p>
<p>Back at her new place, Ines Sousa says she's planning to stay for at least a few years. But being so far from home was hard from the start.</p>
<p>"I came to Brazil in January and my grandmother died two weeks after. It's weird for me — it's like a cycle and Brazil is in the story. It was really sad because I couldn't be there," Sousa said.</p>
<p>And there's the looming question of how the hemorrhaging of Portugal's best-educated generation will affect the ailing country if, and when, it ever gets back on its feet.</p>
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decades brazil saw citizens look beyond shores work days south american nation playing host burgeoning oil gas industry preparations 2014 world cup 2016 olympics latest fuel feeding brazils economic engine among places seeing rush people headed brazil former colonial master portugal ines sousa came brazil new start january 25yearold portugal decided leave home country join portuguese boyfriend 5000 miles away brazil came two bags live didnt know place ive never came live work said sousa unemployment portugal stands 15 percent portugal enduring third recession four years environment sousa realized masters degree international relations wouldnt enough secure good job back home shes alone sousa one thousands portuguese flocking brazil really love portugal amazing country really want live later wouldnt able pay room family invest much money time patience long time really hard live sousa said sousa works parttime nongovernmental organization looks permanent work boyfriend francisco cruz easier time moved months hes civil engineer industry business especially good lots construction projects underway preparation upcoming 2014 world cup 2016 olympics others like seizing moment portugal things really bad crisis things good even better engineers theres much work many things noticed wanted move come right time come said cruz brazils government says number portuguese workers brazil shot 277000 2010 least 330000 last year thats people legally isnt first time portuguese looked former colonies economic survival sousas grandparents made journey decades ago unlike generation earned reputation hardworking manual laborers many todays portuguese migrants armed college degrees better saddest thing portugal country could give us good education prepare us competitive world couldnt give us job thats crazy said rui matos da costa portuguese lawyer whos lived since last year brazils economy taken dip recently still relatively strong april surpassed uk worlds sixth largest economy da costa says shared language bilateral cultural exchange television film made brazil natural choice hes licensed practice law portugal brazil plate traditional portuguese pastries da costa explained saw home portugal struggle ahead generations right people feel like theres future friends age parents well really hard right portuguese dream said da costa thats prevailing attitude among many portuguese call rio home many times seem accepted fate brazil accepted despite portugals onetime subjugation former colony treated really bad kind need theyre better us think fair say da costa said rio certainly seems like past past come well really hard workers thats certain brazil accepts everyone said jose barros brazilian spent 30 years working waiter portuguese restaurant says brazil welcomes immigrants portuguese exception although visa regulations dont always make easy migrants work legally many desperate enough come anyway hoping permission work work economist marcelo neri says current situation winwin everyone portuguese need jobs brazil needs skilled workers labor market pretty well theres lack welleducated people think brazil really land opportunity especially current scenario work earn good money theres need highly skilled professionals neri said hugo gonÃalves portuguese journalist based rio recalled outrage officials back home including portugals prime minister actually advised people leave country couldnt find work guess honest youre prime minister job provide people country stay country least said ganÃalves say go even sincere almost like youre saying well dont care anymore back new place ines sousa says shes planning stay least years far home hard start came brazil january grandmother died two weeks weird like cycle brazil story really sad couldnt sousa said theres looming question hemorrhaging portugals besteducated generation affect ailing country ever gets back feet
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<p>It has been exactly 100 years since the infamous shootout on March 14, 1912, involving the Allen family at the Carroll County Courthouse in Hillsville, Va., in which five persons were killed. It happened in the packed courtroom immediately after the jury returned a guilty verdict against Floyd Allen, head of a well-known local family, who was accused of beating the sheriff’s deputies and thereby impeding the arrest of two of his nephews.</p>
<p>The people in the neck of the woods around Hillsville and across the state line in Mount Airy, N.C., still talk about the incident and its aftermath.&#160; It has become a part of the region’s lore. There have been accounts written on the massacre; and at the regional history museum in downtown Mount Airy, there is an exhibit about the case.</p>
<p />
<p>In a nutshell, Allen’s nephews had been involved in a brawl outside a church service. They were indicted for disturbing a public worship service. They fled to Mount Airy. The Carroll County sheriff dispatched his deputies and they were arrested and brought back to Virginia handcuffed to the posts in the back of a wagon for all to see. Among the on-lookers was their Uncle Floyd and he was mad to see his kin “trussed up like hogs.”</p>
<p>Allen was known for his temper. He had had other run-ins and it seemed that he was a law unto himself. Some folks later theorized that the local authorities came down hard on Allen to establish themselves as the only rightful law. Some blamed it all on politics, declaring that the Allens were Democrats and the authorities were Republicans. And then there was the streak of independence in “them thar hills” as well as moonshining. It all made for an interesting spectacle on the fateful day in the courtroom.</p>
<p>The day was one of those gray rainy miserable days in the country. The people came out of interest and curiosity. When the verdict was announced, shots were fired; and forever after—even with a hundred eyewitnesses—there was confusion over who fired the first shot. When the firing stopped, the dead included the presiding judge, the Commonwealth’s attorney, the sheriff, a juror and an innocent bystander who was a witness for another case. Allen was wounded.&#160;</p>
<p>The governor sent a private detective agency to catch the culprits. Claude, Allen’s son, was captured. Others escaped but eventually were apprehended and faced trial.</p>
<p>Allen was placed on trial for the death of the Commonwealth’s attorney. He was sentenced to die in the electric chair. Claude went through three trials and was given the death sentence. The others were convicted and given prison terms.</p>
<p>The courthouse massacre made headlines all over the country.&#160; Even the region’s Baptist newspaper weighed in on the story. J.W. Cammack was the business manager for the Religious Herald and he frequently wrote editorial columns. He opined that the folks of Carroll County, with a population of 20,000, were no better or worse than folks anywhere else in Virginia and noted that some awful crimes had been committed elsewhere. However, he was quick to state that Carroll County had only one Baptist pastor and presumed “that the other denominations are not much better equipped in the county.”</p>
<p>Cammack saw two lessons out of the case. “The first lesson is that Carroll County needs to be more thoroughly evangelized. The New Testament teaches submission to law and order. One of the best contributions the Baptists of Virginia could make to Carroll County and to Virginia would be three or four more strong evangelistic pastors with the funds necessary to keep them there until the churches are self-supporting.</p>
<p>“The other lesson is that at the bottom of this, as most other crimes which blacken the fair name of Virginia, is a whiskey barrel. Virginia and the ‘Allen gang’ are both in the whiskey business, one ‘legally’ the other ‘illegally.’&#160; It will take a long time to teach the liberty-loving mountaineers that it is wrong for them to take their corn and their apples and their peaches and make of these a drink for sale, so long as we as a state are in the same business for revenue. Southwest Virginia, like Eastern Virginia, needs more religion and less whiskey in their business.”</p>
<p>There was a movement circulating a petition to save Claude from the electric chair. Among the sympathetic was George White McDaniel, pastor of the influential First Baptist Church of Virginia’s capital city. He often championed “wronged men” and helped prisoners secure pardons. His wife remembered that her husband “made a careful investigation into the facts and was impressed that Claude did not deserve to suffer equally with his father, that he did only what any loyal son would have done, rush to the defense of his father.”</p>
<p>A newspaper in South Carolina told more of the pastor’s role in the story. “The humanity and sympathy of George W. McDaniel never shone brighter than when he sought to save Claude Allen from the electric chair.&#160; When Claude Allen was delivered to the&#160; penitentiary, he had no friends until Dr. McDaniel went to see him. Then he had a friend at last. The more the good doctor talked with the young man, the more the doctor was persuaded that his life ought to be spared, so Dr. McDaniel set about saving him and he came near doing it. He presented an appeal for mercy for young Allen on every occasion and sought in every possible way to secure clemency.</p>
<p>“Soon it became a statewide movement, so that thousands of influential citizens joined in the appeal.&#160; [Some accounts say 40,000 signed petitions.] Often meeting with discouragement, Dr. McDaniel fought on for the young mountaineer’s life. The press and the people in large measure joined him in the plea for mercy, but in Virginia the verdict of a jury in a capital case is reversed only upon the most extraordinary occasions by the governor. So Claude Allen went to the death house, but McDaniel walked beside him and talked and prayed with him until the hour of doom struck.”</p>
<p>Claude Allen’s mother expressed her deep appreciation in a letter to the Richmond Baptist pastor, thanking him for trying to save her “darling boy” from “an unjust death.”</p>
<p>In recent years Americans have become almost jaded from numerous massacres in all kinds of places—post offices, schools and even a military fort and a federal courthouse—but what happened in a mountain town in Southwest Virginia in 1912 was fresh and shocking and it caught the attention of everyone—even the Baptist newspaper and a big-hearted Baptist pastor in Richmond.</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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exactly 100 years since infamous shootout march 14 1912 involving allen family carroll county courthouse hillsville va five persons killed happened packed courtroom immediately jury returned guilty verdict floyd allen head wellknown local family accused beating sheriffs deputies thereby impeding arrest two nephews people neck woods around hillsville across state line mount airy nc still talk incident aftermath160 become part regions lore accounts written massacre regional history museum downtown mount airy exhibit case nutshell allens nephews involved brawl outside church service indicted disturbing public worship service fled mount airy carroll county sheriff dispatched deputies arrested brought back virginia handcuffed posts back wagon see among onlookers uncle floyd mad see kin trussed like hogs allen known temper runins seemed law unto folks later theorized local authorities came hard allen establish rightful law blamed politics declaring allens democrats authorities republicans streak independence thar hills well moonshining made interesting spectacle fateful day courtroom day one gray rainy miserable days country people came interest curiosity verdict announced shots fired forever aftereven hundred eyewitnessesthere confusion fired first shot firing stopped dead included presiding judge commonwealths attorney sheriff juror innocent bystander witness another case allen wounded160 governor sent private detective agency catch culprits claude allens son captured others escaped eventually apprehended faced trial allen placed trial death commonwealths attorney sentenced die electric chair claude went three trials given death sentence others convicted given prison terms courthouse massacre made headlines country160 even regions baptist newspaper weighed story jw cammack business manager religious herald frequently wrote editorial columns opined folks carroll county population 20000 better worse folks anywhere else virginia noted awful crimes committed elsewhere however quick state carroll county one baptist pastor presumed denominations much better equipped county cammack saw two lessons case first lesson carroll county needs thoroughly evangelized new testament teaches submission law order one best contributions baptists virginia could make carroll county virginia would three four strong evangelistic pastors funds necessary keep churches selfsupporting lesson bottom crimes blacken fair name virginia whiskey barrel virginia allen gang whiskey business one legally illegally160 take long time teach libertyloving mountaineers wrong take corn apples peaches make drink sale long state business revenue southwest virginia like eastern virginia needs religion less whiskey business movement circulating petition save claude electric chair among sympathetic george white mcdaniel pastor influential first baptist church virginias capital city often championed wronged men helped prisoners secure pardons wife remembered husband made careful investigation facts impressed claude deserve suffer equally father loyal son would done rush defense father newspaper south carolina told pastors role story humanity sympathy george w mcdaniel never shone brighter sought save claude allen electric chair160 claude allen delivered the160 penitentiary friends dr mcdaniel went see friend last good doctor talked young man doctor persuaded life ought spared dr mcdaniel set saving came near presented appeal mercy young allen every occasion sought every possible way secure clemency soon became statewide movement thousands influential citizens joined appeal160 accounts say 40000 signed petitions often meeting discouragement dr mcdaniel fought young mountaineers life press people large measure joined plea mercy virginia verdict jury capital case reversed upon extraordinary occasions governor claude allen went death house mcdaniel walked beside talked prayed hour doom struck claude allens mother expressed deep appreciation letter richmond baptist pastor thanking trying save darling boy unjust death recent years americans become almost jaded numerous massacres kinds placespost offices schools even military fort federal courthousebut happened mountain town southwest virginia 1912 fresh shocking caught attention everyoneeven baptist newspaper bighearted baptist pastor richmond fred anderson fredandersonvbmborg executive director virginia baptist historical society center baptist heritage studies
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<p>In a second floor classroom of Bronzeville’s Dawson Technical Institute, a man in a brown tweed sports jacket wildly gesticulates to a group of 15 men —&#160;some young enough to be in high school, some old enough to be their fathers.</p>
<p>“You know what’s the most important thing to have in the process of restoring your life?” asks Dalton Brown, the speed-talking orator. He pauses. His audience is silent, but engaged. “Aggressive patience,” he answers emphatically, and the class repeats quietly in agreement.</p>
<p>Brown is the founder of the <a href="http://bfelonyfree.com/" type="external">Felony Free Society</a>, an affiliate organization of <a href="http://ttrainingservices.com/index.html" type="external">Transitional Training Services</a> that seeks to reduce crime and recidivism rates by reaching out to at-risk youths while helping ex-offenders, or “returning citizens,” get back on their feet. The nonprofit program is based primarily on mentorship among Brown, the returning citizens and the young men who are statistically likely to become felons.</p>
<p>In Illinois, more than half (51.7 percent) of former inmates in 2004&#160; <a href="http://www.progressillinois.com/quick-hits/content/2011/04/14/report-recidivism-rate-illinois-prisons-remains-high" type="external">returned to prison within three years</a>. Among young offenders, that number is even bleaker. According to a 2012 report by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 91 percent of youths between age 13 and 20 with criminal records <a href="http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/researchreports/idjj_recidivism_delinquents_082012.pdf" type="external">were re-arrested within seven years of their release</a>.</p>
<p>The Felony Free Society, formally founded in 2012, has one essential goal&#160;—&#160;to lower these rates.</p>
<p>Today, Brown addresses both target groups in one of the program’s routine lessons. The 39-year-old construction teacher was never a convicted felon himself, but having grown up in East St. Louis and then the South Side of Chicago, he has seen the cycle play out first hand.</p>
<p>After his uplifting 45-minute lecture, The Chicago Reporter caught up with Brown about the story behind the program, &#160;breaking the cycle of recidivism&#160;and the challenges in fostering a felony free society.</p>
<p>What is your background?</p>
<p>East St. Louis is one of the roughest neighborhoods in America. I literally had to fight all the time. It was a rough environment and I grew up poor. I have eight siblings and our father was in and out of the house. Eventually we moved to Chicago, to a CHA housing project. I was the oldest boy —&#160;I had five younger siblings and a lot of the time, I had to put food on the table. I finished school and went to Alabama A&amp;M, where I majored in education. Then I returned to Chicago to get into the family business in construction and I eventually started teaching at Dawson, which is how I got started with Transitional Training Services, and then eventually the Felony Free Society.</p>
<p>What prompted you to organize the Felony Free Society and how do you envision its purpose?</p>
<p>I have friends who were getting out of jail and couldn’t find jobs, and I was seeing all of this first hand. It was disheartening, you know, to finish hanging out and I’d go back to my job and they’d go back to the streets. So I asked myself, what could I do to help? Make society felony free. And what would that look like? Extremely low crime rates, low recidivism rates and a community where people are responsible, responsive and eager to help each other out.</p>
<p>If we were to stop young men from becoming felons and help those who were once felons, we can bring down the jail population altogether. We’ll usher the youth into college instead of prison. After they graduate, they’ll return to their communities to work as doctors, nurses and politicians. If we can keep that steady influx of youth going to college, it’s a holistic way to restore the entire community.</p>
<p>At the same time, we have to use the returning citizens in the restoration of the community. This is how they will feel like they have a purposes and a reason to be part of the society. Most people who come of prison want to do good. They have ideas but they don’t know how to carry them out. They need someone to help them —&#160;I saw that and this whole entire crazy system. So I said, you know what, we can use them to rebuild the community. We use returning citizens, provide services to them, and let them help revitalize their own community.</p>
<p>What is your role in restoring your community as a leader?</p>
<p>I want to change Chicago with this model and this is the reason: I am tired of seeing little boys getting killed, little black and brown boys dying senselessly. I’m looking at this stuff, seeing the guys in their 30s and they’re in this felony gridlock, going in and out the system. I get so depressed by that.</p>
<p>So how can I help? I’ll bring awareness to the felony epidemic.</p>
<p>In terms of de-stigmatizing felons, what kind of policy changes would you like to see?</p>
<p>I will say this about Illinois: It’s probably one of the most returning citizen friendly states you can live in. Here, you can vote if you’re a returning citizen. As far as advocacy goes, we support policies that will help returning citizens be more productive and put them back to work. We support Sen. Van Pelt’s legislation that would give employers tax incentives to employ former felons. The Second Chance Act with Congressman Danny Davis is another piece of very good legislation. But there’s so much more we could do.</p>
<p>What I would like to see is total amnesty for all non-violent offenders – total extermination of their records, if they’ve served their time, let’s either expunge or seal their records. They are not threats to society. I would also like to see a more sensitive stance on allowing returning citizens to work in healthcare and other sectors of our workforce. Like, why couldn’t a nonviolent offender be a fireman?</p>
<p>What is your plan for expanding the Felony Free Society?</p>
<p>Our most concrete plan right now is to do a serious CPS program this summer, eighth through 12th grade. I’ve reached out to the Alternative Schools Network and we talked to principles and counselors. This would be a group speaking engagement with them. What we’re doing now is fundraising so we can implement our first big campaign.</p>
<p>One of our major goals to be able to provide housing to ex-offenders using the returning citizen population. This will allow them the opportunity to learn a trade, give back to the community and, at the same time, steer the younger generation in the right direction using a prevention program on massive scale. Instead of offering a fire-and-brimstone speech to the young individuals, we’ll tell them how much they’ll make after college. Give them the alternative to selling drugs. I want show them that in the long term, if you choose education, you will not only live the life you want to live, but also be able to buy your mom a house.</p>
| false | 3 |
second floor classroom bronzevilles dawson technical institute man brown tweed sports jacket wildly gesticulates group 15 men 160some young enough high school old enough fathers know whats important thing process restoring life asks dalton brown speedtalking orator pauses audience silent engaged aggressive patience answers emphatically class repeats quietly agreement brown founder felony free society affiliate organization transitional training services seeks reduce crime recidivism rates reaching atrisk youths helping exoffenders returning citizens get back feet nonprofit program based primarily mentorship among brown returning citizens young men statistically likely become felons illinois half 517 percent former inmates 2004160 returned prison within three years among young offenders number even bleaker according 2012 report illinois criminal justice information authority 91 percent youths age 13 20 criminal records rearrested within seven years release felony free society formally founded 2012 one essential goal160160to lower rates today brown addresses target groups one programs routine lessons 39yearold construction teacher never convicted felon grown east st louis south side chicago seen cycle play first hand uplifting 45minute lecture chicago reporter caught brown story behind program 160breaking cycle recidivism160and challenges fostering felony free society background east st louis one roughest neighborhoods america literally fight time rough environment grew poor eight siblings father house eventually moved chicago cha housing project oldest boy 160i five younger siblings lot time put food table finished school went alabama aampm majored education returned chicago get family business construction eventually started teaching dawson got started transitional training services eventually felony free society prompted organize felony free society envision purpose friends getting jail couldnt find jobs seeing first hand disheartening know finish hanging id go back job theyd go back streets asked could help make society felony free would look like extremely low crime rates low recidivism rates community people responsible responsive eager help stop young men becoming felons help felons bring jail population altogether well usher youth college instead prison graduate theyll return communities work doctors nurses politicians keep steady influx youth going college holistic way restore entire community time use returning citizens restoration community feel like purposes reason part society people come prison want good ideas dont know carry need someone help 160i saw whole entire crazy system said know use rebuild community use returning citizens provide services let help revitalize community role restoring community leader want change chicago model reason tired seeing little boys getting killed little black brown boys dying senselessly im looking stuff seeing guys 30s theyre felony gridlock going system get depressed help ill bring awareness felony epidemic terms destigmatizing felons kind policy changes would like see say illinois probably one returning citizen friendly states live vote youre returning citizen far advocacy goes support policies help returning citizens productive put back work support sen van pelts legislation would give employers tax incentives employ former felons second chance act congressman danny davis another piece good legislation theres much could would like see total amnesty nonviolent offenders total extermination records theyve served time lets either expunge seal records threats society would also like see sensitive stance allowing returning citizens work healthcare sectors workforce like couldnt nonviolent offender fireman plan expanding felony free society concrete plan right serious cps program summer eighth 12th grade ive reached alternative schools network talked principles counselors would group speaking engagement fundraising implement first big campaign one major goals able provide housing exoffenders using returning citizen population allow opportunity learn trade give back community time steer younger generation right direction using prevention program massive scale instead offering fireandbrimstone speech young individuals well tell much theyll make college give alternative selling drugs want show long term choose education live life want live also able buy mom house
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<p>Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered the Pentagon on Wednesday to stop clawing-back the bonuses that thousands of soldiers got for reenlisting to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.</p>
<p>"There is no more important responsibility for the Department of Defense than keeping faith with our people," Carter said in a statement. "Today, in keeping with that obligation, I am ordering a series of steps to ensure fair treatment for thousands of California National Guard soldiers who may have received incentive bonuses and tuition assistance improperly as a result of errors and in some cases criminal behavior by members of the California National Guard."</p>
<p>White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters on Wednesday that the message to struggling soldiers is President Obama "has their back."</p>
<p>"The President makes the fair treatment of our service members a top priority," Earnest said. "When a promise is made to our men and women in uniform, we should keep. That's certainly the view of the President."</p>
<p>Carter's announcement was greeted with cheers in Kempner, Texas where Don and Susan Haley — both Iraq War veterans — had been struggling to pay back the bonuses they got when they reenlisted a decade ago in the California National Guard.</p>
<p>"This is awesome," Don Haley, 47, told NBC News. "I wish this happened a week ago. My wife just cut a check for $650 to cover this month's payment."</p>
<p>Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat who had been urging the Pentagon to act, also applauded Carter's move.</p>
<p>“Secretary Carter made the right call to suspend efforts to collect bonuses and benefits that were given in error to soldiers who enlisted or reenlisted to serve our nation during war time," he said in a statement. "While this will help some families sleep a bit easier at night, much more needs to be done, starting with Congressional legislation to waive these debts and to provide relief to soldiers who have already repaid some or all of the bonuses they accepted in good faith."</p>
<p>House Speaker Paul Ryan said he was glad "the Pentagon came to its senses."</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Times broke the story over the weekend, stoking nationwide outrage.</p>
<p>The good news for the Haleys, whose son lost a leg while fighting in Afghanistan, came after Carter — in an exclusive interview with NBC News — blasted the treatment of thousands of soldiers who were being forced to return the bonuses they got for signing up for six more years.</p>
<p>"Well, of course I am outraged," Carter said. "This is a case where we have a trust with the service members who have served us and ... we need do justice. And we need to do it fast."</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Raqqa Offensive Against ISIS to Begin Within Weeks</a></p>
<p>Soldiers who refused to pay the bonuses back faced possible interest charges, wage garnishments and tax liens.</p>
<p>The Pentagon's demand that they return the cash angered Washington lawmakers, who in a bipartisan show of support ordered the California National Guard to <a href="" type="internal">turn over documents and audits concerning the program</a> by Nov. 7.</p>
<p>The chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, also called for the officials who mismanaged the program to be "held accountable."</p>
<p>Other lawmakers, including House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, vowed to pass legislation to halt the recovery of the bonuses as soon as Congress is back in session after the Nov. 8 election.</p>
<p>Carter said he does not yet know how far-reaching the problem has been although the Department of Defense has acknowledged it could extend beyond California. He said he would like to fix the problem without waiting for Congress.</p>
<p>"We are going to do everything we possibly can without waiting for any change in the law [although] there are some legal limitations," he said. "We need to do the right thing by our service members — that’s the main thing. We also have to do the right thing by the taxpayer. And of course we will."</p>
<p>U.S. Army Major Jamie Davis, a Defense Department spokesman, said they are reviewing other cases where vets were ordered to pay back reenlistment bonuses.</p>
<p>"As it looks right now, this is an isolated incident in California and not a nationwide issue," Davis said. "There may be some others out there, but nothing to this extent."</p>
<p>The roots of the scandal go back a decade to when the Bush administration, which was struggling to find soldiers willing for fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, began encouraging state National Guard units to offer sign-up bonuses. Some 9,700 California National Guard soldiers got the bonuses in 2006 and 2007.</p>
<p>Then in 2010, federal investigators discovered that thousands of those bonuses, as well as student loan payments, were improperly approved. The next year, 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 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. They concluded that a majority of those soldiers, about 6,500, needed to repay the bonuses because they were not actually eligible for them or the paperwork at the time had errors.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, California lawmakers began hearing from hard-pressed soldiers.</p>
<p>And in February 2014, Rep. Jeff Denham, a Republican representing Modesto, California drafted an amendment aimed at helping the soldiers.</p>
<p>That measure never made it out of the GOP-led House Committee on Armed Services.</p>
<p>The reason, sources told NBC News, was two-fold: the California National Guard did not make the issue a top priority and the committee members did not realize the scope of the problem and believed the Pentagon's appeals process would take care of the handful of cases they each were seeing.</p>
<p>The California Military Department sent a letter in 2014 to Congress requesting money for "Servicemember Debt Relief Equity." But it was issue number six out of six.</p>
<p>And in a March 17, 2014 appropriations request obtained by NBC News, California military officials asked for money for Blackhawk helicopters, radar units and educational programs, but not a dime for the struggling soldiers.</p>
| false | 3 |
defense secretary ash carter ordered pentagon wednesday stop clawingback bonuses thousands soldiers got reenlisting serve iraq afghanistan important responsibility department defense keeping faith people carter said statement today keeping obligation ordering series steps ensure fair treatment thousands california national guard soldiers may received incentive bonuses tuition assistance improperly result errors cases criminal behavior members california national guard white house spokesman josh earnest told reporters wednesday message struggling soldiers president obama back president makes fair treatment service members top priority earnest said promise made men women uniform keep thats certainly view president carters announcement greeted cheers kempner texas susan haley iraq war veterans struggling pay back bonuses got reenlisted decade ago california national guard awesome haley 47 told nbc news wish happened week ago wife cut check 650 cover months payment rep adam schiff california democrat urging pentagon act also applauded carters move secretary carter made right call suspend efforts collect bonuses benefits given error soldiers enlisted reenlisted serve nation war time said statement help families sleep bit easier night much needs done starting congressional legislation waive debts provide relief soldiers already repaid bonuses accepted good faith house speaker paul ryan said glad pentagon came senses los angeles times broke story weekend stoking nationwide outrage good news haleys whose son lost leg fighting afghanistan came carter exclusive interview nbc news blasted treatment thousands soldiers forced return bonuses got signing six years well course outraged carter said case trust service members served us need justice need fast related raqqa offensive isis begin within weeks soldiers refused pay bonuses back faced possible interest charges wage garnishments tax liens pentagons demand return cash angered washington lawmakers bipartisan show support ordered california national guard turn documents audits concerning program nov 7 chairman house oversight committee rep jason chaffetz rutah also called officials mismanaged program held accountable lawmakers including house democratic leader nancy pelosi california vowed pass legislation halt recovery bonuses soon congress back session nov 8 election carter said yet know farreaching problem although department defense acknowledged could extend beyond california said would like fix problem without waiting congress going everything possibly without waiting change law although legal limitations said need right thing service members thats main thing also right thing taxpayer course us army major jamie davis defense department spokesman said reviewing cases vets ordered pay back reenlistment bonuses looks right isolated incident california nationwide issue davis said may others nothing extent roots scandal go back decade bush administration struggling find soldiers willing fight iraq afghanistan began encouraging state national guard units offer signup bonuses 9700 california national guard soldiers got bonuses 2006 2007 2010 federal investigators discovered thousands bonuses well student loan payments improperly approved next year army master sgt toni jaffe california national guards bonus incentive manager pleaded guilty 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 concluded majority soldiers 6500 needed repay bonuses actually eligible paperwork time errors meanwhile california lawmakers began hearing hardpressed soldiers february 2014 rep jeff denham republican representing modesto california drafted amendment aimed helping soldiers measure never made gopled house committee armed services reason sources told nbc news twofold california national guard make issue top priority committee members realize scope problem believed pentagons appeals process would take care handful cases seeing california military department sent letter 2014 congress requesting money servicemember debt relief equity issue number six six march 17 2014 appropriations request obtained nbc news california military officials asked money blackhawk helicopters radar units educational programs dime struggling soldiers
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<p>It may surprise you to know that North Korea would love to carry out your artistic commissions.</p>
<p>How about a mural, a tapestry, or a "jewel painting" colored with powdered semi-precious stones?&#160;Or something a bit more imposing, like a giant bronze statue of that dictator or liberator close to your heart?</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.mansudaeartstudio.com/" type="external">Mansudae Art Studio</a> is keen to hear from you.</p>
<p>Founded in 1959, it caters to North Korea's considerable domestic propaganda needs. The huge statues, murals and banners you see being dutifully applauded at military processions — as well as the poster images that surround North Korean daily life — are all made by the studio's 4,000 staff.</p>
<p>"It's in the heart of Pyongyang, Mansudae is the name of the district," says Pier Luigi Cecioni, an Italian who is the sole representative of the art factory to the outside world. "Actually, it's more of a campus than a factory, more of a studio, the biggest in the world."</p>
<p>The studio has just produced a giant embroidery for the Benetton fashion family and fitted out a museum in Cambodia, but it's in the African continent that Mansudae Overseas Projects&#160;has found the keenest appetite for its work.</p>
<p />
<p>A senior artist at Mansudae Art Studio.</p>
<p>Marcelo Druck/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0</p>
<p>The export of this bold, direct, firmly authoritarian style began in the early 1980s as a diplomatic gift to socialist or non-aligned countries, from their North Korean brothers. More recently it's become a valuable source of hard currency, with artists and craftsmen from MOP working in Angola, Benin, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia and Togo.</p>
<p>Local media in Zimbabwe report there are two giant <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/robert-mugabe-9417391" type="external">Robert Mugabes</a> in storage waiting to commemorate his death. And most famously, in Senegal the giant African Renaissance Monument was cast on site by Mansudae craftsmen and dedicated in 2010. It's estimated that the studio has earned tens of millions of dollars in this way.</p>
<p>North Korean art seems to appeal to African leaders for two reasons. First, because the price is right. Senegal paid for its 161-foot&#160;statue by giving some land to North Korea&#160;— who immediately sold it for cash.</p>
<p>The second reason is the style.</p>
<p>"The Russians and Chinese don't make that kind of stuff anymore," says art critic William Feaver. "The appeal is in the statement of the obvious — and of course size is everything."</p>
<p>He sees enthusiasm for the style as part of a nation-building process:&#160;"You could think of Mount Rushmore as the American version, performing a similar celebration of founding fathers for a relatively new nation keen to assert itself in the world."</p>
<p>Just outside the Namibian capital Windhoek is Heroes' Acre, a vast parade ground, grandstand and war memorial to that country's independence struggle — and&#160;another Mansudae Overseas Project.</p>
<p>"It's a giant obelisk above a&#160;[36-foot]&#160;bronze statue of the Unknown Soldier — bearing a strong resemblance to Namibia's first President, Sam Nujoma," says the BBC's Frauke Jensen. "No visitors, no tourist buses, just a solitary baboon sitting on the side running away as I approached the steps up to the monument."</p>
<p />
<p>This statue of&#160;Samora Machel in Maputo, Mozambique, is not thought to be a good portrait.</p>
<p>Paulo Miranda/CC BY 2.0</p>
<p>President Nujoma would of course have had a hand in the decision to honour the Unknown Soldier, so maybe it's a case of killing two birds with one bronze.</p>
<p>Whoever he looks like, at least the Unknown Soldier looks African. The then Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade complained that the giant figures in Dakar initially looked too Asian, and had them redone. The 2011 statue of Samora Machel in Maputo, Mozambique, isn't thought to be a good portrait, and 2001's Laurent Kabila in Kinshasha, DRC seems to wear an outfit from the Kims' tailor.</p>
<p>"These statues look like they're made to be toppled," says historian Adrian Tinniswood. "And they look weirdly North Korean. They're statements of liberation but they represent a failure of confidence — where are the African designers and African sculptors who'd be better representing African consciousness?"</p>
<p />
<p>Many say this statue of Laurent Kabila in Kinshasa, DRC looks like he's wearing a suit from the Kim's tailor.</p>
<p>Antoine Moens de Hase/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0</p>
<p>But what of those North Korean designers and North Korean sculptors and their consciousness? Are they frustrated Picassos, forced to churn out party-line art?</p>
<p>Representative Cecioni has taken some of them to&#160;major Italian galleries.</p>
<p>"They know a lot about the classics," he says. "Abstract and conceptual art they find amusing. They're not scornful or anything like that, they just don't see it as necessary. They have an enviable position, you know — unlike a Western artist they don't have to worry about selling their work.&#160;They have a salary. They are recognized and have privileges. The ones I know, they seem to live happily, they feel part of something."</p>
<p>You get a glimpse of their world through the <a href="http://www.mansudaeartstudio.com/" type="external">website run by Cecioni</a>. It shows quite a variety of medium and subject matter, with a bias toward&#160;flowers and soldiers. These highly skilled craftsmen, largely anonymous, working for a higher good and not interested in profit inhabit a very different world from artists elsewhere — and not one many would envy.</p>
<p>But if your taste — ironic or otherwise — leads you to want a statue in the classic bronze-giant-hailing-a-taxicab pose, then who you gonna call?</p>
<p>Mansudae.</p>
<p>This <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35569277" type="external">story</a> is cross posted from our partners at BBC News. Additional reporting came from The World's Kierran Petersesen.</p>
| false | 3 |
may surprise know north korea would love carry artistic commissions mural tapestry jewel painting colored powdered semiprecious stones160or something bit imposing like giant bronze statue dictator liberator close heart mansudae art studio keen hear founded 1959 caters north koreas considerable domestic propaganda needs huge statues murals banners see dutifully applauded military processions well poster images surround north korean daily life made studios 4000 staff heart pyongyang mansudae name district says pier luigi cecioni italian sole representative art factory outside world actually campus factory studio biggest world studio produced giant embroidery benetton fashion family fitted museum cambodia african continent mansudae overseas projects160has found keenest appetite work senior artist mansudae art studio marcelo druckcc byncnd 20 export bold direct firmly authoritarian style began early 1980s diplomatic gift socialist nonaligned countries north korean brothers recently become valuable source hard currency artists craftsmen mop working angola benin chad democratic republic congo equatorial guinea ethiopia togo local media zimbabwe report two giant robert mugabes storage waiting commemorate death famously senegal giant african renaissance monument cast site mansudae craftsmen dedicated 2010 estimated studio earned tens millions dollars way north korean art seems appeal african leaders two reasons first price right senegal paid 161foot160statue giving land north korea160 immediately sold cash second reason style russians chinese dont make kind stuff anymore says art critic william feaver appeal statement obvious course size everything sees enthusiasm style part nationbuilding process160you could think mount rushmore american version performing similar celebration founding fathers relatively new nation keen assert world outside namibian capital windhoek heroes acre vast parade ground grandstand war memorial countrys independence struggle and160another mansudae overseas project giant obelisk a16036foot160bronze statue unknown soldier bearing strong resemblance namibias first president sam nujoma says bbcs frauke jensen visitors tourist buses solitary baboon sitting side running away approached steps monument statue of160samora machel maputo mozambique thought good portrait paulo mirandacc 20 president nujoma would course hand decision honour unknown soldier maybe case killing two birds one bronze whoever looks like least unknown soldier looks african senegalese president abdoulaye wade complained giant figures dakar initially looked asian redone 2011 statue samora machel maputo mozambique isnt thought good portrait 2001s laurent kabila kinshasha drc seems wear outfit kims tailor statues look like theyre made toppled says historian adrian tinniswood look weirdly north korean theyre statements liberation represent failure confidence african designers african sculptors whod better representing african consciousness many say statue laurent kabila kinshasa drc looks like hes wearing suit kims tailor antoine moens de hasecc byncnd 20 north korean designers north korean sculptors consciousness frustrated picassos forced churn partyline art representative cecioni taken to160major italian galleries know lot classics says abstract conceptual art find amusing theyre scornful anything like dont see necessary enviable position know unlike western artist dont worry selling work160they salary recognized privileges ones know seem live happily feel part something get glimpse world website run cecioni shows quite variety medium subject matter bias toward160flowers soldiers highly skilled craftsmen largely anonymous working higher good interested profit inhabit different world artists elsewhere one many would envy taste ironic otherwise leads want statue classic bronzegianthailingataxicab pose gon na call mansudae story cross posted partners bbc news additional reporting came worlds kierran petersesen
| 528 |
<p>CHICAGO–Twenty-one teachers sit in a small movie theater here watching a quick, dialogue-driven scene that culminates with Mark Zuckerberg, as played by actor Jesse Eisenberg, getting dumped by his girlfriend.</p>
<p>Larry Knapp, a film professor at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Ill., pauses “The Social Network” and asks the teachers why they think Zuckerberg is wearing a gray Gap sweatshirt.</p>
<p>They throw out varied analyses: It shows that Mr. Zuckerberg does not want to stand out—he’s uncomfortable in public. It’s an all-American brand and, as the inventor and CEO of Facebook, he embodies the American dream. It symbolizes the “gap” in communication between him and his girlfriend.</p>
<p>These educators, who work in a wide range of subjects and grade levels, are participating in a five-day intensive <a href="http://facets.org/filminstitute/" type="external">“film camp”</a> through <a href="http://www.facets.org/" type="external">Facets Multimedia</a>, a nonprofit arts organization in Chicago. The camp is a small-scale effort to promote the use of film studies in the K-12 classroom.</p>
<p>While film-studies classes are common in higher education, the idea that a film should be taught as an academic text with younger students is still nascent.</p>
<p>“That doesn’t mean teachers are not showing film,” said John Golden, the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reading-Dark-Using-English-Classroom/dp/0814138721" type="external">Reading in the Dark: Using Film as a Tool in the English Classroom</a>. “They’re absolutely showing film. But in terms of giving kids the language to talk about and learn film, there’s very little pedagogy going on.”</p>
<p>Critical viewing, a foundation of film literacy, is more than just putting on a movie or showing the film adaptation of a novel. Like critical reading, it’s a way of analyzing the components of a text and the choices made during its creation—key emphases, film-studies proponents point out, of the Common Core State Standards.</p>
<p>Of those teachers who are teaching critical viewing in the classroom, most tend to be English teachers, said Frank W. Baker, a consultant in media-literacy education and the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Media-Literacy-Classroom-Frank-Baker/dp/1564843076" type="external">Media Literacy in the K-12 Classroom</a>. Nearly all film literacy is being taught at the high school level, he said.</p>
<p>Proponents of media studies, like Mr. Golden, also an English teacher and instructional specialist in the 46,000-student Portland, Ore., district, argue that critical viewing of film should be an essential part of instruction—not just something taught by film buffs at the high school level. Students are bombarded by visual images, said Mr. Golden, especially now with the proliferation of mobile devices to view them on. They’re “subject to so much manipulation,” he explained, including stereotyping, veiled biases, and false claims. “I don’t think we can say students are literate anymore if we’re not giving them the language to talk about visual media and film.”</p>
<p>Analyzing ‘Texts’</p>
<p>Jessica Keigan, an English teacher in the 44,000-student Adams 12 Five Star Schools in Thornton, Colo., received an undergraduate minor in film and spent a semester interning in the film industry in Los Angeles before becoming a teacher. For her, it was only natural to incorporate film into her classes. Now in her 11th year of teaching, she uses film about 25 percent of the time in her English classes.</p>
<p>Ms. Keigan explains that she typically uses film “as a springboard for critical reading.” For instance, when introducing students to the different “levels” of literary analysis—from simple recall to complex thinking—she often starts by showing the Pixar short film “Boundin’.” After watching the four-minute short about a dancing sheep who loses his wool, she begins by asking students questions about the storyline. She moves on to questions about “what the filmmaker is doing symbolically” and then about how the film compares with other hero stories the students have seen or read. “Film gives me a chance to teach the thinking skill without having to do the reading skill as well,” she said.</p>
<p>Edna Camacho, an English teacher in the Weslaco Independent school district, which serves 19,000 students in Weslaco, Texas, initially began using film as a reward—students watched “Of Mice and Men” after completing the novel. Soon after, though, “I realized I could’ve done a lot more with the film if I used it as a text,” she said.</p>
<p>Now, she pairs novels and films with similar themes to hone her students’ critical-thinking skills. For instance, her students read the book Night by Eli Wiesel and watch the movie “Life Is Beautiful,” both of which center on Jewish characters’ experience of the Holocaust. She asks students to find similarities in the relationships in the stories, to look for archetypes in each, and to consider what the author or director does to evoke feeling. “The same type of figurative language you use with literature, we use with film,” she said.</p>
<p>Another way to exercise critical thinking with film, Mr. Knapp told teachers at the film camp in Chicago, is to have students look for motifs, or distinctive patterns. Mr. Knapp illustrated that by showing the opening credits of Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X,” in which an American flag burns until only the shape of an X is left. The teachers identified “reinvention” and “a changing America” among the motifs illustrated by that image. “If you set up this way of looking at a film,” said Mr. Knapp, “usually students will start looking for other motifs.”</p>
<p>For Ms. Camacho, one of the great benefits of using film is its accessibility. In the cases of students with learning disabilities and English-language learners, she noticed that film “kind of loosened them up. … It opened the door for them to start conversations in class.”</p>
<p>Mr. Golden said he sometimes refers to film in the classroom as “the great equalizer” because it gives even the most reticent reader a chance to display understanding and deep thinking.</p>
<p>Common Core Tie-Ins</p>
<p>The higher-order thinking skills that students learn in analyzing film transfer to other mediums, say film-instruction proponents. “In my absolute gut, I’m convinced it makes them stronger readers when we talk about print text,” said Mr. Golden. When asked to analyze, for instance, tone in the novel The Great Gatsby, his students have already “used and practiced and discussed in really accessible terms those literary devices in film.”</p>
<p>And while studying film in K-12 is far from widespread, the new Common Core standards could breathe some life into the idea: The English/language arts standards require students to analyze texts of all kinds, and several standards mention film as an example text type.</p>
<p>“Analysis is the word of the day with Common Core,” said Ms. Keigan. “You’re reading to understand the deep symbolic meaning of a text.” Film and other art forms are good ways “to practice those thinking skills.”</p>
<p>Mr. Golden said the standards’ push for nonfiction could lead to more teachers showing documentary films. However, because the standards that mention film ask students to compare two presentations of a text, he worries that teachers will simply show film adaptations of books. “The problem for me is [film literacy] is not explicitly called out as much as I’d wished” in the standards, he said.</p>
<p>The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, which is designing computer-based tests aligned to the common standards, plans to include items asking students to “read and analyze one digital source,” PARCC spokesperson Chad Colby wrote in an email. That source could be “a video, a narrated slide show, a podcast, etc.”</p>
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chicagotwentyone teachers sit small movie theater watching quick dialoguedriven scene culminates mark zuckerberg played actor jesse eisenberg getting dumped girlfriend larry knapp film professor oakton community college des plaines ill pauses social network asks teachers think zuckerberg wearing gray gap sweatshirt throw varied analyses shows mr zuckerberg want stand outhes uncomfortable public allamerican brand inventor ceo facebook embodies american dream symbolizes gap communication girlfriend educators work wide range subjects grade levels participating fiveday intensive film camp facets multimedia nonprofit arts organization chicago camp smallscale effort promote use film studies k12 classroom filmstudies classes common higher education idea film taught academic text younger students still nascent doesnt mean teachers showing film said john golden author reading dark using film tool english classroom theyre absolutely showing film terms giving kids language talk learn film theres little pedagogy going critical viewing foundation film literacy putting movie showing film adaptation novel like critical reading way analyzing components text choices made creationkey emphases filmstudies proponents point common core state standards teachers teaching critical viewing classroom tend english teachers said frank w baker consultant medialiteracy education author media literacy k12 classroom nearly film literacy taught high school level said proponents media studies like mr golden also english teacher instructional specialist 46000student portland ore district argue critical viewing film essential part instructionnot something taught film buffs high school level students bombarded visual images said mr golden especially proliferation mobile devices view theyre subject much manipulation explained including stereotyping veiled biases false claims dont think say students literate anymore giving language talk visual media film analyzing texts jessica keigan english teacher 44000student adams 12 five star schools thornton colo received undergraduate minor film spent semester interning film industry los angeles becoming teacher natural incorporate film classes 11th year teaching uses film 25 percent time english classes ms keigan explains typically uses film springboard critical reading instance introducing students different levels literary analysisfrom simple recall complex thinkingshe often starts showing pixar short film boundin watching fourminute short dancing sheep loses wool begins asking students questions storyline moves questions filmmaker symbolically film compares hero stories students seen read film gives chance teach thinking skill without reading skill well said edna camacho english teacher weslaco independent school district serves 19000 students weslaco texas initially began using film rewardstudents watched mice men completing novel soon though realized couldve done lot film used text said pairs novels films similar themes hone students criticalthinking skills instance students read book night eli wiesel watch movie life beautiful center jewish characters experience holocaust asks students find similarities relationships stories look archetypes consider author director evoke feeling type figurative language use literature use film said another way exercise critical thinking film mr knapp told teachers film camp chicago students look motifs distinctive patterns mr knapp illustrated showing opening credits spike lees malcolm x american flag burns shape x left teachers identified reinvention changing america among motifs illustrated image set way looking film said mr knapp usually students start looking motifs ms camacho one great benefits using film accessibility cases students learning disabilities englishlanguage learners noticed film kind loosened opened door start conversations class mr golden said sometimes refers film classroom great equalizer gives even reticent reader chance display understanding deep thinking common core tieins higherorder thinking skills students learn analyzing film transfer mediums say filminstruction proponents absolute gut im convinced makes stronger readers talk print text said mr golden asked analyze instance tone novel great gatsby students already used practiced discussed really accessible terms literary devices film studying film k12 far widespread new common core standards could breathe life idea englishlanguage arts standards require students analyze texts kinds several standards mention film example text type analysis word day common core said ms keigan youre reading understand deep symbolic meaning text film art forms good ways practice thinking skills mr golden said standards push nonfiction could lead teachers showing documentary films however standards mention film ask students compare two presentations text worries teachers simply show film adaptations books problem film literacy explicitly called much id wished standards said partnership assessment readiness college careers designing computerbased tests aligned common standards plans include items asking students read analyze one digital source parcc spokesperson chad colby wrote email source could video narrated slide show podcast etc
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<p>EDITOR'S NOTE: Since this article was written, the Afghan government has announced that it will&#160; <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2013/06/2013619733520629.html" type="external">suspend security negotiations with the United States</a>&#160;because of "inconsistent US statement and action" in the Taliban peace process.</p>
<p>BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. — Afghan and international officials were all smiles on Tuesday for the formal handover of security responsibility to Afghan forces.</p>
<p>“We have worked hard, and fought hard, to make this possible. And we can be proud of what we have achieved together,” said NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, speaking at a joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the National Defense University on the outskirts of Kabul.</p>
<p>But the ceremony was almost overshadowed by another announcement: The Taliban have agreed to resume peace talks with the United States in Qatar.</p>
<p>“The Islamic Emirate has deemed it essential to open the political office in the Islamic country of Qatar for the attainment of the following objectives,” said Taliban spokesman Mullah Naim, speaking in Doha.</p>
<p>Naim outlined the Taliban’s goals, including “a political and peaceful solution which includes the end of the occupation of Afghanistan and the establishment of an independent Islamic system and true security.”</p>
<p>The fact that the Taliban will once again be meeting face to face with American negotiators is a positive sign, say experts. But few think this represents a major shift in policy on either the Taliban or the US side.</p>
<p>A suspected rocket attack on Afghanistan's Bagram airbase killed four US service members on the same day the peace talks were announced.&#160;</p>
<p>The United States has been engaged in a frequently frustrating dance with the Taliban for some time. In January 2012, the Taliban walked out of peace talks, claiming that Washington was negotiating in bad faith.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/afghanistan/110811/afghanistan-peace-talks-derailed" type="external">Afghanistan peace talks go quiet</a></p>
<p>“These statements represent an important first step toward reconciliation, a process that after 30 years of armed conflict in Afghanistan will certainly promise to be complex, long and messy,” an unnamed senior Obama administration official told reporters in a conference call, <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/18/193065932/taliban-will-open-political-office-in-doha" type="external">according to National Public Radio</a>.</p>
<p>Reuters quoted another US official as saying the first meet would be on Thursday.</p>
<p>The timing of the announcement may have been accidental, or it may be part of a push to give the Afghans at least the appearance of a larger role in the peace process.</p>
<p>Coming as it did on the big transition day, said Alex Strick van Linschoten, a writer and researcher who has studied the Taliban for many years, “gives the optic that now we have an Afghan-controlled process across the board.”</p>
<p>Karzai rushed to put his own inimitable stamp on the development.</p>
<p>“Afghanistan’s High Peace Council will travel to Qatar to discuss peace talks with the Taliban,” Karzai said, referring to the body he tapped for peace talks in 2010. “We hope that our brothers the Taliban also understand that the process will move to our country soon.”</p>
<p>But Kabul has had to shoulder its way into the talks. The Taliban in the past have expressed an unwillingness to deal with the ”puppet” Afghan government.</p>
<p>While the High Peace Council may be given a seat at the table, it is the United States who will be doing the bulk of the negotiating, should the talks actually begin.</p>
<p>“The Taliban's statement today fell short of the unequivocal renunciation of Al Qaeda and terrorism that America has demanded for so long,” Strick said. “The significant change is that the groundwork has been done for official meetings to resume between Americans and the Taliban delegation.”</p>
<p>But many question to what extent the Afghans really are in control.</p>
<p>Tuesday’s ceremony marked the official transfer of the 403 districts in all of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces to Afghan responsibility. But as international forces increasingly assume a support role, rather than actively conducting combat operations, many question the readiness of the Afghan security forces to take on that task.</p>
<p>The Afghan National Security Forces now number 352,000, counting army, police and air force.</p>
<p>But attrition rates are unacceptably high, and battle losses are also quite heavy.</p>
<p>General Joseph Dunford, the top commander in Afghanistan, told reporters at the Pentagon on Tuesday that the ANSF are losing 100 to 120 soldiers and police officers per week.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/130613/georgia-afghanistan-nato-helmand-attack" type="external">Afghanistan attacks rattle a staunch coalition member</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/18/us-afghanistan-peace-idUSBRE95H05Y20130618" type="external">According to Reuters</a>, more Afghan troops have died in one year than NATO has lost across the entire war.</p>
<p>Many more simply quit — at a <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/nato-alarm-over-afghan-army-crisis-loss-of-recruits-threatens-security-as-handover-looms-8555238.html" type="external">rate of about 5,000 per month</a>, or one-third of the entire army every year.</p>
<p>There has been a recent upsurge in violence throughout Afghanistan.</p>
<p>In fact, even as the transition ceremony took place in Kabul Tuesday, a large bomb killed three civilians, but left the intended target, lawmaker Mohammad Mohaqeq, unscathed.</p>
<p>Just last week there was an attack on the Kabul Airport, with seven attackers holding off the Afghan forces for four hours. All seven attackers died, while the Afghan forces suffered no losses.</p>
<p>Some point to this and other recent attacks, in which the Afghan forces acquitted themselves relatively well, as a sign that they are ready.</p>
<p>But Ben Anderson, a writer and documentary filmmaker who has been studying the ANSF for six years, tells a different tale.</p>
<p>In his three-part documentary for Vice, “ <a href="http://www.vice.com/vice-news/this-is-what-winning-looks-like-full-length" type="external">This is What Winning Looks Like</a>," he shows soldiers so strung out on heroin they cannot even speak; police so corrupt and brutal that the population longs for the order of the Taliban days; and military men who regularly exploit young boys for sex.</p>
<p>These men are not going to be able to take on the Taliban without international help, Anderson insists. The so-called “transition” is just smoke and mirrors designed to give the illusion of progress.</p>
<p>“It's clear that we're not leaving because we've achieved our goals, we're leaving because we have given up on them,” he told GlobalPost. “The only goals we are committed to now are getting out as quickly as possible, with as few casualties as possible, while selling the war as some kind of success to the audiences back at home.”</p>
<p>This, of course, is not the message that International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) wants to convey.</p>
<p>“The Afghan National Army is the most respected national institution in the country. The Afghan National Police also rank highly,” according to <a href="http://www.isaf.nato.int/article/isaf-releases/isaf-factsheet-on-current-ansf-status.html" type="external">ISAF’s official fact sheet</a> on the ANSF.</p>
<p>Today, it is all congratulations and optimism. But look out for tomorrow. &#160;</p>
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editors note since article written afghan government announced will160 suspend security negotiations united states160because inconsistent us statement action taliban peace process buzzards bay mass afghan international officials smiles tuesday formal handover security responsibility afghan forces worked hard fought hard make possible proud achieved together said nato secretarygeneral anders fogh rasmussen speaking joint press conference afghan president hamid karzai national defense university outskirts kabul ceremony almost overshadowed another announcement taliban agreed resume peace talks united states qatar islamic emirate deemed essential open political office islamic country qatar attainment following objectives said taliban spokesman mullah naim speaking doha naim outlined talibans goals including political peaceful solution includes end occupation afghanistan establishment independent islamic system true security fact taliban meeting face face american negotiators positive sign say experts think represents major shift policy either taliban us side suspected rocket attack afghanistans bagram airbase killed four us service members day peace talks announced160 united states engaged frequently frustrating dance taliban time january 2012 taliban walked peace talks claiming washington negotiating bad faith globalpost160 afghanistan peace talks go quiet statements represent important first step toward reconciliation process 30 years armed conflict afghanistan certainly promise complex long messy unnamed senior obama administration official told reporters conference call according national public radio reuters quoted another us official saying first meet would thursday timing announcement may accidental may part push give afghans least appearance larger role peace process coming big transition day said alex strick van linschoten writer researcher studied taliban many years gives optic afghancontrolled process across board karzai rushed put inimitable stamp development afghanistans high peace council travel qatar discuss peace talks taliban karzai said referring body tapped peace talks 2010 hope brothers taliban also understand process move country soon kabul shoulder way talks taliban past expressed unwillingness deal puppet afghan government high peace council may given seat table united states bulk negotiating talks actually begin talibans statement today fell short unequivocal renunciation al qaeda terrorism america demanded long strick said significant change groundwork done official meetings resume americans taliban delegation many question extent afghans really control tuesdays ceremony marked official transfer 403 districts afghanistans 34 provinces afghan responsibility international forces increasingly assume support role rather actively conducting combat operations many question readiness afghan security forces take task afghan national security forces number 352000 counting army police air force attrition rates unacceptably high battle losses also quite heavy general joseph dunford top commander afghanistan told reporters pentagon tuesday ansf losing 100 120 soldiers police officers per week globalpost160 afghanistan attacks rattle staunch coalition member according reuters afghan troops died one year nato lost across entire war many simply quit rate 5000 per month onethird entire army every year recent upsurge violence throughout afghanistan fact even transition ceremony took place kabul tuesday large bomb killed three civilians left intended target lawmaker mohammad mohaqeq unscathed last week attack kabul airport seven attackers holding afghan forces four hours seven attackers died afghan forces suffered losses point recent attacks afghan forces acquitted relatively well sign ready ben anderson writer documentary filmmaker studying ansf six years tells different tale threepart documentary vice winning looks like shows soldiers strung heroin even speak police corrupt brutal population longs order taliban days military men regularly exploit young boys sex men going able take taliban without international help anderson insists socalled transition smoke mirrors designed give illusion progress clear leaving weve achieved goals leaving given told globalpost goals committed getting quickly possible casualties possible selling war kind success audiences back home course message international security assistance force isaf wants convey afghan national army respected national institution country afghan national police also rank highly according isafs official fact sheet ansf today congratulations optimism look tomorrow 160
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<p>Virginia Baptists are responding with fervor to the tsunami disaster in South Asia, providing thousands of dollars in relief funds and looking toward cooperating on a short-term project with Baptists in several of India's southern states.</p>
<p>Baptists around the nation-including those in the Baptist General Association of Virginia-have joined the massive outpouring of financial contributions aimed at providing relief to victims of the disasterous tsunami in South Asia.</p>
<p>Hundreds of millions of dollars have been given by individuals, religious and charitable organizations, corporations and governments-all touched by scenes of devastation in the nations bordering the Indian Ocean, where a Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami left more than 160,000 dead and millions homeless.</p>
<p>By Monday, Jan. 10, Virginia Baptists had sent more than $11,600 in relief funds to the Virginia Baptist Mission Board to be distributed to the Baptist World Alliance, the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Contributions are distributed according to the instructions of the donor.</p>
<p>An additional $8,000 in Virginia Baptist disaster relief funds was sent to Baptist World Aid, the relief arm of the BWA, just after Christmas.</p>
<p>In an unexpected move, the enormous needs in the affected region and Virginia Baptists' past assistance to Baptists in India may result in a long-term parternership with the Indian Baptist Convention.</p>
<p>In early January Kunjamon Chacko, a leader in the convention who heads both its seminary and one of its social ministries organizations, asked Virginia Baptists to send a representative to assess the situation in the south Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.</p>
<p>Details of the partership remain to be decided, but John Upton, executive director of the BGAV, said the initial focus will be on the Precious Children's Home, an orphanage in Areeparambu in the state of Kerala. Upton said the goal will be to provide funds to increase the orphanage's capacity by 100 additional children.</p>
<p>About $18,000 in funds were made available for the children's home last week when the Mission Board and Woman's Mission Union of Virginia cancelled their annual spring missions celebration and donated money that had been budgeted to host that event.</p>
<p>“Individuals are encouraged to donate money they would have spent on transporation, food and lodging at the missions celebration,” said Jerry Jones, team leader of the VBMB's glocal missions and evangelism team. The missions celebration had been scheduled to take place March 11-12 in Newport News.</p>
<p>The mission board also is asking churches to set aside Saturday, March 12, as a day of prayer and fasting for the people in South Asia.</p>
<p>“We hope this will provide an occasion for Virginia Baptists to come together as many of them seek concrete ways to participate in relief and aid for the region,” said Jones.</p>
<p>Jones also said the board and WMUV is developing new resources to help individuals and churches offer an active response to the disaster.</p>
<p>“Materials may include prayer guides, stories and testimonies from the region; lists of items that can be collected and sent for distribution; volunteer opportunities; and other information,” he said.</p>
<p>Additional information will be posted at www.vbmb.org and at www.wmu-va.org.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, checks and online donations have been streaming into the International Mission Board, according to Baptist Press.</p>
<p>Among them, one stood out. Clipped to it was a colorful, butterfly-decorated note that read, “This is all I have that I can claim as my own.” The cashier's check for $3,963.01 and unsigned note left no clue who had been so generous. But the intent was clear:</p>
<p>“It is my most prayerful and heartfelt wish that every cent go to the victims and their families. God bless you in your efforts to help these people in such a tragic time.”</p>
<p>More than $1.4 million had been given to the IMB by Jan. 6.</p>
<p>“We've just been overwhelmed by the response,” said Ritchie Lipscomb, who directs the department handling financial receipts at the board. A unit which normally has two people recording receipts had called in two temps and gotten help from other work units. Even the board's treasurer took his turn opening mail and receiving checks.</p>
<p>Gifts ranged from three $1 bills in an envelope to thousands of dollars in a single check. Most checks came in smaller amounts-$20, $25, $50, $100, $200. But some were made out for $1,000, several for $5,000, others even larger.</p>
<p>Two of the largest individual donations came from Georgia and Mississippi. A homebound widow in Jackson, Miss., sent a check for $20,000. The notation on the check read simply, “Asia Earthquake Relief.” There was no other note.</p>
<p>A company in the Atlanta area also sent a check for $20,000. The Southern Baptist owner enclosed a personal check matching half that amount. “We always tithe on the company earnings,” he said. “I make the decision based on what God lays on my heart. I had my financial guy pull [the IMB's] records. [They] seem to handle the money well.”</p>
<p>The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship announced last week that approximately $28,531 has been donated online to its Asian response fund. CBF leaders said financial donations remain the best form of assistance that stateside supporters can provide.</p>
<p>“Giving cash is something all of us can do,” said CBF coordinator Daniel Vestal.</p>
<p>“Cash is something we can use in-country that we do not have to transport over borders, so we avoid shipping delays. It makes it a lot easier,” said David Harding, the Fellowship's international coordinator for emergency response and transformational development.</p>
<p>Contributed funds are purchasing food in local areas, which helps restart area farming businesses, Harding said. Monetary contributions also give field personnel “flexibility to determine what the greatest needs are,” said Barbara Baldridge, CBF Global Missions acting coordinator.</p>
<p>Relief purchases to date include basic hygiene kits, food and utensils, water purifying tablets, supplies for shelters housing survivors, and water purification systems that cost $7,500 and an additional $3,000 to ship locally.</p>
<p>Both the International Mission Board and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship have released resources for churches to help in their response to the disaster.</p>
<p>The CBF is providing worship resources, compiled by its initiative for congregational life. They are available on the Fellowship's website, www.thefellowship.info.</p>
<p>Resources include sample orders of service, a sermon, a devotional and hymns written in response to the disaster. Also included are a guide for praying through questions about the disaster, advice on how to handle the crisis with children, two literary responses and a listing of additional worship resources, websites and books.</p>
<p>The IMB released “100% Relief: Reflections on the Tsunami,” a one-minute video about the tsunami disaster and Southern Baptist response. It is available from the IMB for downloading and use in Sunday worship services. To view streaming video or to download, visit www.imb.org.</p>
<p>A “Tsunami Response” flier suitable for use by churches also is available at http://media1.imbresources.org/downloads/pdfs/Tsunami/TSUNAMIRSP_BLTN.pdf.</p>
<p>A video released last week featuring International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin talking about response to the disaster also continues to be available for viewing or downloading at www.imb.org.</p>
<p>At the Baptist World Alliance, the general secretary has sent a pastoral letter to Baptists in Asia, expressing the shared grief of the Baptist family and pledging long-term support to aid victims and help for reconstruction in the countries in the aftermath of this unprecedented natural disaster.</p>
<p>“Your brothers and sisters around the world are suffering and in pain with you due to the destruction brought about by the tsunami earthquake,” Denton Lotz wrote. “Millions of people are continuing to pray for you and in thousands of worship services worldwide, brothers and sisters are calling upon our gracious and merciful God to bring relief and comfort to those who have suffered.”</p>
<p>Lotz noted already “thousands are giving sacrificially to the special Baptist World Aid earthquake relief fund,” and that BWAid will continue to collect funds and will work especially with the Baptist unions and conventions and with secular organizations and governments to bring assistance to the needy.</p>
<p>The scope of the disaster means years of recovery and Lotz promised that the BWA “will not stop until the job is completed.”</p>
<p>Lotz urged Baptists to continue to give to BWAid, “to participate in this long-term effort of rebuilding and restoration.”</p>
<p>In India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand, there are more than one-and-a-half-million baptized believers in the member bodies of the BWA, and Baptist World Aid is working closely with leaders of those areas that are most affected.</p>
<p>“As Christians we believe that God is good, all the time, but we know that this good earth also suffers pain and loss of life, tragedy and evil,” Lotz says. “The cross of Christ reminds us that God suffers and endures the pain and consequences of evil, and takes this evil upon himself in the cross and turns it into redemption and resurrection.”</p>
<p>“We cannot answer the philosophical questions of evil, pain and suffering,” Lotz wrote, “but we can point to Jesus Christ and see that in taking upon himself the form of a human, God has accepted our suffering and pain and suffers with us.”</p>
<p>“This is the great Christian message of comfort,” Lotz says. “In Jesus Christ God is suffering with the homeless, the hungry, the orphans with those who have lost wives and husbands, daughters and sons, sisters and brothers.”</p>
<p>Lotz points to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death as the basis of hope and action. “In the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death, a new humanity and a new kingdom have begun. In this resurrection period God calls upon those who have experienced such redemption to themselves become agents of redemption and reconciliation … to inaugurate the new kingdom of love and justice and peace by participating in his suffering by helping the poor, the needy, the naked and the lonely.”</p>
<p>Lotz called on Baptists to have hope even as they continue to pray and work. “The hope we have in Jesus Christ is certainly the greatest gift we can give anyone, “Lotz says.</p>
<p>The full text of the pastoral letter can be read at http://www.bwanet.org/News/05-jan-mar/pastorallettertoasia.htm.</p>
<p>Compiled from Religious Herald staff reports, Baptist Press, Associated Baptist Press and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Baptist World Alliance press releases.</p>
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virginia baptists responding fervor tsunami disaster south asia providing thousands dollars relief funds looking toward cooperating shortterm project baptists several indias southern states baptists around nationincluding baptist general association virginiahave joined massive outpouring financial contributions aimed providing relief victims disasterous tsunami south asia hundreds millions dollars given individuals religious charitable organizations corporations governmentsall touched scenes devastation nations bordering indian ocean dec 26 earthquake tsunami left 160000 dead millions homeless monday jan 10 virginia baptists sent 11600 relief funds virginia baptist mission board distributed baptist world alliance southern baptist conventions international mission board cooperative baptist fellowship contributions distributed according instructions donor additional 8000 virginia baptist disaster relief funds sent baptist world aid relief arm bwa christmas unexpected move enormous needs affected region virginia baptists past assistance baptists india may result longterm parternership indian baptist convention early january kunjamon chacko leader convention heads seminary one social ministries organizations asked virginia baptists send representative assess situation south indian states andhra pradesh karnataka tamil nadu kerala details partership remain decided john upton executive director bgav said initial focus precious childrens home orphanage areeparambu state kerala upton said goal provide funds increase orphanages capacity 100 additional children 18000 funds made available childrens home last week mission board womans mission union virginia cancelled annual spring missions celebration donated money budgeted host event individuals encouraged donate money would spent transporation food lodging missions celebration said jerry jones team leader vbmbs glocal missions evangelism team missions celebration scheduled take place march 1112 newport news mission board also asking churches set aside saturday march 12 day prayer fasting people south asia hope provide occasion virginia baptists come together many seek concrete ways participate relief aid region said jones jones also said board wmuv developing new resources help individuals churches offer active response disaster materials may include prayer guides stories testimonies region lists items collected sent distribution volunteer opportunities information said additional information posted wwwvbmborg wwwwmuvaorg meanwhile checks online donations streaming international mission board according baptist press among one stood clipped colorful butterflydecorated note read claim cashiers check 396301 unsigned note left clue generous intent clear prayerful heartfelt wish every cent go victims families god bless efforts help people tragic time 14 million given imb jan 6 weve overwhelmed response said ritchie lipscomb directs department handling financial receipts board unit normally two people recording receipts called two temps gotten help work units even boards treasurer took turn opening mail receiving checks gifts ranged three 1 bills envelope thousands dollars single check checks came smaller amounts20 25 50 100 200 made 1000 several 5000 others even larger two largest individual donations came georgia mississippi homebound widow jackson miss sent check 20000 notation check read simply asia earthquake relief note company atlanta area also sent check 20000 southern baptist owner enclosed personal check matching half amount always tithe company earnings said make decision based god lays heart financial guy pull imbs records seem handle money well cooperative baptist fellowship announced last week approximately 28531 donated online asian response fund cbf leaders said financial donations remain best form assistance stateside supporters provide giving cash something us said cbf coordinator daniel vestal cash something use incountry transport borders avoid shipping delays makes lot easier said david harding fellowships international coordinator emergency response transformational development contributed funds purchasing food local areas helps restart area farming businesses harding said monetary contributions also give field personnel flexibility determine greatest needs said barbara baldridge cbf global missions acting coordinator relief purchases date include basic hygiene kits food utensils water purifying tablets supplies shelters housing survivors water purification systems cost 7500 additional 3000 ship locally international mission board cooperative baptist fellowship released resources churches help response disaster cbf providing worship resources compiled initiative congregational life available fellowships website wwwthefellowshipinfo resources include sample orders service sermon devotional hymns written response disaster also included guide praying questions disaster advice handle crisis children two literary responses listing additional worship resources websites books imb released 100 relief reflections tsunami oneminute video tsunami disaster southern baptist response available imb downloading use sunday worship services view streaming video download visit wwwimborg tsunami response flier suitable use churches also available httpmedia1imbresourcesorgdownloadspdfstsunamitsunamirsp_bltnpdf video released last week featuring international mission board president jerry rankin talking response disaster also continues available viewing downloading wwwimborg baptist world alliance general secretary sent pastoral letter baptists asia expressing shared grief baptist family pledging longterm support aid victims help reconstruction countries aftermath unprecedented natural disaster brothers sisters around world suffering pain due destruction brought tsunami earthquake denton lotz wrote millions people continuing pray thousands worship services worldwide brothers sisters calling upon gracious merciful god bring relief comfort suffered lotz noted already thousands giving sacrificially special baptist world aid earthquake relief fund bwaid continue collect funds work especially baptist unions conventions secular organizations governments bring assistance needy scope disaster means years recovery lotz promised bwa stop job completed lotz urged baptists continue give bwaid participate longterm effort rebuilding restoration india sri lanka indonesia thailand oneandahalfmillion baptized believers member bodies bwa baptist world aid working closely leaders areas affected christians believe god good time know good earth also suffers pain loss life tragedy evil lotz says cross christ reminds us god suffers endures pain consequences evil takes evil upon cross turns redemption resurrection answer philosophical questions evil pain suffering lotz wrote point jesus christ see taking upon form human god accepted suffering pain suffers us great christian message comfort lotz says jesus christ god suffering homeless hungry orphans lost wives husbands daughters sons sisters brothers lotz points resurrection jesus christ death basis hope action resurrection jesus christ death new humanity new kingdom begun resurrection period god calls upon experienced redemption become agents redemption reconciliation inaugurate new kingdom love justice peace participating suffering helping poor needy naked lonely lotz called baptists hope even continue pray work hope jesus christ certainly greatest gift give anyone lotz says full text pastoral letter read httpwwwbwanetorgnews05janmarpastorallettertoasiahtm compiled religious herald staff reports baptist press associated baptist press cooperative baptist fellowship baptist world alliance press releases
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<p>The following is an excerpt from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0143126466/sciencefriday/" type="external">The Art of Language Invention</a>, by David J. Peterson. Listen to SciFri on October 2, 2015, to hear Peterson talk more about linguistics and inventing languages.</p>
<p>When I was a kid, the original Star Wars trilogy had just completed its initial run in theaters, and Star Wars was everywhere. I had a toy sand skimmer (which I broke), a toy TIE fighter (which I also broke), and a read-along Return of the Jedi picture book with accompanying record which would play the sound of a ship’s blaster when you were supposed to turn the page. (If you’re too young to be familiar with record players as anything other than “vinyl,” type “Pac-Man record read along” into YouTube to familiarize yourself with the concept. That was my childhood.)</p>
<p>In short, aside from He-Man, Star Wars was pretty much the thing if you were a child of four in 1985. At that age, when I watched movies, I didn’t really pay careful attention to the dialogue, and wasn’t able to follow stories that well. Consequently when the Star Wars trilogy was rereleased in 1995, I rewatched it eagerly. Once I got to Return of the Jedi, I was struck by what I thought was a particularly bizarre scene. In the beginning of the movie, Princess Leia, disguised as a bounty hunter, infiltrates Jabba the Hutt’s palace in order to rescue Han Solo. She pretends to have captured Chewbacca, and engages Jabba to negotiate a price for handing him over. In doing so, Leia pretends to speak (or evidently does speak, via some sort of voice modification device) a language Jabba doesn’t. He employs the recently acquired C-3PO as an intermediary. As near as I can tell, this is how the exchange goes (transcription is my own; accent marks indicate where the main stress is):</p>
<p>I want you to remember that I was in seventh or eighth grade at the time that I was rewatching this. I was not a “language” guy at that point by any stretch of the imagination. I never dreamed that a human could invent a language, and even if I had, I probably wouldn’t have been able to come up with a good reason for one to do so. Furthermore, up to that point, I’d never studied a second language, and the prospect filled me with dread (I had enough trouble understanding my Spanish-speaking relatives who always spoke too fast for me).</p>
<p>But even so, I knew something was wrong here. How on earth does Leia say the same thing twice and have it mean something different the second time? Even if we take C-3PO for an unreliable translator (he is quite loquacious, after all), that applies only to the last two phrases. How could one expect to have an unreliable subtitle? Subtitles are supposed to lie outside the world of the film. If you can’t rely on a subtitle provided by the film’s creators, how can you rely on anything?</p>
<p>In trying to resolve this conflict, it occurred to me that the only plausible explanation for this aberrant phenomenon is that the language itself was correct, but worked differently from all other human languages. In our languages (take English, for example), a word’s meaning can be affected by the context it’s in, but if you control for context, the word will always mean the same thing. Thus, if you’re telling a story about your dog, and you use the word “dog” several times throughout the story, it will still refer to a fur-covered animal that barks and covets nothing so highly as table scraps. This is fairly standard and uncontroversial.</p>
<p>What would happen if a language didn’t do that, though?</p>
<p>Take, for example, the word I have transcribed as yotó above. What if it changed its meaning over the duration of a discourse? Naturally, one would have to define a discourse, but I think it’s fair to consider this conversation featuring Leia, Jabba, and C-3PO a single discourse, so we can leave that concern aside for the moment. What if the word yotó has several definitions? Specifically, what if the first time it’s used in a conversation it means “this wookiee”; the second time it’s used it means “50,000”; and the third time it’s used it means “no less” (or the rough equivalent of those)? The same, then, applies for all other words in the language. That would resolve the ambiguity. How could one possibly use such a language? Well, they are all aliens (Star Wars, recall, takes place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away). Maybe they’re just better at this stuff than humans. Why not?</p>
<p>This was where my brain went while rewatching Return of the Jedi for the first time. At some future date I may have shared this with a friend, but if I did, the response was likely an eyeroll. This quirk was just an unimportant detail in an otherwise fantastic movie. Why bother about it?</p>
<p>And so that’s pretty much where my thought experiment died. I didn’t take it any further, and no one was &#160;really interested, so I didn’t think about it again until college.</p>
<p>But that, of course, was a different era—a pre-internet era. Who does a teenager have to share news with other than their family, friends, and teachers? Who do they come in contact with? In 1995, that’s pretty much only the people who live near you and with whom you interact on a daily basis. How would you ever get ahold of anyone else? How would I have known that someone in the Bay Area, let’s say—less than five hundred miles away—had the same idea I’d had and also found that exchange interesting? In 1995, there was no way.</p>
<p>Then the internet happened.</p>
<p>Yes, the internet had been around for a while in 1995, but it wasn’t a thing that just anyone could have access to. America Online changed all that. Pretty soon it became a thing to race home from school and go into a chatroom with a bunch of random people to talk about . . . nothing. And that was how we entertained ourselves—for hours. What a world, where you could chat with someone who lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, about how Soundgarden rules!</p>
<p>As it turns out, though, I wasn’t the only person to pick up on this. Another conlanger I’d later meet at the First Language Creation Conference, Matt Haupt, asked exactly the same question, and devoted a blog post to deconstructing that scene specifically. And we weren’t the only ones. The ubese language has its own entry on the Wookieepedia (yes, that’s a thing) where contributors have written up an entire backstory for the language that is, first of all, not a full language, and, ultimately, poorly constructed and not worthy of serious consideration.</p>
<p>From <a href="http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0143126466/sciencefriday/" type="external">The Art of Language Invention: From Horse-Lords to Dark Elves, The Words Behind World-Building</a> by David J. Peterson, published on September 29, 2015 by Penguin Books, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright by David J. Peterson, 2015.</p>
<p />
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following excerpt art language invention david j peterson listen scifri october 2 2015 hear peterson talk linguistics inventing languages kid original star wars trilogy completed initial run theaters star wars everywhere toy sand skimmer broke toy tie fighter also broke readalong return jedi picture book accompanying record would play sound ships blaster supposed turn page youre young familiar record players anything vinyl type pacman record read along youtube familiarize concept childhood short aside heman star wars pretty much thing child four 1985 age watched movies didnt really pay careful attention dialogue wasnt able follow stories well consequently star wars trilogy rereleased 1995 rewatched eagerly got return jedi struck thought particularly bizarre scene beginning movie princess leia disguised bounty hunter infiltrates jabba hutts palace order rescue han solo pretends captured chewbacca engages jabba negotiate price handing leia pretends speak evidently speak via sort voice modification device language jabba doesnt employs recently acquired c3po intermediary near tell exchange goes transcription accent marks indicate main stress want remember seventh eighth grade time rewatching language guy point stretch imagination never dreamed human could invent language even probably wouldnt able come good reason one furthermore point id never studied second language prospect filled dread enough trouble understanding spanishspeaking relatives always spoke fast even knew something wrong earth leia say thing twice mean something different second time even take c3po unreliable translator quite loquacious applies last two phrases could one expect unreliable subtitle subtitles supposed lie outside world film cant rely subtitle provided films creators rely anything trying resolve conflict occurred plausible explanation aberrant phenomenon language correct worked differently human languages languages take english example words meaning affected context control context word always mean thing thus youre telling story dog use word dog several times throughout story still refer furcovered animal barks covets nothing highly table scraps fairly standard uncontroversial would happen language didnt though take example word transcribed yotó changed meaning duration discourse naturally one would define discourse think fair consider conversation featuring leia jabba c3po single discourse leave concern aside moment word yotó several definitions specifically first time used conversation means wookiee second time used means 50000 third time used means less rough equivalent applies words language would resolve ambiguity could one possibly use language well aliens star wars recall takes place long time ago galaxy far far away maybe theyre better stuff humans brain went rewatching return jedi first time future date may shared friend response likely eyeroll quirk unimportant detail otherwise fantastic movie bother thats pretty much thought experiment died didnt take one 160really interested didnt think college course different eraa preinternet era teenager share news family friends teachers come contact 1995 thats pretty much people live near interact daily basis would ever get ahold anyone else would known someone bay area lets sayless five hundred miles awayhad idea id also found exchange interesting 1995 way internet happened yes internet around 1995 wasnt thing anyone could access america online changed pretty soon became thing race home school go chatroom bunch random people talk nothing entertained ourselvesfor hours world could chat someone lived lancaster pennsylvania soundgarden rules turns though wasnt person pick another conlanger id later meet first language creation conference matt haupt asked exactly question devoted blog post deconstructing scene specifically werent ones ubese language entry wookieepedia yes thats thing contributors written entire backstory language first full language ultimately poorly constructed worthy serious consideration art language invention horselords dark elves words behind worldbuilding david j peterson published september 29 2015 penguin books imprint penguin publishing group division penguin random house llc copyright david j peterson 2015
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<p>A long Thanksgiving weekend seemed to Satu and her husband like a good time to go on vacation to Latin America. She was 11 weeks pregnant and feeling well, and the beach seemed like just the ticket.</p>
<p>She never saw the mosquito that bit her and gave her Zika. And she had no way of knowing it would cost her a longed-for first pregnancy.</p>
<p>“I had never heard of Zika. There was no reason to suspect Zika,” says Satu, a 33-year-old Finn living in Washington, D.C.</p>
<p>While grateful she got the best care possible, Satu worries that people are not taking the threat seriously enough.</p>
<p>Zika has now caused at least <a href="" type="internal">two outbreaks in Florida</a>, bringing the virus to a new and often unsuspecting population of women.</p>
<p>“There are people who are not aware of the risks related to Zika,” says Satu, who doesn’t want to use her real name to protect her privacy. She’s sharing her story in the hope of sparing other women the trauma she went through.</p>
<p>“If even one person avoids getting infected with Zika while pregnant, that’s good for me.”</p>
<p>Satu was infected in November, probably in Guatemala — months before anyone suspected Zika was even circulating in that country and weeks before world health officials had fully accepted that Zika could cause birth defects.</p>
<p>“If I had known then, I would have protected myself better,” says Satu, who is cheerful, physically fit, and clearly determined to learn as much as possible about Zika and its effects on the rest of the world, as well as on her personally.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Zika Virus Birth Defects May be Tip of the Iceberg</a></p>
<p>She became a case study for doctors, donating her own medical tests and her fetus to science and helping doctors learn and understand how the virus can infect and damage an unborn child. Hers was one of the cases that persuaded the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that Zika was indeed causing horrendous birth defects — something never before seen in a mosquito-borne virus.</p>
<p>Zika first hit Brazil hard early in 2015 but it took several months for authorities to understand and accept that the seemingly harmless virus was exploding through the population and causing a smaller, matching explosion of babies born with a rare birth defect called microcephaly. The first CDC warning didn’t go out until January.</p>
<p>That was too late for Satu, who felt ill almost as soon as she and her husband got back from their dreamy beach and jungle vacation in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.</p>
<p>“I thought I had caught the flu or a cold on the airplane. I was just a bit more tired than usual,” she recounted. Then a rash erupted, first on her chest, then her face and arms. It didn’t itch or hurt.</p>
<p>“It just looked weird. What the heck is this?” Satu said.</p>
<p>Being pregnant, she went straight to her doctor. “Then the doctor told me it was nothing to worry about,” she said.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Here's What Zika Virus Infection Looks Like</a></p>
<p>Her husband developed symptoms the next day, and tested negative for malaria.</p>
<p>They both got better, and if she hadn’t been so curious and insistent, Satu may never have suspected anything was wrong until well into the pregnancy. The severe birth defects caused by Zika usually cannot be seen by ultrasound until the end of the second trimester.</p>
<p>On a visit home to Finland for Christmas, Satu tested positive for Zika infection.</p>
<p>“You always remain hopeful,” Satu said. “Even when I found out my symptoms matched the Zika disease, I wanted to find out the worse-case scenario. Of course it was dreadful, but even in the midst of the horror you think there is a small chance it will be OK.”</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">New Map Finds 2 Billion at Risk From Zika</a></p>
<p>At first it did seem OK. Ultrasounds showed the fetus was developing normally.</p>
<p>Yet blood tests showed Satu continued to have evidence of Zika in her blood. Doctors have now found that’s common when pregnant women get Zika, and think perhaps the infected fetus is sending the virus back into the mother’s blood, or that some people have a kind of predisposition to prolonged infection during pregnancy.</p>
<p>It was late January before the first ultrasound showed some evidence of brain damage. The corpus callosum in the fetus — the structure that connects the two sides of the brain — had not developed.</p>
<p>But ultrasounds can be fuzzy and hard to read.</p>
<p>Satu was referred to Children’s National Health System in Washington, which has a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine that can image a developing fetus.</p>
<p>“In the MRI, they really saw clearly all the structures of the brain,” Satu said. “That was helpful. They could show us the picture and it somehow made it very concrete.”</p>
<p>It looked bad, says Dr. Roberta DeBiasi, who helped treat Satu at Children’s.</p>
<p>“As the brain develops, there are different layers that develop while the baby is in the womb,” DeBiasi told NBC News. “These were basically absent. There were some zones that were just completely undetectable.”</p>
<p>That suggested the virus had destroyed the developing tissue, and once damaged in this way, it doesn’t grow back.</p>
<p>“This particular MRI was so deficient in brain tissue that most people felt this child was extremely unlikely to make it through the pregnancy and unlikely to make it after delivery,” DeBiasi said.</p>
<p>“These were not possible or slight findings. They were severe.”</p>
<p>If the fetus survived to be born, there would be profound damage. “The child would never walk or talk and would need constant, 24/7 care through its life, which would be a short one,” Satu said. There was a risk of constant epileptic seizures. “That was a dire prognosis.”</p>
<p>There was little question that Zika was the cause.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Zika Damages Pregnancies At All Stages</a></p>
<p>“The Finnish folks had done serial testing of her blood up until the point she got to us and, lo and behold, she had positive tests not only when she first came to them but four weeks later and six weeks later and when she came to see us she was still positive,” DeBiasi said.</p>
<p>“It wasn’t until her pregnancy ended that her own bloodstream level went negative.”</p>
<p>Satu and her husband had discussed the possibilities. “I wouldn’t say we struggled, but it wasn’t like snapping our fingers,” she said. The earlier an abortion is done, the easier it is for everyone.</p>
<p>“It did help that when I got the bad news, that I had worked to get the information as soon as possible. I knew what the worst-case scenario was,” Satu said.</p>
<p>The pregnancy was terminated at 21 weeks.</p>
<p>Satu allowed the doctors to examine her and the fetus. What they found was even worse than what the scans had indicated. They found the virus in many different parts of the fetus: the brain, the placenta, in muscles, the liver, the lungs and spleen. They <a href="" type="internal">described their findings</a> in the <a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1601824#t=article" type="external">New England Journal of Medicine.</a></p>
<p>“It seemed like a science fiction movie, that there was this virus that prefers brain cells,” Satu said.</p>
<p>Doctors have since demonstrated that Zika goes into developing brain and nerve cells, destroying them. It also damages other tissues, and health workers are only just beginning to list the birth defects the virus can cause, from the devastating brain destruction to deformed joints and eye damage.</p>
<p>Satu has no doubt she made the right decision. “I was probably the best-treated Zika patient in the whole world. I would say I am a privileged person,” she said.</p>
<p>“I had the option of terminating the pregnancy. Here in the U.S. people can mostly decide when they want to be pregnant and when they don’t want to be pregnant. In Latin America, they mostly don’t have that choice.”</p>
<p>Zika’s caused thousands of birth defects in Brazil, Colombia and elsewhere. It has infected hundreds of thousands or even millions of people across central and South America and the Caribbean. Many of the affected women are poor, with little access to health care.</p>
<p>“I would say it’s saddest for those families that end up having a baby with microcephaly and little support for the family and child,” Satu said.</p>
<p>She worries that people may not take the risk seriously. “It is very easy to say 'it won’t happen to me',” Satu said.''</p>
<p>More than 2,200 cases of Zika have been reported in the United States, most carried by travelers from more affected zones. But each infected traveler has the potential to infect someone else and if it’s a pregnant woman, the effects could be catastrophic.</p>
<p>Because Zika doesn’t cause symptoms in most people, Satu worries whether people can transmit it without knowing. So does Scott Weaver of the University of Texas Medical Branch, who chairs the Global Virus Network Zika Task Force.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="http://www.today.com/health/zika-virus-worries-pregnant-women-u-s-mosquito-season-approaches-t100781" type="external">Pregnant and Worried About Zika</a></p>
<p>“It is striking that a lot of women still understand so little about the risk,” Weaver said.</p>
<p>“The one message that doesn’t get out very often is even if you travel to an affected area and you are not at high risk like a pregnant woman and her partner, you can really have a significant impact on public health by protecting yourself from mosquito bites after you get back,” he added.</p>
<p>That’s because it takes a human being to carry the virus to a new area and to infect mosquitoes there. Mosquitoes don’t infect one another — they get infected by biting people.</p>
<p>“It’s actually everybody who could spread the virus,” Satu said. “Even here in D.C. you can get bitten and not know it. You wouldn’t know you were spreading the virus.”</p>
<p>Plus, it’s hard to persuade even a pregnant woman to cover up and use mosquito repellent every single day in the summer heat.</p>
<p>Related: ' <a href="" type="internal">Invisible' Zika Epidemic Frustrates Health Officials</a></p>
<p>“It is very human to think it’s just one mosquito or to say, right now I don’t see any mosquitoes,” Satu said.</p>
<p>And she’s infuriated by rumors that mosquitoes or Zika are not causing the birth defects, but insecticides or perhaps something else. One friend, unaware of what happened to Satu, posted one of the rumors on social media. “That makes me angry,” Satu said.</p>
<p>“It seems very unlikely that I myself would have been in touch with a pesticide somewhere and that the Zika virus would at the same time infect me and be in the tissues of the fetus.”</p>
<p>Now Satu is free of any evidence of Zika, as is her husband. Traces of the virus can stay in semen for six months or longer, but his tests are clear.</p>
<p>And so is the future.</p>
<p>“Me and my husband would want to have a child, so I think it’s in the planning,” Satu says, smiling.</p>
<p />
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long thanksgiving weekend seemed satu husband like good time go vacation latin america 11 weeks pregnant feeling well beach seemed like ticket never saw mosquito bit gave zika way knowing would cost longedfor first pregnancy never heard zika reason suspect zika says satu 33yearold finn living washington dc grateful got best care possible satu worries people taking threat seriously enough zika caused least two outbreaks florida bringing virus new often unsuspecting population women people aware risks related zika says satu doesnt want use real name protect privacy shes sharing story hope sparing women trauma went even one person avoids getting infected zika pregnant thats good satu infected november probably guatemala months anyone suspected zika even circulating country weeks world health officials fully accepted zika could cause birth defects known would protected better says satu cheerful physically fit clearly determined learn much possible zika effects rest world well personally related zika virus birth defects may tip iceberg became case study doctors donating medical tests fetus science helping doctors learn understand virus infect damage unborn child one cases persuaded world health organization centers disease control prevention zika indeed causing horrendous birth defects something never seen mosquitoborne virus zika first hit brazil hard early 2015 took several months authorities understand accept seemingly harmless virus exploding population causing smaller matching explosion babies born rare birth defect called microcephaly first cdc warning didnt go january late satu felt ill almost soon husband got back dreamy beach jungle vacation mexico guatemala belize thought caught flu cold airplane bit tired usual recounted rash erupted first chest face arms didnt itch hurt looked weird heck satu said pregnant went straight doctor doctor told nothing worry said related heres zika virus infection looks like husband developed symptoms next day tested negative malaria got better hadnt curious insistent satu may never suspected anything wrong well pregnancy severe birth defects caused zika usually seen ultrasound end second trimester visit home finland christmas satu tested positive zika infection always remain hopeful satu said even found symptoms matched zika disease wanted find worsecase scenario course dreadful even midst horror think small chance ok related new map finds 2 billion risk zika first seem ok ultrasounds showed fetus developing normally yet blood tests showed satu continued evidence zika blood doctors found thats common pregnant women get zika think perhaps infected fetus sending virus back mothers blood people kind predisposition prolonged infection pregnancy late january first ultrasound showed evidence brain damage corpus callosum fetus structure connects two sides brain developed ultrasounds fuzzy hard read satu referred childrens national health system washington magnetic resonance imaging mri machine image developing fetus mri really saw clearly structures brain satu said helpful could show us picture somehow made concrete looked bad says dr roberta debiasi helped treat satu childrens brain develops different layers develop baby womb debiasi told nbc news basically absent zones completely undetectable suggested virus destroyed developing tissue damaged way doesnt grow back particular mri deficient brain tissue people felt child extremely unlikely make pregnancy unlikely make delivery debiasi said possible slight findings severe fetus survived born would profound damage child would never walk talk would need constant 247 care life would short one satu said risk constant epileptic seizures dire prognosis little question zika cause related zika damages pregnancies stages finnish folks done serial testing blood point got us lo behold positive tests first came four weeks later six weeks later came see us still positive debiasi said wasnt pregnancy ended bloodstream level went negative satu husband discussed possibilities wouldnt say struggled wasnt like snapping fingers said earlier abortion done easier everyone help got bad news worked get information soon possible knew worstcase scenario satu said pregnancy terminated 21 weeks satu allowed doctors examine fetus found even worse scans indicated found virus many different parts fetus brain placenta muscles liver lungs spleen described findings new england journal medicine seemed like science fiction movie virus prefers brain cells satu said doctors since demonstrated zika goes developing brain nerve cells destroying also damages tissues health workers beginning list birth defects virus cause devastating brain destruction deformed joints eye damage satu doubt made right decision probably besttreated zika patient whole world would say privileged person said option terminating pregnancy us people mostly decide want pregnant dont want pregnant latin america mostly dont choice zikas caused thousands birth defects brazil colombia elsewhere infected hundreds thousands even millions people across central south america caribbean many affected women poor little access health care would say saddest families end baby microcephaly little support family child satu said worries people may take risk seriously easy say wont happen satu said 2200 cases zika reported united states carried travelers affected zones infected traveler potential infect someone else pregnant woman effects could catastrophic zika doesnt cause symptoms people satu worries whether people transmit without knowing scott weaver university texas medical branch chairs global virus network zika task force related pregnant worried zika striking lot women still understand little risk weaver said one message doesnt get often even travel affected area high risk like pregnant woman partner really significant impact public health protecting mosquito bites get back added thats takes human carry virus new area infect mosquitoes mosquitoes dont infect one another get infected biting people actually everybody could spread virus satu said even dc get bitten know wouldnt know spreading virus plus hard persuade even pregnant woman cover use mosquito repellent every single day summer heat related invisible zika epidemic frustrates health officials human think one mosquito say right dont see mosquitoes satu said shes infuriated rumors mosquitoes zika causing birth defects insecticides perhaps something else one friend unaware happened satu posted one rumors social media makes angry satu said seems unlikely would touch pesticide somewhere zika virus would time infect tissues fetus satu free evidence zika husband traces virus stay semen six months longer tests clear future husband would want child think planning satu says smiling
| 981 |
<p>If you were walking around Halifax, Nova Scotia, on this&#160;day&#160;back in 1917, you'd have been among the lucky ones.</p>
<p>The survivors.</p>
<p>A massive explosion on the waterfront had rocked the city on December 6, 1917.&#160;The event is recorded in photographs, letters&#160;and documents at the Nova Scotia Archives.</p>
<p>So, it turns out, is the generosity of thousands of strangers.</p>
<p>But first, here's the archival&#160;account:</p>
<p>“A few seconds before 9:05 a.m., the&#160;Mont Blanc, carrying 2,500 tons of high explosives and with a deck-load of monochlorobenzene, blew up, shattering the 3,000-ton vessel and spewing destruction over 325 acres. The explosion killed more than 1,600 people instantly and injured over 9,000 others, in a metropolitan area of 65,000 people. More Nova Scotians were killed in the explosion than were killed in World War I. The catastrophe resulted in over $35,000,000 damage.”</p>
<p />
<p>Ships in the harbour after the Halifax Explosion 1917</p>
<p>Nova Scotia Archives</p>
<p>Historians note it was the most powerful manmade explosion until the atomic bomb in 1945. The huge explosion and fireball leveled the north end of the city.&#160;Debris from the blast was thrown in a radius of four miles,&#160;says Blair Beed, a local historian in Halifax.</p>
<p>“It would've been a clear day but there are piles of wreckage covered in snow. After the explosion a severe snowstorm came and covered everything so what was wreckage may just look like piles of snow, and you would've seen that all the windows had been all boarded up, because the windows shattered for miles around Halifax … they would've still been looking for lost children, lost parents, and they didn't actually find the last body from the explosion till year later when we were moving debris inside an exhibition building.”</p>
<p>The blast was only part of the problem as fires broke out, says Beed, “The wind force of the explosion knocked in houses that were heated by wood and coal burning stoves, and those buildings burned for 12 days on the material that was in them.”</p>
<p />
<p>Schools, churches, factories and private homes were swept away by the force of the Halifax explosion, 1917</p>
<p>Nova Scotia Archives</p>
<p>Among the first responders (the term hadn’t been coined yet) to the Halifax Explosion included the naval crews of the American, British and Canadian ships that were anchored in the harbor.</p>
<p>“The emergency message on the telegraph brought trainloads of people from surrounding villages and towns in Nova Scotia, from the Maritime province, but the message sent out was actually received the same day by the governor of Massachusetts and within 2 days the Americans arrived.”</p>
<p>The doctors and volunteers from Boston that arrived to help out soon began sending <a href="http://novascotia.ca/archives/explosion/narratives.asp?ID=4" type="external">letters home</a> (newly exhibited at the Nova Scotia Archives) describing the spectacle.</p>
<p>One volunteer named Chester Brown was helping with relief and giving out money. He wrote that he “waited on one man in the office yesterday, paid him a money order for 100 dollars, and when I asked for identification, he said he had nothing."</p>
<p>"He lost everything. He lost a wife and five children and a new home and his wife was in a condition to have another child in the near future. He had three boys killed in France since the war started, and the story he told would bring tears to the eyes of the most hardened.”</p>
<p>Beed had two grandmothers who survived the Halifax Explosion. One had just celebrated her 16th&#160;birthday.</p>
<p>“She was close to the explosion and tried to help at a local hospital, but as she described it people had parts falling off of them and she could not take it and had to run away.”</p>
<p />
<p>Children getting food from a relief station, Halifax, December 1917</p>
<p>&#160;Nova Scotia Archives&#160;</p>
<p>As painful as the memories of those days are, the history does serve a source of strength as well for Nova Scotians, says Beed.</p>
<p>“People talk about being brought up in houses where as children they had to be very quiet because people’s nerves were bad, or they couldn’t move the furniture because people were blinded and couldn't see around the house so you couldn’t move anything, so children growing up had a restricted lifestyle in Halifax. As I grew up I would've seen children of the explosion who were really injured with great deformities in their faces from flying glass and debris. It sort of is our story and it's a big story of Canada.”</p>
<p>Nova Scotia hasn’t forgotten the generosity of the volunteers and doctors from Boston who rushed to the scene to help in 1917.</p>
<p>“Nova Scotia started in 1971 to send a Christmas tree to Boston because they were our ‘first responders,’&#160;they were the outside, organized medical relief. They set up the actual hospitals in Halifax to help the 9,000 injured people, and as many survivors would've said, they survived in Halifax on the food and goods sent from United States and this is her 'Thank you' back to the principal city that started the efforts to get relief to Halifax.”</p>
<p>The city had been preparing for Christmas before&#160;explosion and its aftermath.</p>
<p>“People actually lost many things they had prepared in their homes laying on the table that day wrapping up for the soldiers over in the battlefields of France.&#160;With the devastation all around, a little girl wrote a letter saying that one of the things she wanted was dolls to replace the ones killed in the explosion.</p>
<p>"So across North America the newspaper said, ‘Let's have the children of Halifax have a Christmas, and so not only Nova Scotia, but it was really the United States who sent Christmas goods for injured children who are seen in photographs standing in front of trees with meager&#160;decorations but holding onto little trinkets and dollies, and things that were sent from United States. They wanted them to have a happy Christmas.”</p>
<p />
<p>Children's Christmas party after Halifax explosion, 1917</p>
<p>William James/ <a href="http://www.toronto.ca/archives/index.htm" type="external">City of Toronto Archives</a></p>
| false | 3 |
walking around halifax nova scotia this160day160back 1917 youd among lucky ones survivors massive explosion waterfront rocked city december 6 1917160the event recorded photographs letters160and documents nova scotia archives turns generosity thousands strangers first heres archival160account seconds 905 the160mont blanc carrying 2500 tons high explosives deckload monochlorobenzene blew shattering 3000ton vessel spewing destruction 325 acres explosion killed 1600 people instantly injured 9000 others metropolitan area 65000 people nova scotians killed explosion killed world war catastrophe resulted 35000000 damage ships harbour halifax explosion 1917 nova scotia archives historians note powerful manmade explosion atomic bomb 1945 huge explosion fireball leveled north end city160debris blast thrown radius four miles160says blair beed local historian halifax wouldve clear day piles wreckage covered snow explosion severe snowstorm came covered everything wreckage may look like piles snow wouldve seen windows boarded windows shattered miles around halifax wouldve still looking lost children lost parents didnt actually find last body explosion till year later moving debris inside exhibition building blast part problem fires broke says beed wind force explosion knocked houses heated wood coal burning stoves buildings burned 12 days material schools churches factories private homes swept away force halifax explosion 1917 nova scotia archives among first responders term hadnt coined yet halifax explosion included naval crews american british canadian ships anchored harbor emergency message telegraph brought trainloads people surrounding villages towns nova scotia maritime province message sent actually received day governor massachusetts within 2 days americans arrived doctors volunteers boston arrived help soon began sending letters home newly exhibited nova scotia archives describing spectacle one volunteer named chester brown helping relief giving money wrote waited one man office yesterday paid money order 100 dollars asked identification said nothing lost everything lost wife five children new home wife condition another child near future three boys killed france since war started story told would bring tears eyes hardened beed two grandmothers survived halifax explosion one celebrated 16th160birthday close explosion tried help local hospital described people parts falling could take run away children getting food relief station halifax december 1917 160nova scotia archives160 painful memories days history serve source strength well nova scotians says beed people talk brought houses children quiet peoples nerves bad couldnt move furniture people blinded couldnt see around house couldnt move anything children growing restricted lifestyle halifax grew wouldve seen children explosion really injured great deformities faces flying glass debris sort story big story canada nova scotia hasnt forgotten generosity volunteers doctors boston rushed scene help 1917 nova scotia started 1971 send christmas tree boston first responders160they outside organized medical relief set actual hospitals halifax help 9000 injured people many survivors wouldve said survived halifax food goods sent united states thank back principal city started efforts get relief halifax city preparing christmas before160explosion aftermath people actually lost many things prepared homes laying table day wrapping soldiers battlefields france160with devastation around little girl wrote letter saying one things wanted dolls replace ones killed explosion across north america newspaper said lets children halifax christmas nova scotia really united states sent christmas goods injured children seen photographs standing front trees meager160decorations holding onto little trinkets dollies things sent united states wanted happy christmas childrens christmas party halifax explosion 1917 william james city toronto archives
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<p>Sixteen-year-old Roman Molina learned a lot last year that most high school freshmen don’t. He learned to wear a suit and tie and schmooze at business meetings. He learned to give an hour-long presentation and take hard questions.</p>
<p>“I learned to take responsibility for myself,” he says. “I acted mature.”</p>
<p>Molina learned these things through a combination of self-directed, coached study and working two full days each week with a mentor at The Resurrection Project, a community development organization in Pilsen. The unusual program is actually his unconventional high school’s curriculum. Big Picture High School in Back of the Yards intentionally breaks down the traditional separation between school and the outside world, blending classroom learning with out-of-school internships. It is one of three schools in the city modeled after Big Picture.</p>
<p>The school’s motto, “personalized learning, one student at a time,” reflects the philosophy of the model’s founders, two noted New Hampshire educators who teamed up with the Annenberg Institute to design the prototype Big Picture high school in Providence, R.I. The first graduates of that school, known as The Met for Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, all were accepted to college, though some chose not to go.</p>
<p>Big Picture gets high marks from education experts for motivating students by making learning relevant and for its emphasis on building personal relationships with students.</p>
<p>However, some question whether students pick up the high-level skills they need for college entirely through internships and projects. “It may be you really do need an algebra class to learn algebra,” says Michael Cohen, president of Achieve, a think tank in Washington, D.C., that advocates raising state standards and accountability and preparing all students for college.</p>
<p>Also, a recent evaluation says Big Picture and other new schools funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, need to pay more attention to classroom instruction and connect student assessments to standardized test scores.</p>
<p>Despite these concerns, Big Picture is expanding rapidly and nationally. As the Met’s first graduates walked across the stage in 2000, the Gates Foundation donated $3.5 million to Big Picture to replicate the schools elsewhere. Currently, Big Picture operates 23 schools across the country; two of them are in Chicago.</p>
<p>Teaching high-level math a problem</p>
<p>Two of the new schools—one in Back of the Yards, the other in the Williams Multiplex on the Near South Side—have been open for a year. Students at both schools have personalized learning plans that guide their in-school projects and outside internships.</p>
<p>At Back of the Yards, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are devoted to in-school activities. Students begin and end their days in conference with their advisors (who are certified teachers), first to agree on what work to do on their independent projects, then to report back on how much was accomplished. In between, students work on their projects, and participate in physical exercise, independent reading and group lessons like reading Elie Wiesel’s Holocaust memoir, “Night,” and discussing it. Tuesdays and Thursdays are reserved for internships, where students are assigned to work with a mentor who, in turn, keeps in regular contact with the students’ advisor.</p>
<p>Teaching math through projects and internships is challenging, Principal Alfredo Nambo admits. “We need to work harder on that.” A consultant from Big Picture headquarters is helping advisors here incorporate math into projects and lessons.</p>
<p>Molina’s experience illustrates both how weak entering freshmen’s math skills can be and how projects and internships can improve them. Over the course of his 10-week internship with the Resurrection Project, Molina went from being unable to read a measuring scale on a floor plan to teaching a fellow student to use Excel spreadsheets.</p>
<p>“I understand numbers more,” he says. He credits his mentor, Cesar Nuñes, for relentless pushing and making him develop budgets for a summer basketball league. Nuñes also had Molina borrow a math textbook and work through problems.</p>
<p>Another student picked up research and writing skills during an internship with a pediatrician who needed a brochure on the health benefits of breastfeeding to give to new moms. The student also learned a bit of chemistry by studying the composition of breast milk and how it differs from infant formula. “It’s a real project that somebody is going to use,” advisor Mayra Almaraz notes.</p>
<p>Losing a teacher is half of faculty</p>
<p>The other year-old Big Picture high school at Williams suffered a set back mid-year when one of its two advisors left. “We will not open a school with two advisors any more,” says Charly Adler, who worked with both schools last year as an academic coach for Big Picture schools. Instead, each will hire four advisors, which will also address a CPS requirement that high schools employ teachers who are certified in four core academic subjects.</p>
<p>In August, a third Big Picture-inspired school, City as Classroom Charter School in Pilsen, opened its doors. Founder Lisa Arrastia notes the school will borrow heavily from that model—”We’re doing the long-term internships and the projects”—but will also take cues from progressive, independent schools like Francis W. Parker, where she formerly worked.</p>
<p>CPS officials concede Big Picture is a radical departure for the district, and farther out on the continuum of high school reform. “Many people feel the only way to judge the model is to give it four years,” observes Jeanne Nowaczewski, CPS chief officer of small schools.</p>
<p>To contact Maureen Kelleher, call (312) 673-3882 or send an e-mail to [email protected].</p>
| false | 3 |
sixteenyearold roman molina learned lot last year high school freshmen dont learned wear suit tie schmooze business meetings learned give hourlong presentation take hard questions learned take responsibility says acted mature molina learned things combination selfdirected coached study working two full days week mentor resurrection project community development organization pilsen unusual program actually unconventional high schools curriculum big picture high school back yards intentionally breaks traditional separation school outside world blending classroom learning outofschool internships one three schools city modeled big picture schools motto personalized learning one student time reflects philosophy models founders two noted new hampshire educators teamed annenberg institute design prototype big picture high school providence ri first graduates school known met metropolitan regional career technical center accepted college though chose go big picture gets high marks education experts motivating students making learning relevant emphasis building personal relationships students however question whether students pick highlevel skills need college entirely internships projects may really need algebra class learn algebra says michael cohen president achieve think tank washington dc advocates raising state standards accountability preparing students college also recent evaluation says big picture new schools funded bill melinda gates foundation need pay attention classroom instruction connect student assessments standardized test scores despite concerns big picture expanding rapidly nationally mets first graduates walked across stage 2000 gates foundation donated 35 million big picture replicate schools elsewhere currently big picture operates 23 schools across country two chicago teaching highlevel math problem two new schoolsone back yards williams multiplex near south sidehave open year students schools personalized learning plans guide inschool projects outside internships back yards mondays wednesdays fridays devoted inschool activities students begin end days conference advisors certified teachers first agree work independent projects report back much accomplished students work projects participate physical exercise independent reading group lessons like reading elie wiesels holocaust memoir night discussing tuesdays thursdays reserved internships students assigned work mentor turn keeps regular contact students advisor teaching math projects internships challenging principal alfredo nambo admits need work harder consultant big picture headquarters helping advisors incorporate math projects lessons molinas experience illustrates weak entering freshmens math skills projects internships improve course 10week internship resurrection project molina went unable read measuring scale floor plan teaching fellow student use excel spreadsheets understand numbers says credits mentor cesar nuñes relentless pushing making develop budgets summer basketball league nuñes also molina borrow math textbook work problems another student picked research writing skills internship pediatrician needed brochure health benefits breastfeeding give new moms student also learned bit chemistry studying composition breast milk differs infant formula real project somebody going use advisor mayra almaraz notes losing teacher half faculty yearold big picture high school williams suffered set back midyear one two advisors left open school two advisors says charly adler worked schools last year academic coach big picture schools instead hire four advisors also address cps requirement high schools employ teachers certified four core academic subjects august third big pictureinspired school city classroom charter school pilsen opened doors founder lisa arrastia notes school borrow heavily modelwere longterm internships projectsbut also take cues progressive independent schools like francis w parker formerly worked cps officials concede big picture radical departure district farther continuum high school reform many people feel way judge model give four years observes jeanne nowaczewski cps chief officer small schools contact maureen kelleher call 312 6733882 send email kellehercatalystchicagoorg
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<p>On November 23, 2009, state officials in Maine received an unusual tip from an anonymous caller: A&#160;bald eagle might have been shot near the timber-country outpost of Kingman. Arriving at the scene, game <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5tYWluZS5nb3YvaWZ3L2Fib3V0dXMvbmV3c19ldmVudHMvcHJlc3NyZWxlYXNlcy8yMDEyLzAyLTIxLTEyLmh0bQ/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB0ad85388" type="external">wardens</a> found the lifeless bird tangled in a barren tree. It had been hanging there for over a month.</p>
<p>Killing an endangered species that is also America’s national symbol can be a <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5md3MuZ292L21pZHdlc3QvZWFnbGUvcHJvdGVjdC9sYXdzLmh0bWw/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aBc2ee5346" type="external">felony</a> punishable by fines of up to $250,000. As the tipster had suspected, the eagle found near Kingman had died of bullet wounds. The investigation narrowed around a central suspect: Stephen L. Voisine, then 48, a logger and a father of six living in the hardscrabble village of Wytopitlock, roughly half an hour from where the dead bird was found.</p>
<p>The officers who arrived at Voisine’s home asked a question that comes up in any potential crime involving a gun: whether he was legally allowed to have the firearm allegedly used to commit the offense. A set of federal laws makes it illegal for certain people — primarily, <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGV0cmFjZS5vcmcvMjAxNS8wNy9iYWNrZ3JvdW5kLWNoZWNrcy1uaWNzLWd1bnMtZHlsYW5uLXJvb2YtY2hhcmxlc3Rvbi1jaHVyY2gtc2hvb3Rpbmcv/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aBab135fd8" type="external">convicted felons and convicted domestic abusers</a> — to possess guns. If it’s illegal to shoot a protected bird of prey, it’s doubly illegal to do that with a gun you’re not even supposed to own.</p>
<p>Voisine shouldn’t have had guns. His criminal record included 14 convictions for assault and domestic violence spanning 28 years. When Voisine admitted that he shot the bald eagle with a rifle, he unwittingly confessed to owning a gun as a domestic abuser.</p>
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<p>The primary statute prohibiting domestic abusers from owning guns is the Lautenberg Amendment, <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5qdXN0aWNlLmdvdi91c2FtL2NyaW1pbmFsLXJlc291cmNlLW1hbnVhbC0xMTE3LXJlc3RyaWN0aW9ucy1wb3NzZXNzaW9uLWZpcmVhcm1zLWluZGl2aWR1YWxzLWNvbnZpY3RlZA/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB519bb6bb" type="external">enacted by Congress in 1996</a>. It’s <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGV0cmFjZS5vcmcvMjAxNS8xMC9kb21lc3RpYy1hYnVzZS1ndW5zLWJveWZyaWVuZC1sb29waG9sZS8/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB7cd1445f" type="external">not a perfect seal</a> against wrongdoing. Air gets through; criminals get guns. When a domestic abuser walks into a federally licensed dealer to buy a new weapon, he or she will be asked to go through a <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGV0cmFjZS5vcmcvMjAxNS8wNy9iYWNrZ3JvdW5kLWNoZWNrcy1uaWNzLWd1bnMtZHlsYW5uLXJvb2YtY2hhcmxlc3Rvbi1jaHVyY2gtc2hvb3Rpbmcv/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aCab135fd8" type="external">background check</a>, and that background check is supposed to raise a red flag blocking the sale. But whether that actually happens depends on the right records getting submitted to government databases. (Most states rely on the FBI to run their checks, but some do them on their own.) Despite improvements in recent years, millions of those files never make it into the system. As of <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cHM6Ly9jZG4uYW1lcmljYW5wcm9ncmVzcy5vcmcvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMTQvMDYvR3Vuc0RvbWVzdGljVmlvbGVuY2VyZXBvcnQucGRm/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB1ca563c3" type="external">2013</a>, Voisine’s home state of Maine had not submitted a single domestic-violence record to the federal gun-background-check system. Neither had 12 other states.</p>
<p>There are two responses to hearing that a man like Voisine got his hands on a gun. One would be to ask: What would it take to strengthen the background-check system so that this never happens again? But a gun-rights advocate might pose a different question: Should he have been barred from owning a gun in the first place? That’s the <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGV0cmFjZS5vcmcvMjAxNS8xMC9zdXByZW1lLWNvdXJ0LWRvbWVzdGljLXZpb2xlbmNlLW1pc2RlbWVhbm9yLXZvaXNpbmUtYXJtc3Ryb25nLw/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB72791d2b" type="external">question</a> Voisine has been raising. In 2014, he lost a federal appeal in the First Circuit, and now his legal fight has reached the Supreme Court. Voisine and another Maine man with a history of domestic abuse, William E. Armstrong III, have joined to challenge the gun-possession charges brought against them. The justices are scheduled to&#160;hear the case on <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zdXByZW1lY291cnQuZ292L1NlYXJjaC5hc3B4P0ZpbGVOYW1lPS9kb2NrZXRmaWxlcy8xNC0xMDE1NC5odG0/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB0ae7a8ff" type="external">February 29</a>. (The date was set before the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, which may alter the timing, and the ultimate decision.)</p>
<p>Through their attorney, a federal public defender named Virginia Villa, Voisine and Armstrong are arguing that there’s a hierarchy of abusive behavior, in which some actions ought to count as “domestic violence” while others should be seen as lesser crimes that don’t earn that title — and therefore shouldn’t trigger a gun ban. And it’s that idea that makes this case about more than a dead bird.</p>
<p>Much of domestic-violence advocacy over the past 30 years has been successful in classifying more, not less, behavior under the umbrella of domestic violence, from withholding money and food to making empty but persistent (and therefore pernicious) threats. As those beliefs have taken hold, the criminal-justice system has come around to the view that men who condemn women to a life of fear — even if they never land a punch — can be guilty of domestic violence, full stop. Now Voisine and Armstrong and their lawyer are using a gun-rights case to ask the country’s highest court to rethink that definition.</p>
<p>The mid-1980s saw a real shift in the way America and its institutions regarded domestic violence. Law enforcement in particular did a complete 180: Arresting a man for abuse of his wife or partner used to be seen as an intervention in private life, but by <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmNqcnMuZ292L3BkZmZpbGVzMS9uaWovMTg4MTk5LnBkZg/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB8ca8a3c0" type="external">1984</a>, states were changing their laws to make the arrests of abusers mandatory. In <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zcHJ1Y2VydW4ubmV0L3dwLWNvbnRlbnQvdXBsb2Fkcy8yMDE1LzEwL3NpZ25pZmljYW50LWV2ZW50cy1pbi1tYWluZXMtcmVzcG9uc2UtdG8tZG9tZXN0aWMtYWJ1c2UyLnBkZg/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB16c2ff43" type="external">1990</a>, Maine established a Commission on Domestic Abuse. In <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zcHJ1Y2VydW4ubmV0L3dwLWNvbnRlbnQvdXBsb2Fkcy8yMDE1LzEwL3NpZ25pZmljYW50LWV2ZW50cy1pbi1tYWluZXMtcmVzcG9uc2UtdG8tZG9tZXN0aWMtYWJ1c2UyLnBkZg/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aC16c2ff43" type="external">2002</a>, the state’s legislature passed a law allowing judges to temporarily bar suspected abusers from having firearms, offering protection to domestic-violence victims while domestic-violence complaints inched through the legal system.</p>
<p>The year after Maine passed that law, Voisine was arrested for domestic violence. According to court documents provided by prosecutors in Maine, he was living with his girlfriend of seven years, Tina Farwell. After a night of drinking, he slapped her across the cheek so hard that she fell to the kitchen floor, where her daughter found her. Farwell called 911. She told the officers who came to the house that she wanted the abuse to stop, but she didn’t want Voisine arrested — a frequent refrain among domestic-violence victims.&#160;</p>
<p>An erratic slap or a careless push, compounded over the span of a volatile and manipulative relationship, qualifies as domestic violence every bit as much as a beating planned in advance.”</p>
<p>In Maine, police must make an arrest when responding to a domestic-violence call, and despite Farwell’s plea, they made no exception for Voisine. That night, the police took multiple rifles they found in Voisine’s house and put them in the care of his sister. He was convicted of domestic violence against Farwell again in 2005.</p>
<p>As he built a record of crimes against his partners, Voisine ignored four different restraining orders issued to protect the women he was dating, according to court documents. Once, while prohibited from contacting an ex-wife, he entered her home.</p>
<p>Armstrong was similarly prone to brutality; a judge once described him as a man with a “history of violence against women.” Court records show that on separate occasions, his wife, ex-girlfriends, and mother called the police on him for pushing, grabbing, and hitting them. During one of these altercations, officers seized a loaded handgun that was on his bed. In 2008, Armstrong provoked an argument with his wife that turned dangerously physical. She was in the middle of baking cookies and had her wedding ring off. When Armstrong saw she wasn’t wearing the ring, he pushed her and slapped her on the leg.</p>
<p>In challenging their subsequent convictions for illegal gun possession, Voisine and Armstrong have asked judges to focus less on what they did to women and instead on why they did it. The men maintain that they never meant to hurt their partners but only got carried away in the heat of the moment. In legal terms, they are arguing that they behaved “recklessly,” not “intentionally.”</p>
<p>To courts, the distinction between those two words is important. It’s why colliding with a pedestrian in your speeding car because you don’t see them is not the same — and indeed, not as bad — as plotting to run over your ex. Law is full of all sorts of fine distinctions that seem overwrought to the outside world but form the basis of the profession; entire textbooks have been written about the exact meaning of the word fees.&#160;It’s also on such semantics that important Supreme Court decisions are made.&#160;</p>
<p>Virginia Villa, the federal public defender assigned to represent Voisine and Armstrong, thinks that a fair criminal-justice system must maintain a line between intentional and reckless, even in cases of domestic violence. For one, domestic violence offenses sometimes leave scant or vague physical evidence, and law enforcement can make mistakes when figuring out what happened between partners in the moments leading up to a call to the police. “I have practiced criminal law for so many years that I know police reports are often very inaccurate,” she says. Those reports, according to Villa, then funnel the accused into a system in which most arrested men plead guilty and wind up doing time in a massive prison system that might exacerbate any aggressive tendencies. If it were up to her, domestic-violence calls would not lead to automatic, precautionary arrests of the alleged abusers, as they do in Maine and many other states. Villa takes on this perspective with feminism in mind: Such mandates take away agency from a woman to make her own decisions about her family or home situation. A woman may not want her partner arrested, and she should be the one to decide what she can or cannot tolerate in her relationship.</p>
<p>Villa also does not see her clients as habitual domestic abusers, despite their records. She points out that in some of the men’s arrests, the girlfriends may have struck first. “I don’t think it’s fair to say that Voisine has a history of domestic violence. The question is, ‘What is domestic violence?’ I don’t think it’s just offensive touching that causes no serious injuries and has no intention to cause harm,” she says. To her, the logic is clear: Voisine and Armstrong were merely being reckless when they struck their partners; reckless crimes must be treated differently than intentional crimes; and only intentional violence against a partner counts as domestic violence, for the purposes of the federal gun ban.</p>
<p>A gun says, ‘I can kill you. It just takes a squeeze of my finger. I don’t have to look through the kitchen drawer for a knife. I don’t have to watch your eyes roll back as I strangle you.’”</p>
<p>Villa’s views put her at odds with victim-advocate groups, several of whom have filed <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zY290dXNibG9nLmNvbS9jYXNlLWZpbGVzL2Nhc2VzL3ZvaXNpbmUtdi11bml0ZWQtc3RhdGVzLw/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB01b6d554" type="external">friends-of-the-court briefs</a> in the Voisine case. Their experience has taught them that while, yes, it makes perfect sense to separate careless driving from attempted vehicular manslaughter, you can’t draw such distinctions when it comes to domestic violence, which is a fundamentally different kind of offense — precisely because its injuries are often inconspicuous. It’s also a crime that puts women in fear and jeopardy every day, not just at the moment of a climactic strike. An erratic slap or a careless push, compounded over the span of a volatile and manipulative relationship, qualifies as domestic violence every bit as much as a beating planned in advance.</p>
<p><a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5sYXcuZ3d1LmVkdS9qb2FuLXMtbWVpZXI/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aBb9fe274b" type="external">Joan Meier</a>, a law professor at George Washington University who has also filed a <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zY290dXNibG9nLmNvbS93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAxNi8wMi8xNC0xMDE1NC1ic2FjLURWLUxFQVAtZXQtYWwucGRm/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB5dc8b85c" type="external">brief with</a> the Supreme Court in Voisine’s case, calls any supposed difference between reckless and intentional domestic violence a legal fiction. A domestic-violence victim, she says, “doesn’t have a good way of interpreting intent, but nor should she have to. If it’s terrorizing to her, it’s terrorizing.” Meier would go even one step further. She thinks partners have a responsibility not to do scary things, especially if they’re in a heated argument. Research has shown how a lack of emotional self-control can become physically dangerous: One <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5sYXRpbWVzLmNvbS9zY2llbmNlL3NjaWVuY2Vub3cvbGEtc2NpLXNuLWFuZ3J5LWltcHVsc2l2ZS1ndW4tYWNjZXNzLTIwMTUwNDA4LXN0b3J5Lmh0bWw/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aBa0e5b32f" type="external">study</a> found that impulsiveness is linked to a propensity for future violence.</p>
<p>There’s also evidence to suggest that the domestic-violence gun ban in the Lautenberg Amendment was intended to apply to partners who acted impulsively. Named after former senator Frank Lautenberg, the measure passed the Senate by a <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL2lyLmxhd25ldC5mb3JkaGFtLmVkdS9jZ2kvdmlld2NvbnRlbnQuY2dpP2FydGljbGU9MjA3MiZjb250ZXh0PXVsag/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aBfd322100" type="external">vote of 97 to two in</a> 1996. At the time, a gun ban on felons already existed, but domestic abusers were rarely convicted of felonies, and there was no gun ban to capture the many domestic abusers who were convicted only of misdemeanors. Lautenberg’s bill filled the gap by treating domestic violence as seriously as other crimes prohibiting a person from firearms possession.</p>
<p>Lautenberg <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubG9jLmdvdi9yci9mcmQvTWlsaXRhcnlfTGF3L3BkZi8xMC0yMDAwLnBkZg/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB8b2c1321" type="external">expressed hope</a> that the legislation would protect women from men who fly off the handle at their partners’ expense:</p>
<p>This Amendment would close this dangerous loophole and keep guns away from violent individuals who threaten their own families, people who have shown that they cannot control themselves and [are] prone to fits of violent rage directed, [unbelievably] enough, against their own loved ones. The Amendment says: Abuse your wife, lose your gun … no ifs, ands, or buts.</p>
<p>Lautenberg and the 96 senators who voted with him were clueing in to the reality that domestic violence, unlike assault at the hands of a stranger, is an ongoing threat and one made dramatically more lethal when a gun is added to the mix. “If someone has access to a firearm, either through themselves or through a friend, the victim they abuse is more likely to be killed than the battered victim of an abuser who does not have a gun,” says Christopher <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubXN1LmVkdS9-Y21heHdlbGwv/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aBe549bd6d" type="external">Maxwell</a>, a criminologist at Michigan State University who has been studying domestic violence for more than two decades. When there’s a gun in a house where domestic violence has occurred, the risk that one partner will be killed is <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5qaHNwaC5lZHUvcmVzZWFyY2gvY2VudGVycy1hbmQtaW5zdGl0dXRlcy9qb2hucy1ob3BraW5zLWNlbnRlci1mb3ItZ3VuLXBvbGljeS1hbmQtcmVzZWFyY2gvcHVibGljYXRpb25zL0lQVl9HdW5zLnBkZg/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB57ef6592" type="external">20 times higher than</a> it would be if none of the residents were armed.</p>
<p>But a gun can also abet or intensify domestic violence even if a trigger is never pulled. At the heart of the crime is a pattern of control, for which a firearm can be a highly effective tool. The <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGVob3RsaW5lLm9yZy9pcy10aGlzLWFidXNlL2FidXNlLWRlZmluZWQv/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aBb39e2892" type="external">National Domestic Violence Hotline</a> identifies “intimidation with guns” as its own form of violence. For Ruth Glenn, executive director of the <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5uY2Fkdi5vcmcv/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aBe479f416" type="external">National Coalition Against Domestic Violence</a>, a gun says, “‘I can kill you. It just takes a squeeze of my finger. I don’t have to look through the kitchen drawer for a knife. I don’t have to watch your eyes roll back as I strangle you.’”</p>
<p>Such implicit threats take a very real toll. Researchers at San Diego State University found that as domestic-violence victims have perceived higher degrees of danger, they experience exacerbated PTSD symptoms. Glenn thinks that victims in abusive relationships respond to the presence of guns in all the ways that people normally respond to trauma. They become hyper-vigilant, sleepless, depressed. They experience chronic headaches or stomachaches. “It can be even more fear-inducing when the abuser never picks up a gun,” Glenn adds, “because the victim is always imagining when the abuser will.”​</p>
<p>Twenty years after the Lautenberg Amendment became law, the American legal system is still grappling with scenarios it did not address.</p>
<p>While the law extends protection to an abuser’s spouse or live-in girlfriend, for instance, it does not cover girlfriends who live apart from their boyfriends. But vindictive partners often have a way of intruding, regardless of whether they share an address: Dating partners and current spouses are killed in almost <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGV0cmFjZS5vcmcvMjAxNi8wMi93b21hbi1zaG90LWtpbGxlZC1mcmVxdWVuY3ktZG9tZXN0aWMtdmlvbGVuY2Uv/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB67270aaf" type="external">equal numbers</a>, and dating partners are more likely than spouses to seek <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3NtYXJ0Z3VubGF3cy5vcmcvZG9tZXN0aWMtdmlvbGVuY2UtZmlyZWFybXMtcG9saWN5LXN1bW1hcnkv/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB45138d92" type="external">restraining orders</a>. Only <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cHM6Ly9jZG4uYW1lcmljYW5wcm9ncmVzcy5vcmcvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMTQvMDYvR3Vuc0RvbWVzdGljVmlvbGVuY2UyLnBkZg/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB757b859a" type="external">ten states</a> have passed their own laws that make violence toward a dating partner the grounds for a gun ban. A few more have tried to follow in their footsteps only to&#160; <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGV0cmFjZS5vcmcvMjAxNS8wNy9kZWxhd2FyZS1kb21lc3RpYy12aW9sZW5jZS1ucmEv/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB49a1da5e" type="external">meet resistance</a> from the National Rifle Association. In May of last year, the NRA gutted a Louisiana lawmaker’s gun bill for the protections it offered to dating partners and victims of stalking. The NRA <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGV0cmFjZS5vcmcvMjAxNS8wNy9jb25ncmVzcy1kb21lc3RpYy12aW9sZW5jZS1ib3lmcmllbmQtbG9vcGhvbGUv/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aB3de15137" type="external">categorized the measure as one that</a> would hurt women, rather than help them, by potentially barring a woman’s right to bear arms.&#160;</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the existing federal gun ban for domestic abusers is embattled on several fronts. Voisine and Armstrong’s case is the third time in seven years&#160;the Lautenberg Amendment will be at issue in the Supreme Court. Meier thinks the Supreme Court decided to take this case to clarify once and for all that the law’s gun ban applies to those who’ve committed impulsive violence against their partners. Another expert believes the justices could come down either way. “They took the case because there’s a truly open legal issue,” says <a href="http://link.lennyletter.com/click/6112765.224144/aHR0cDovL2xhdy5yd3UuZWR1L2VtaWx5LWotc2Fjaw/566f3412487ccd8b1890d30aBa2ce47ee" type="external">Emily Sack</a>, a professor of law at Roger Williams University. “On a deeper level, I think it is about the conception of domestic violence,” she says. With the Supreme Court operating short one Justice following Scalia’s death, Sack thinks it’s possible the decision could be a 4-4 tie. If that happens, the First Circuit Court’s ruling would stand — which means that Voisine would lose his case.</p>
<p>If the court is looking for a new chance to weigh in on what counts as domestic abuse, the Voisine case does provide that opportunity. And even if the court doesn’t find in favor of the men, the conception of domestic violence as a pattern of controlling behavior — the thrust of domestic-violence advocacy — has already been tested by the argument they’re prepared to present in Washington this month. Victims and their allies, through the criminal-justice system, have been slowly building a barrier of safety. They asked that domestic violence be treated just like any other crime. When a man hit his wife, he got arrested. Then victims built higher: before he could kill her, his gun was taken away. But when such measures are seen to step on the rights of men, people like Voisine and Armstrong come to knock the bricks down, questioning the danger women feel and the sincerity of their fear. Sack summarizes their rationale. “Why should we get our guns taken away for this type of crime?” they ask, as though they hadn’t committed one.</p>
<p>[Illustration: Michael Marsicano]</p>
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november 23 2009 state officials maine received unusual tip anonymous caller a160bald eagle might shot near timbercountry outpost kingman arriving scene game wardens found lifeless bird tangled barren tree hanging month killing endangered species also americas national symbol felony punishable fines 250000 tipster suspected eagle found near kingman died bullet wounds investigation narrowed around central suspect stephen l voisine 48 logger father six living hardscrabble village wytopitlock roughly half hour dead bird found officers arrived voisines home asked question comes potential crime involving gun whether legally allowed firearm allegedly used commit offense set federal laws makes illegal certain people primarily convicted felons convicted domestic abusers possess guns illegal shoot protected bird prey doubly illegal gun youre even supposed voisine shouldnt guns criminal record included 14 convictions assault domestic violence spanning 28 years voisine admitted shot bald eagle rifle unwittingly confessed owning gun domestic abuser subscribe receive traces newsletters important gun news analysis primary statute prohibiting domestic abusers owning guns lautenberg amendment enacted congress 1996 perfect seal wrongdoing air gets criminals get guns domestic abuser walks federally licensed dealer buy new weapon asked go background check background check supposed raise red flag blocking sale whether actually happens depends right records getting submitted government databases states rely fbi run checks despite improvements recent years millions files never make system 2013 voisines home state maine submitted single domesticviolence record federal gunbackgroundcheck system neither 12 states two responses hearing man like voisine got hands gun one would ask would take strengthen backgroundcheck system never happens gunrights advocate might pose different question barred owning gun first place thats question voisine raising 2014 lost federal appeal first circuit legal fight reached supreme court voisine another maine man history domestic abuse william e armstrong iii joined challenge gunpossession charges brought justices scheduled to160hear case february 29 date set death justice antonin scalia may alter timing ultimate decision attorney federal public defender named virginia villa voisine armstrong arguing theres hierarchy abusive behavior actions ought count domestic violence others seen lesser crimes dont earn title therefore shouldnt trigger gun ban idea makes case dead bird much domesticviolence advocacy past 30 years successful classifying less behavior umbrella domestic violence withholding money food making empty persistent therefore pernicious threats beliefs taken hold criminaljustice system come around view men condemn women life fear even never land punch guilty domestic violence full stop voisine armstrong lawyer using gunrights case ask countrys highest court rethink definition mid1980s saw real shift way america institutions regarded domestic violence law enforcement particular complete 180 arresting man abuse wife partner used seen intervention private life 1984 states changing laws make arrests abusers mandatory 1990 maine established commission domestic abuse 2002 states legislature passed law allowing judges temporarily bar suspected abusers firearms offering protection domesticviolence victims domesticviolence complaints inched legal system year maine passed law voisine arrested domestic violence according court documents provided prosecutors maine living girlfriend seven years tina farwell night drinking slapped across cheek hard fell kitchen floor daughter found farwell called 911 told officers came house wanted abuse stop didnt want voisine arrested frequent refrain among domesticviolence victims160 erratic slap careless push compounded span volatile manipulative relationship qualifies domestic violence every bit much beating planned advance maine police must make arrest responding domesticviolence call despite farwells plea made exception voisine night police took multiple rifles found voisines house put care sister convicted domestic violence farwell 2005 built record crimes partners voisine ignored four different restraining orders issued protect women dating according court documents prohibited contacting exwife entered home armstrong similarly prone brutality judge described man history violence women court records show separate occasions wife exgirlfriends mother called police pushing grabbing hitting one altercations officers seized loaded handgun bed 2008 armstrong provoked argument wife turned dangerously physical middle baking cookies wedding ring armstrong saw wasnt wearing ring pushed slapped leg challenging subsequent convictions illegal gun possession voisine armstrong asked judges focus less women instead men maintain never meant hurt partners got carried away heat moment legal terms arguing behaved recklessly intentionally courts distinction two words important colliding pedestrian speeding car dont see indeed bad plotting run ex law full sorts fine distinctions seem overwrought outside world form basis profession entire textbooks written exact meaning word fees160its also semantics important supreme court decisions made160 virginia villa federal public defender assigned represent voisine armstrong thinks fair criminaljustice system must maintain line intentional reckless even cases domestic violence one domestic violence offenses sometimes leave scant vague physical evidence law enforcement make mistakes figuring happened partners moments leading call police practiced criminal law many years know police reports often inaccurate says reports according villa funnel accused system arrested men plead guilty wind time massive prison system might exacerbate aggressive tendencies domesticviolence calls would lead automatic precautionary arrests alleged abusers maine many states villa takes perspective feminism mind mandates take away agency woman make decisions family home situation woman may want partner arrested one decide tolerate relationship villa also see clients habitual domestic abusers despite records points mens arrests girlfriends may struck first dont think fair say voisine history domestic violence question domestic violence dont think offensive touching causes serious injuries intention cause harm says logic clear voisine armstrong merely reckless struck partners reckless crimes must treated differently intentional crimes intentional violence partner counts domestic violence purposes federal gun ban gun says kill takes squeeze finger dont look kitchen drawer knife dont watch eyes roll back strangle villas views put odds victimadvocate groups several filed friendsofthecourt briefs voisine case experience taught yes makes perfect sense separate careless driving attempted vehicular manslaughter cant draw distinctions comes domestic violence fundamentally different kind offense precisely injuries often inconspicuous also crime puts women fear jeopardy every day moment climactic strike erratic slap careless push compounded span volatile manipulative relationship qualifies domestic violence every bit much beating planned advance joan meier law professor george washington university also filed brief supreme court voisines case calls supposed difference reckless intentional domestic violence legal fiction domesticviolence victim says doesnt good way interpreting intent terrorizing terrorizing meier would go even one step thinks partners responsibility scary things especially theyre heated argument research shown lack emotional selfcontrol become physically dangerous one study found impulsiveness linked propensity future violence theres also evidence suggest domesticviolence gun ban lautenberg amendment intended apply partners acted impulsively named former senator frank lautenberg measure passed senate vote 97 two 1996 time gun ban felons already existed domestic abusers rarely convicted felonies gun ban capture many domestic abusers convicted misdemeanors lautenbergs bill filled gap treating domestic violence seriously crimes prohibiting person firearms possession lautenberg expressed hope legislation would protect women men fly handle partners expense amendment would close dangerous loophole keep guns away violent individuals threaten families people shown control prone fits violent rage directed unbelievably enough loved ones amendment says abuse wife lose gun ifs ands buts lautenberg 96 senators voted clueing reality domestic violence unlike assault hands stranger ongoing threat one made dramatically lethal gun added mix someone access firearm either friend victim abuse likely killed battered victim abuser gun says christopher maxwell criminologist michigan state university studying domestic violence two decades theres gun house domestic violence occurred risk one partner killed 20 times higher would none residents armed gun also abet intensify domestic violence even trigger never pulled heart crime pattern control firearm highly effective tool national domestic violence hotline identifies intimidation guns form violence ruth glenn executive director national coalition domestic violence gun says kill takes squeeze finger dont look kitchen drawer knife dont watch eyes roll back strangle implicit threats take real toll researchers san diego state university found domesticviolence victims perceived higher degrees danger experience exacerbated ptsd symptoms glenn thinks victims abusive relationships respond presence guns ways people normally respond trauma become hypervigilant sleepless depressed experience chronic headaches stomachaches even fearinducing abuser never picks gun glenn adds victim always imagining abuser twenty years lautenberg amendment became law american legal system still grappling scenarios address law extends protection abusers spouse livein girlfriend instance cover girlfriends live apart boyfriends vindictive partners often way intruding regardless whether share address dating partners current spouses killed almost equal numbers dating partners likely spouses seek restraining orders ten states passed laws make violence toward dating partner grounds gun ban tried follow footsteps to160 meet resistance national rifle association may last year nra gutted louisiana lawmakers gun bill protections offered dating partners victims stalking nra categorized measure one would hurt women rather help potentially barring womans right bear arms160 meanwhile existing federal gun ban domestic abusers embattled several fronts voisine armstrongs case third time seven years160the lautenberg amendment issue supreme court meier thinks supreme court decided take case clarify laws gun ban applies whove committed impulsive violence partners another expert believes justices could come either way took case theres truly open legal issue says emily sack professor law roger williams university deeper level think conception domestic violence says supreme court operating short one justice following scalias death sack thinks possible decision could 44 tie happens first circuit courts ruling would stand means voisine would lose case court looking new chance weigh counts domestic abuse voisine case provide opportunity even court doesnt find favor men conception domestic violence pattern controlling behavior thrust domesticviolence advocacy already tested argument theyre prepared present washington month victims allies criminaljustice system slowly building barrier safety asked domestic violence treated like crime man hit wife got arrested victims built higher could kill gun taken away measures seen step rights men people like voisine armstrong come knock bricks questioning danger women feel sincerity fear sack summarizes rationale get guns taken away type crime ask though hadnt committed one illustration michael marsicano
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<p>GLOBALPOST INAUGURATION DAY 2013 LIVE BLOG</p>
<p>UPDATE: 1/21/13 2:04 PM ET</p>
<p>Obama's second inauguration marks a few firsts</p>
<p>Though this was President Barack Obama's second inaugural ceremony, it included a few historic firsts.</p>
<p>Richard Blanco, a Cuban-American poet, became the youngest poet to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130121/richard-blanco-first-hispanic-gay-poet-recite-at" type="external">according to the Associated Press</a>.</p>
<p>Another first was marked by civil rights leader Myrlie Evers-Williams, the first woman to deliver the inaugural invocation. Evers-Williams, 80, is the widow of civil rights activist Medgar Evers and served as the chair of the NAACP from 1995 to 1998, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130121/richard-blanco-first-hispanic-gay-poet-recite-at" type="external">according to Biography</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130121/richard-blanco-first-hispanic-gay-poet-recite-at" type="external">Learn more about Blanco and Evers-Willams here</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 1/21/13 1:40 PM ET</p>
<p>Even presidents get wistful</p>
<p>In a touchingly human moment, President Obama took one last look at the crowd of around 600,000 Americans who gathered for his second — and final — inauguration ceremony.&#160;</p>
<p>"I want to take a look one more time," Obama said, <a href="http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/obama-takes-one-last-look-at-inauguration-crowd--1" type="external">Talking Points Memo reported</a>. "I'll never see this again."</p>
<p>He proceeded to soak in the view even as people shuffled past him on their way out of the West Front of the US Capitol.</p>
<p>Watch it here:&#160;</p>
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<p>&#160;</p>
<p>UPDATE: 1/21/13 1:15 PM ET</p>
<p>In case you missed it</p>
<p>Watch the major moments from the 2013 presidential inauguration ceremonies: Obama's speech; Myrlie Evers-Williams's invocation; Richard Blanco's reading of "One Today," his poem written for the occasion; and Beyonce's version of the National Anthem.</p>
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<p>UPDATE: 1/21/13 12:50 PM ET</p>
<p>Stars align for inaugural festivities</p>
<p>Despite the attention she's getting, Beyonce isn't the only major name gracing stages to celebrate President Obama's second term. Celebrities flocked to Washington, DC for the 57th presidential inauguration in US history.</p>
<p>Most will attend an inaugural ball or perform at concerts, adorning the capital city with their Hollywood style — though the First Lady will undoubtedly stand out with her own high fashion.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/hollyworld/celebrities-attend-inauguration-day" type="external">Find out who else is there</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 1/21/13 12:35 PM ET</p>
<p>Beyonce gives the crowd what they asked for, nothing more</p>
<p>Everybody's favorite diva, clad in a long-sleeved black dress, sang the National Anthem.</p>
<p>But it certainly wasn't the performer's fieriest show. Do you think Beyonce was appropriately toned-down, or did the diva disappoint? Let us know in the comments.</p>
<p><a href="http://buzzfeed.tumblr.com/post/41114835355/god-bless-america" type="external">BuzzFeed was quick to GIF the performance</a>:</p>
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<p>UPDATE: 1/21/13 12:23 PM ET</p>
<p>No patience for poetry; bring on Beyonce</p>
<p>Blanco, a Cuban-American poet, is the first Hispanic poet to read at the swearing-in ceremony, as well as the first gay poet, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/01/09/richard-blanco-the-first-gay-first-hispanic-youngest-inauguration-poet/?Post+generic=%3Ftid%3Dsm_twitter_washingtonpost" type="external">according to The Washington Post</a>.</p>
<p>However, the folks at BuzzFeed were not impressed.</p>
<p>Even former President Jimmy Carter was excited for New York's first lady:</p>
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<p>UPDATE: 1/21/13 12:15 PM ET</p>
<p>Let the celebration begin</p>
<p>In what you might call one of the day's more awkward transitions, Kelly Clarkson took the stage after Obama finished his inaugual address for a sober but stirring rendition of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee."</p>
<p>UPDATE: 1/21/13 12:07 PM ET</p>
<p>"We, the people"</p>
<p>That's been a common refrain in Obama's speech so far. Read the <a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/01/text-obamas-inaugural-address/61224/" type="external">full text of his remarks from the Atlantic Wire</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 1/21/13 11:53 AM ET</p>
<p>President Obama sworn in for second term</p>
<p>President Barack Obama took the oath of office to begin his second term as president of the United States. Obama was sworn in by&#160;Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Obama, flanked by wife Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia, laid his hand on two bibles — o <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/01/10/obama-inaugural-bible-kennedy-king/1821363/" type="external">ne that belonged to Civil War-era President Abraham Lincoln, and one that belonged to civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr</a>.</p>
<p>Obama is now giving his inaugural address to a crowd of about 700,000. Watch in the live feed above.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 1/21/13 11:48 AM ET</p>
<p>Sotomayor swears in Biden</p>
<p>Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has just sworn in Joseph R. Biden to his second term as vice president of the United States.</p>
<p>Musician James Taylor followed the moment performing an acoustic version of "America the Beautiful."</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>UPDATE: 1/21/13 11:40 AM ET</p>
<p>Civil rights leader becomes first woman to deliver a prayer at the presidential inauguration</p>
<p>Civil rights leader and former chairperson of the NAACP Myrlie Evers-Williams became the first woman to deliver an invocation at a presidential inauguration.</p>
<p>Obama's inauguration is taking place on Martin Luther King Jr., day, and it seems pretty symbolic to have Evers lead the invocation.</p>
<p>She is the widow of civil rights leader Medgar Evers. Both her and her husband fought to desegregate schools and earn voting rights in the 1950s and 60s, <a href="http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/01/17/widow-of-slain-civil-rights-leader-medgar-evers-honored-to-deliver-inaugural-invocation/" type="external">according to MSNBC</a>.</p>
<p>"We are strong, fierce in our strength," she said during her invocation.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 1/21/13 10:21 AM ET</p>
<p>What we really want to know: Who's Michelle wearing?</p>
<p>Michelle Obama arrived this morning dressed head to (almost) toe in New York designer Thom Browne. The only exception being her shoes, made by one of the first lady's favorite mid-priced clothing stores, J. Crew.&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130121/michelle-obama-wears-thom-browne" type="external">According to Eric Wilson of The New York Times</a>, "Thom Browne's coat and dress for Michelle Obama are both made of silk jacquard based on a necktie fabric, custom made for the First Lady."</p>
<p>Many are expecting the Browne brand to skyrocket after this appearance. <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130121/michelle-obama-wears-thom-browne" type="external">According to CNN</a>, "a single appearance by the First Lady in a designer’s clothes is worth $14 million."</p>
<p>What about Sasha and Malia? <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130121/michelle-obama-wears-thom-browne" type="external">Find out here</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 1/21/13 9:41 AM ET</p>
<p>Lupe Fiasco escorted off stage after anti-Obama rant (VIDEO)</p>
<p>Rapper Lupe Fiasco was escorted off stage after going on an anti-Obama rant at the StartUp RockOn event on Sunday in Washington.</p>
<p>"Limbaugh is a racist, Glenn Beck is a racist," he rapped, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/hollyworld/lupe-fiasco-anti-obama-rant-video" type="external">according to USA Today</a>. "Gaza Strip was getting bombed, Obama didn't say (bleep). That's why I ain't vote for him, next one either."</p>
<p>Find out how it all went down with the <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/hollyworld/lupe-fiasco-anti-obama-rant-video" type="external">full story</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 1/21/13 8:12 AM ET</p>
<p>A new era for the Obama presidency</p>
<p>Barack Hussein Obama, the 44th president of the United States, on Monday begins his second term with the usual inaugural festivities — but in a political atmosphere markedly different from 2009's highs of hope and change.</p>
<p>The traditional parade and public swearing-in outside the Capitol — not to mention the National Anthem sung by Beyonce — will kick things off, but inevitably many will notice the difference between 2013 and 2009.</p>
<p>Obama will take a public oath of office (he took a private oath Sunday) and deliver his inaugural address to an estimated crowd of about 700,000. That's less than half of the record-breaking 1.8 million people who turned out in 2009 to watch the first African-American president assume the nation's highest office, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130121/inauguration-day-president-obama-starts-second-term-live-video" type="external">according to Reuters</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130121/inauguration-day-president-obama-starts-second-term-live-video" type="external">Read the rest of this report here</a>.</p>
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globalpost inauguration day 2013 live blog update 12113 204 pm et obamas second inauguration marks firsts though president barack obamas second inaugural ceremony included historic firsts richard blanco cubanamerican poet became youngest poet recite poem presidential inauguration according associated press another first marked civil rights leader myrlie everswilliams first woman deliver inaugural invocation everswilliams 80 widow civil rights activist medgar evers served chair naacp 1995 1998 according biography learn blanco everswillams update 12113 140 pm et even presidents get wistful touchingly human moment president obama took one last look crowd around 600000 americans gathered second final inauguration ceremony160 want take look one time obama said talking points memo reported ill never see proceeded soak view even people shuffled past way west front us capitol watch here160 160 update 12113 115 pm et case missed watch major moments 2013 presidential inauguration ceremonies obamas speech myrlie everswilliamss invocation richard blancos reading one today poem written occasion beyonces version national anthem 160 update 12113 1250 pm et stars align inaugural festivities despite attention shes getting beyonce isnt major name gracing stages celebrate president obamas second term celebrities flocked washington dc 57th presidential inauguration us history attend inaugural ball perform concerts adorning capital city hollywood style though first lady undoubtedly stand high fashion find else update 12113 1235 pm et beyonce gives crowd asked nothing everybodys favorite diva clad longsleeved black dress sang national anthem certainly wasnt performers fieriest show think beyonce appropriately toneddown diva disappoint let us know comments buzzfeed quick gif performance update 12113 1223 pm et patience poetry bring beyonce blanco cubanamerican poet first hispanic poet read swearingin ceremony well first gay poet according washington post however folks buzzfeed impressed even former president jimmy carter excited new yorks first lady update 12113 1215 pm et let celebration begin might call one days awkward transitions kelly clarkson took stage obama finished inaugual address sober stirring rendition country tis thee update 12113 1207 pm et people thats common refrain obamas speech far read full text remarks atlantic wire update 12113 1153 et president obama sworn second term president barack obama took oath office begin second term president united states obama sworn by160supreme court chief justice john roberts obama flanked wife michelle daughters sasha malia laid hand two bibles ne belonged civil warera president abraham lincoln one belonged civil rights leader martin luther king jr obama giving inaugural address crowd 700000 watch live feed update 12113 1148 et sotomayor swears biden supreme court justice sonia sotomayor sworn joseph r biden second term vice president united states musician james taylor followed moment performing acoustic version america beautiful 160 update 12113 1140 et civil rights leader becomes first woman deliver prayer presidential inauguration civil rights leader former chairperson naacp myrlie everswilliams became first woman deliver invocation presidential inauguration obamas inauguration taking place martin luther king jr day seems pretty symbolic evers lead invocation widow civil rights leader medgar evers husband fought desegregate schools earn voting rights 1950s 60s according msnbc strong fierce strength said invocation update 12113 1021 et really want know whos michelle wearing michelle obama arrived morning dressed head almost toe new york designer thom browne exception shoes made one first ladys favorite midpriced clothing stores j crew160 according eric wilson new york times thom brownes coat dress michelle obama made silk jacquard based necktie fabric custom made first lady many expecting browne brand skyrocket appearance according cnn single appearance first lady designers clothes worth 14 million sasha malia find update 12113 941 et lupe fiasco escorted stage antiobama rant video rapper lupe fiasco escorted stage going antiobama rant startup rockon event sunday washington limbaugh racist glenn beck racist rapped according usa today gaza strip getting bombed obama didnt say bleep thats aint vote next one either find went full story update 12113 812 et new era obama presidency barack hussein obama 44th president united states monday begins second term usual inaugural festivities political atmosphere markedly different 2009s highs hope change traditional parade public swearingin outside capitol mention national anthem sung beyonce kick things inevitably many notice difference 2013 2009 obama take public oath office took private oath sunday deliver inaugural address estimated crowd 700000 thats less half recordbreaking 18 million people turned 2009 watch first africanamerican president assume nations highest office according reuters read rest report 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<p>LONDON, UK - In Europe's sovereign debt crisis, the powers that be are playing yet another round of the ratings game. This time the action is in France. The country's AAA bond rating - a key pillar for Europe's bailout - is being loudly questioned.</p>
<p>It's a bad time for France to be "it" in the ratings game. French banks are heavily exposed to Greek and Italian debt. The government of Nicolas Sarkozy is trying to push through a second round of labor market reforms, to include raising the age at which people can collect their state pensions.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, French bond yields are going up, as the markets seem to be lining the country up for a sustained attack.</p>
<p>Eurofight: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/111115/eurogeddons-global-impact" type="external">France and Germany bicker over bailout</a></p>
<p>This does not come as a surprise to France's political leaders. "The French government has been well aware for some time that France is the least AAA of all AAA countries in the euro zone," said Thomas Klau, director of the Paris branch of the European Council on Foreign Relations. "Now the markets are no longer treating France as AAA worthy."</p>
<p>The French themselves don't seem bothered, according to Paris-based political commentator Agnes Poirier. "If anything it's getting irritating being told of our supposed ratings by inept agencies."</p>
<p>The latest round of the ratings game began a week ago, with the ineptitude of one agency, Standard &amp; Poor's. S&amp;P sent a message to some subscribers that it was downgrading France. The message was a mistake, the agency later claimed. No decision had been made. S&amp;P apologized for the error, but it was too late. France's creditworthiness was back in the spotlight.</p>
<p>Then on Tuesday this week, the Lisbon Council, a Brussels-based think tank, issued a comparative study of all the euro zone countries' economic "health." Its findings were surprising in light of the current crisis engulfing the euro.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/111114/germany-fourth-reich-euro-zone-dominance" type="external">Is a German 'Fourth Reich' emerging?</a></p>
<p>Many of the countries in the single currency, according to the data-driven study, had already taken significant steps to improve their competitiveness in ways that bond investors approved. Even Greece was applauded for its "heroic" efforts in "fiscal adjustments" and lowering its labor costs.</p>
<p>France, however, received a slap on the wrist. "Alarm bells should be ringing for France," the report stated. "Among the six euro zone countries with a AAA rating, France achieves by far the lowest ranking in the study ... "</p>
<p>The S&amp;P error, combined with the stern analysis from the Lisbon Council is one factor behind a steady rise this week in the bond yields of the euro zone's second largest economy. The accepted measure of how the markets view French sovereign debt is to compare the interest France pays on its bonds to what Germany pays. Yesterday, the difference, or spread, between the two nations' bonds reached a euro-era high. If France loses its AAA rating that spread will grow. The cost of borrowing for France could go way up.</p>
<p>The political reaction to the ratings drama has been quintessentially French. Officials and commentators have been bashing the agencies for months. Now, politicians are trying to rein in and regulate the ratings agencies.</p>
<p>Frenchman Michel Barnier is the EU commissioner with oversight of financial markets and the ratings agencies. He has been trying for months to pass new rules that would ban credit ratings of sovereign debt in "exceptional circumstances" like the present crisis. Yesterday, his idea was shot down by his fellow commissioners in Brussels.</p>
<p>German economist Holger Schmieding, author of the Lisbon Council study, says that's a good thing, because there's no point in shooting the messenger. Schmieding explains, "Ratings agencies have a very narrow mandate. It is simply to provide a judgment on whether there may be an 'event' regarding a country's debt."</p>
<p>Schmieding acknowledges that ratings reports often have consequences in excess of their substance. "What over-amplifies their impact is that certain financial clients can only buy bonds with a certain rating, or they have to sell bonds when they are downgraded. So an advisory function becomes a de facto market arbiter."</p>
<p>He says any reform should look at ways to stop the amplification of ratings in this way.</p>
<p>This is easier said than done at a time when fear and greed are dominating the bond market for euro zone nations. Institutional investors are selling their bond holdings out of fear, speculators are shorting bonds out of greed.</p>
<p>Still the question of why France might lose its AAA rating seem odd to a layman. In a time of global economic slowdown French economic performance is not all that bad. It is slightly better than Britain's, for example, yet the interest France has to pay on its 10-year bonds is about one-third higher</p>
<p>The answer is that Britain can "monetize" its debt. That is, the Bank of England can buy the bonds issued by the British government, back-stopping its liquidity. France cannot do that because it is part of the euro zone. Only the European Central Bank in Frankfurt has the financial muscle needed to buy French bonds in the quantity needed to keep interest rates low. The ECB has no plan to buy up French debt at the moment. It is too busy buying up Italian and Spanish bonds.</p>
<p>This is leading to tension between France and Germany - not a reconstruction of the Maginot Line-type tension, but an increasingly public argument about the role of the ECB.</p>
<p>Following a cabinet meeting yesterday in Paris, government spokesperson Valerie Pecresse told reporters, "The ECB's role is to ensure the stability of the euro, but also the financial stability of Europe. We trust that the ECB will take the necessary measures to ensure financial stability in Europe."</p>
<p>France would like the European Financial Stability Facility to be given the status of a bank. Then the ECB could lend it money and that money could be used to purchase sovereign debt. The German government is against that particular scheme.</p>
<p>Ultimately, the resolution of France and Germany's dispute over the ECB will largely decide how the euro crisis plays out. But in the meantime, the French government's struggle to keep its AAA rating is a useful way to keep France walking along the path of reforming its labor markets and pension commitments.</p>
<p>Economist Holger Schmieding points out, "For France its a matter of national pride [not] to lose its AAA when Germany retains it. France might be willing to take the necessary steps to avoid that."</p>
<p>Related: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/business-tech/110729/7-deadly-stories-europe-euro-zone-crisis-finished" type="external">With the euro in crisis, is Europe finished?</a></p>
<p>Whether or not France keeps its AAA status, the markets seem determined to make the country pay more for borrowing. At an auction of five-year bonds today the yield jumped by 49 basis points over a similar auction last month. Interest rates on 10-year French bonds were also up on where they traded yesterday.</p>
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london uk europes sovereign debt crisis powers playing yet another round ratings game time action france countrys aaa bond rating key pillar europes bailout loudly questioned bad time france ratings game french banks heavily exposed greek italian debt government nicolas sarkozy trying push second round labor market reforms include raising age people collect state pensions meanwhile french bond yields going markets seem lining country sustained attack eurofight france germany bicker bailout come surprise frances political leaders french government well aware time france least aaa aaa countries euro zone said thomas klau director paris branch european council foreign relations markets longer treating france aaa worthy french dont seem bothered according parisbased political commentator agnes poirier anything getting irritating told supposed ratings inept agencies latest round ratings game began week ago ineptitude one agency standard amp poors sampp sent message subscribers downgrading france message mistake agency later claimed decision made sampp apologized error late frances creditworthiness back spotlight tuesday week lisbon council brusselsbased think tank issued comparative study euro zone countries economic health findings surprising light current crisis engulfing euro related german fourth reich emerging many countries single currency according datadriven study already taken significant steps improve competitiveness ways bond investors approved even greece applauded heroic efforts fiscal adjustments lowering labor costs france however received slap wrist alarm bells ringing france report stated among six euro zone countries aaa rating france achieves far lowest ranking study sampp error combined stern analysis lisbon council one factor behind steady rise week bond yields euro zones second largest economy accepted measure markets view french sovereign debt compare interest france pays bonds germany pays yesterday difference spread two nations bonds reached euroera high france loses aaa rating spread grow cost borrowing france could go way political reaction ratings drama quintessentially french officials commentators bashing agencies months politicians trying rein regulate ratings agencies frenchman michel barnier eu commissioner oversight financial markets ratings agencies trying months pass new rules would ban credit ratings sovereign debt exceptional circumstances like present crisis yesterday idea shot fellow commissioners brussels german economist holger schmieding author lisbon council study says thats good thing theres point shooting messenger schmieding explains ratings agencies narrow mandate simply provide judgment whether may event regarding countrys debt schmieding acknowledges ratings reports often consequences excess substance overamplifies impact certain financial clients buy bonds certain rating sell bonds downgraded advisory function becomes de facto market arbiter says reform look ways stop amplification ratings way easier said done time fear greed dominating bond market euro zone nations institutional investors selling bond holdings fear speculators shorting bonds greed still question france might lose aaa rating seem odd layman time global economic slowdown french economic performance bad slightly better britains example yet interest france pay 10year bonds onethird higher answer britain monetize debt bank england buy bonds issued british government backstopping liquidity france part euro zone european central bank frankfurt financial muscle needed buy french bonds quantity needed keep interest rates low ecb plan buy french debt moment busy buying italian spanish bonds leading tension france germany reconstruction maginot linetype tension increasingly public argument role ecb following cabinet meeting yesterday paris government spokesperson valerie pecresse told reporters ecbs role ensure stability euro also financial stability europe trust ecb take necessary measures ensure financial stability europe france would like european financial stability facility given status bank ecb could lend money money could used purchase sovereign debt german government particular scheme ultimately resolution france germanys dispute ecb largely decide euro crisis plays meantime french governments struggle keep aaa rating useful way keep france walking along path reforming labor markets pension commitments economist holger schmieding points france matter national pride lose aaa germany retains france might willing take necessary steps avoid related euro crisis europe finished whether france keeps aaa status markets seem determined make country pay borrowing auction fiveyear bonds today yield jumped 49 basis points similar auction last month interest rates 10year french bonds also traded yesterday
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<p>When Chicago implemented a new tax on soft drinks, the&#160;Illinois Retail Merchants Association responded with a lawsuit arguing that the tax should be overturned because it would hurt sales. While the lawsuit failed, the county is now reportedly&#160;retaliating against IRMA to the tune of $17 million.</p>
<p>According to a&#160; <a href="http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/08/03/after-soda-tax-suit-cook-county-seeks-damages-17m#.WYPWQmRroQk.facebook" type="external">report</a>&#160;from&#160;Chicago Tonight,&#160;“The county is looking for some payback from those suing to stop the new sweetened beverage tax.”&#160;Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s office confirmed that it is suing IRMA for “damages” brought about by their lawsuit. At issue is the county’s contention the lawsuit delayed the county’s ability to rake in taxes hand over fist from the consumption of soda.</p>
<p>Preckwinkle’s spokesman Frank Shuftan&#160; <a href="http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170803/BLOGS02/170809929/cook-county-pop-tax-fight-has-president-preckwinkle-suing-for-damages" type="external">told</a>&#160;Crain’s Chicago Business Journal in an email,&#160;“The financial damage to the county as a result of this delay is projected at more than $20 million … The county has every right to be made whole as a result of the judge’s ruling upholding the ordinance and removing the TRO (temporary restraining order).”&#160;In other words, Cook County wants the money they would have received from the tax, had IRMA not filed a lawsuit in the first place.</p>
<p>The move to sue IRMA admittedly upset County Judge Daniel Kubasiak, who said:</p>
<p>“I can tell you that I’m troubled by this, the chilling effect of the government saying that you best not challenge us because if you’re proven wrong we will come and get damages from you.”</p>
<p>Preckwinkle’s office responded by saying,&#160;“Our motion seeking damages has nothing to do with chilling anyone; it is to capture badly needed revenues to which the county is entitled based on the ordinance.”</p>
<p>The county’s response may be indicative of its budgetary woes.&#160;It has been projected that Cook County’s budget shortfall will likely reach $98 million, even with the soda tax factored in. The county even wanted to make the tax applicable to&#160;Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as “food stamps,” but the courts prohibited the attempt by Cook County to tax its own governmental program.</p>
<p>Cook County employees will likely be affected by the budget shortfall. Preckwinkle <a href="http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/06/22/cook-county-preliminary-budget-2018-toni-preckwinkle/" type="external">&#160;said&#160;</a>in June,&#160;“We’ve made it clear to our&#160;workforce&#160;that this is going to be an extremely challenging period, and I don’t think there’s any expectation on either side of the table that those kinds of increases will be repeated in this bargaining session.”</p>
<p>With the lawsuit against IRMA proceeding, it now seems Cook County will stop at nothing to not only overburden its residents with a senseless soda tax, but to also go after its businesses—including the ones that already pay sizeable taxes—if they dare to challenge the county’s revenue generating policies.</p>
<p>For those who may not think the tax is all that big of a deal, and who may drink the Koolaid believing people shouldn’t consume soda in the first place, here is an example of how the tax will affect the consumer. Considering all of the birthday parties that take place daily, the purchase of a simple 24-pack of Sprite will now cost Cook County residents about $10.</p>
<p>Ed Atwell, a resident of Cook County—or as he called it “Crook County”— <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ed.atwell/posts/10213198326739984" type="external">uploaded</a>&#160;a photo on Facebook of a Sprite purchase from Tony’s Finer Foods. The cost of the box of soda was a reasonable $5.99. The new soda tax was $2.88 at $.01 per ounce. Including the sales tax of 10.25% and the additional soft drink tax, the total for 24 cans of soda rose to a staggering $9.66. If that’s not an example of the proverbial highway robbery, we don’t know what is.</p>
<p>The tax doesn’t just hit soda either. As the Chicago Tribune reports, the tax applies to soda and diet soda, ready-to-drink sweetened coffees and teas, sports and energy drinks, and juice products that aren’t 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice, among other beverages. The tax also applies to free refills of lemonade.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/ChiTribCloutSt/status/892863775384240129/photo/1" type="external">View image on Twitter</a></p>
<p>It appears as though Americans are powerless to change their government’s officials, and even when they do, budget shortfalls are often used as an impetus to discontinue the failed policies of previous administrations. But instead of fighting back, and becoming defendants in egregious lawsuits such as what IRMA now has to endure, consumers are voting with their feet. They are taking their business outside of Cook County, in an effort to save money.</p>
<p>As ABC Chicago 7 reported, residents are now going to neighboring counties to avoid the soda tax that&#160; <a href="http://abc7chicago.com/politics/cook-county-sweetened-beverage-tax-in-effect/2268692/" type="external">went into effect</a>&#160;Wednesday. Shopping outside of Cook County is estimated to cost the county 25 percent of its retail sales. Shopper Marty Dwan told Chicago 7:</p>
<p>“It all adds up, I mean, a little here and a little there. Well worth it to wait five minutes until I’m out of Cook County.”</p>
<p>When will the residents of Cook County finally reach their breaking point? Between the&#160; <a href="http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/06/21/groups-seek-investigation-cook-county-property-tax-system" type="external">over-taxation of property values</a>&#160;to the exorbitant soda tax, Chicagoans are feeling the pinch. Instead of fighting back, however, many are simply leaving, leading to the budget shortfalls the county is now facing. Enough is enough.</p>
<p>Will there be a new Tea-Party-style revolution take place in Cook County, but with soda? As if the&#160; <a href="https://nypost.com/2017/03/24/chicago-loses-residents-at-rapid-rate-amid-surge-in-violence/" type="external">street crime</a>&#160;isn’t bad enough, now the county itself is reaching further into the pockets of its residents for a soda tax, shaming them for drinking the sweetened drinks in the process, and suing anyone who gets in their way. That’s not what capitalism looks like. That’s what theft looks like.&#160;The framers of The Constitution would be overthrowing the government of Cook County right now!</p>
<p>Commentary by Jon Masters</p>
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chicago implemented new tax soft drinks the160illinois retail merchants association responded lawsuit arguing tax overturned would hurt sales lawsuit failed county reportedly160retaliating irma tune 17 million according a160 report160from160chicago tonight160the county looking payback suing stop new sweetened beverage tax160cook county board president toni preckwinkles office confirmed suing irma damages brought lawsuit issue countys contention lawsuit delayed countys ability rake taxes hand fist consumption soda preckwinkles spokesman frank shuftan160 told160crains chicago business journal email160the financial damage county result delay projected 20 million county every right made whole result judges ruling upholding ordinance removing tro temporary restraining order160in words cook county wants money would received tax irma filed lawsuit first place move sue irma admittedly upset county judge daniel kubasiak said tell im troubled chilling effect government saying best challenge us youre proven wrong come get damages preckwinkles office responded saying160our motion seeking damages nothing chilling anyone capture badly needed revenues county entitled based ordinance countys response may indicative budgetary woes160it projected cook countys budget shortfall likely reach 98 million even soda tax factored county even wanted make tax applicable to160supplemental nutrition assistance program also known food stamps courts prohibited attempt cook county tax governmental program cook county employees likely affected budget shortfall preckwinkle 160said160in june160weve made clear our160workforce160that going extremely challenging period dont think theres expectation either side table kinds increases repeated bargaining session lawsuit irma proceeding seems cook county stop nothing overburden residents senseless soda tax also go businessesincluding ones already pay sizeable taxesif dare challenge countys revenue generating policies may think tax big deal may drink koolaid believing people shouldnt consume soda first place example tax affect consumer considering birthday parties take place daily purchase simple 24pack sprite cost cook county residents 10 ed atwell resident cook countyor called crook county uploaded160a photo facebook sprite purchase tonys finer foods cost box soda reasonable 599 new soda tax 288 01 per ounce including sales tax 1025 additional soft drink tax total 24 cans soda rose staggering 966 thats example proverbial highway robbery dont know tax doesnt hit soda either chicago tribune reports tax applies soda diet soda readytodrink sweetened coffees teas sports energy drinks juice products arent 100 percent fruit vegetable juice among beverages tax also applies free refills lemonade view image twitter appears though americans powerless change governments officials even budget shortfalls often used impetus discontinue failed policies previous administrations instead fighting back becoming defendants egregious lawsuits irma endure consumers voting feet taking business outside cook county effort save money abc chicago 7 reported residents going neighboring counties avoid soda tax that160 went effect160wednesday shopping outside cook county estimated cost county 25 percent retail sales shopper marty dwan told chicago 7 adds mean little little well worth wait five minutes im cook county residents cook county finally reach breaking point the160 overtaxation property values160to exorbitant soda tax chicagoans feeling pinch instead fighting back however many simply leaving leading budget shortfalls county facing enough enough new teapartystyle revolution take place cook county soda the160 street crime160isnt bad enough county reaching pockets residents soda tax shaming drinking sweetened drinks process suing anyone gets way thats capitalism looks like thats theft looks like160the framers constitution would overthrowing government cook county right commentary jon masters
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<p>&#160;</p>
<p>David Bruinooge says the time felt right for a national LGBT march. (Photo courtesy Bruinooge)</p>
<p>So just how did the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheEqualityMarch2017/" type="external">Equality March for Unity and Pride</a> come about?</p>
<p>David Bruinooge, a producer who handles branded entertainment for music video service Vevo, had been wanting to get more involved in political activism the last few years and says in January watching the Women’s March on TV from his Brooklyn home, he thought something similar was needed for LGBT issues.</p>
<p>“I was just really blown away and inspired by what I was seeing,” Bruinooge says, “and I thought, ‘Why isn’t the LGBT community doing something like this?’”</p>
<p>He threw the idea out on Facebook as a status update and almost immediately friends agreed it was a great idea. It didn’t take long for him to make it official.</p>
<p>“Coming from producing, I knew this would require a tremendous commitment, so I thought about it for a couple hours and then said, ‘Let’s do this.’ This is that opportunity of how I can be more active so I created the Facebook event page and from there, the reaction was almost immediate.”</p>
<p>Bruinooge was soon talking to Washington residents and activists and very quickly, he says the “train was rolling.” Online meetings were held and Bruinooge started making nearly weekly trips to D.C. From the start, he says, organizers had an “open-door, open-table policy.”</p>
<p>The Equality March for Unity and Pride will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday, June 11 on the National Mall. So far, 38,000 have RSVP’d on Facebook that they’re going. Another 122,000 are interested. Other D.C. marches for gay rights have been held in 1979, 1987, 1993, 2000 and 2009. Crowd sizes are notoriously hard to accurately gauge but outlets reported between 150,000-500,000+ at previous marches. Activists point to legislative victories such as the Matthew Shepard Act and the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as having been partially spurred by the National Equality March of October 2009.</p>
<p>So what exactly is this year’s march all about and what do organizers hope to accomplish? Bruinooge and others say it’s much more than a big anti-Trump hootenanny.</p>
<p>“We want to put the focus on members of our community who don’t necessarily get the spotlight and on the issues that affect them,” Bruinooge says. “We want the march to put those people and those issues truly at the center. Personally as a cis-gay white male of privilege, I realize there are members of our community, our allies and even the public at large who sort of thought the fight is over because gay marriage passed, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.”</p>
<p>Bruinooge says issues like transgender rights, transphobia, racial injustice, income inequality, LGBT elder and disability rights, LGBT youth issues, homelessness, bi-phobia, HIV/AIDS issues and much more are part of the dialogue.</p>
<p>“The time felt right to re-energize our community at large to make sure that everyone’s on board, we all have each other’s backs and to make sure that everyone gets full equality, equity, access and inclusion.”</p>
<p>Anika Simpson coordinates the Women’s and Gender Studies program at Morgan State University. She’s a D.C. resident and self-described queer, black feminist. She got involved with the organizing committee in February as one of 13 co-chairs and says after consulting with local African-American D.C. residents, she agreed the march needed people of color involved in a leadership capacity.</p>
<p>Anika Simpson says she wanted to be sure there was diverse representation among organizers. (Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>Simpson says the mission has evolved slightly over the last few months.</p>
<p>“It’s not just an anti-Trump, anti-administration effort,” she says. “We’re trying to mobilize our various communities to address the tremendous needs that we have. There’s a continued assault on our rights and our dignity as human beings that’s coming from multiple fronts and it’s not just the federal government. This is a vehicle to deal with our internal concerns, our intersectional concerns and the external issues we’re facing.”</p>
<p>Planning meetings have been tense at times, Simpson says, but to her, that’s not a bad thing.</p>
<p>“I actually would be skeptical if anyone said, ‘Yeah, everything’s been great,’ because that means no real work is being done,” she says. “If you’re gonna talk about anti-black racism and transphobia, those are hard conversations to have. I’ve stuck around because we have a leadership team that is majority people of color. Our voices have been heard and our white co-chairs are listening and learning and there’s an openness to come of our concerns which is great because it’s not easy or comfortable.”</p>
<p>The march was purposefully timed to coincide with the Capital Pride festivities. Pride organizers were involved with march planners “within a day or two” of the event being posted on Facebook, says Bernie Delia, president of the board of directors of the Capital Pride Alliance.</p>
<p>“We consider the march to be similar to many other partner events that occur during the Pride celebration,” Delia wrote in an e-mail. “It’s part of the weekend’s narrative that this year is not business as usual.”</p>
<p>In addition to being a chance for march attendees from out of town to mingle with D.C.-based activists and Capital Pride attendees, Delia says he hopes locals can inspire visitors to “reach out to organizations back home and get involved in ways that make a positive difference for the LGBT community.”</p>
<p>Marchers will gather at 17th and I streets., N.W., walk south on 17th, turn left on Pennsylvania Avenue, walk in front of the White House, then turn right and head south on 15th Street, N.W. to Constitution Avenue, and end on the National Mall at 7th Street, N.W.</p>
<p>Bruinooge says logistical matters such as portable toilets, water, sound, permits, stage mechanics, medics and more have been challenges. He says there have been both pros (being able to move quickly) and cons (lack of infrastructure and connections) to mobilizing as a grassroots effort as opposed to working with national LGBT rights groups to plan the march. About 60 “solidarity” events are being held in various cities around the country for those who can’t make it to Washington. He says it’s impossible to guess how many may show up.</p>
<p>“For us, this is step one,” Bruinooge says. “We can’t accomplish everything we want in one day, but hopefully our community and our allies will be affected by this and will build off the march and have action items that they can follow up with, much like the women’s march model. … That would be a successful day to me.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Anika Simpson</a> <a href="" type="internal">Bernie Delia</a> <a href="" type="internal">Capital Pride Alliance</a> <a href="" type="internal">David Bruinooge</a> <a href="" type="internal">Equality March</a> <a href="" type="internal">Equality March 2017</a> <a href="" type="internal">Equality March for Unity and Pride</a> <a href="" type="internal">gay march 2017</a> <a href="" type="internal">LGBT march 2017</a> <a href="" type="internal">LGBT March on Washington</a> <a href="" type="internal">Morgan State University</a></p>
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160 david bruinooge says time felt right national lgbt march photo courtesy bruinooge equality march unity pride come david bruinooge producer handles branded entertainment music video service vevo wanting get involved political activism last years says january watching womens march tv brooklyn home thought something similar needed lgbt issues really blown away inspired seeing bruinooge says thought isnt lgbt community something like threw idea facebook status update almost immediately friends agreed great idea didnt take long make official coming producing knew would require tremendous commitment thought couple hours said lets opportunity active created facebook event page reaction almost immediate bruinooge soon talking washington residents activists quickly says train rolling online meetings held bruinooge started making nearly weekly trips dc start says organizers opendoor opentable policy equality march unity pride held 10 am2 pm sunday june 11 national mall far 38000 rsvpd facebook theyre going another 122000 interested dc marches gay rights held 1979 1987 1993 2000 2009 crowd sizes notoriously hard accurately gauge outlets reported 150000500000 previous marches activists point legislative victories matthew shepard act end dont ask dont tell partially spurred national equality march october 2009 exactly years march organizers hope accomplish bruinooge others say much big antitrump hootenanny want put focus members community dont necessarily get spotlight issues affect bruinooge says want march put people issues truly center personally cisgay white male privilege realize members community allies even public large sort thought fight gay marriage passed couldnt truth bruinooge says issues like transgender rights transphobia racial injustice income inequality lgbt elder disability rights lgbt youth issues homelessness biphobia hivaids issues much part dialogue time felt right reenergize community large make sure everyones board others backs make sure everyone gets full equality equity access inclusion anika simpson coordinates womens gender studies program morgan state university shes dc resident selfdescribed queer black feminist got involved organizing committee february one 13 cochairs says consulting local africanamerican dc residents agreed march needed people color involved leadership capacity anika simpson says wanted sure diverse representation among organizers blade photo michael key simpson says mission evolved slightly last months antitrump antiadministration effort says trying mobilize various communities address tremendous needs theres continued assault rights dignity human beings thats coming multiple fronts federal government vehicle deal internal concerns intersectional concerns external issues facing planning meetings tense times simpson says thats bad thing actually would skeptical anyone said yeah everythings great means real work done says youre gon na talk antiblack racism transphobia hard conversations ive stuck around leadership team majority people color voices heard white cochairs listening learning theres openness come concerns great easy comfortable march purposefully timed coincide capital pride festivities pride organizers involved march planners within day two event posted facebook says bernie delia president board directors capital pride alliance consider march similar many partner events occur pride celebration delia wrote email part weekends narrative year business usual addition chance march attendees town mingle dcbased activists capital pride attendees delia says hopes locals inspire visitors reach organizations back home get involved ways make positive difference lgbt community marchers gather 17th streets nw walk south 17th turn left pennsylvania avenue walk front white house turn right head south 15th street nw constitution avenue end national mall 7th street nw bruinooge says logistical matters portable toilets water sound permits stage mechanics medics challenges says pros able move quickly cons lack infrastructure connections mobilizing grassroots effort opposed working national lgbt rights groups plan march 60 solidarity events held various cities around country cant make washington says impossible guess many may show us step one bruinooge says cant accomplish everything want one day hopefully community allies affected build march action items follow much like womens march model would successful day anika simpson bernie delia capital pride alliance david bruinooge equality march equality march 2017 equality march unity pride gay march 2017 lgbt march 2017 lgbt march washington morgan state university
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<p>After President Trump’s executive orders, the future of U.S. refugee resettlement programs is uncertain. This is the second in a series on what that might mean for Syrians fleeing their war-torn country. Tomorrow: Refugee resettlement programs are endangered, thanks to Trump. How do they currently operate?&#160;Yesterday: <a href="" type="internal">For Syrian refugees, recruiter’s call signaled time to flee</a></p>
<p>Moved in 2015 by the dramatic <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/02/world/gallery/refugee-boy-bodrum-turkey/index.html" type="external">picture</a> of 2-year-old Alan Kurdi’s body washed ashore in Turkey, Dean Clifford wondered, “What can we do in the face of such pain and anguish?”</p>
<p>Her answer came in short order.</p>
<p>Right after she saw the picture, Clifford spoke to an elementary school faculty in Winston-Salem, N.C. A young teacher greeted her excitedly, because Clifford had mentioned that she is a member of Knollwood Baptist Church.</p>
<p>The teacher told Clifford that volunteers from Knollwood had resettled her family as refugees from Cambodia in the 1970s. The grateful teacher was “positively effusive in her thanks” Clifford said.</p>
<p>Hours later, Clifford addressed her Wednesday night fellowship meeting at church, referred to the refugee family, and told her fellow congregants, “It’s time for us to do it again.”</p>
<p>Volunteers like Clifford and her team are the arteries from the heart of refugee resettlement. Without them, the nine agencies the U.S. government engages to do the legwork of resettlement would be limbless.</p>
<p>A simple suggestion connected the dots for Anna Rubin to lead Ardmore Baptist Church to sponsor two refugee families.</p>
<p>Ardmore pastor Don Gordon suggested to his deacon chair in 2015 that the church consider sponsoring a refugee family. Within weeks, Rubin had arranged a presentation by Christian resettlement agency World Relief. The only real resistance among deacons stemmed from low confidence in the refugee vetting process. Could the church be sure any family it helped posed no terrorist threat?</p>
<p>“The families are coming regardless,” Rubin said. She assured the church she felt not the least insecurity and vocal resistance faded.</p>
<p>Ardmore settled a Christian family from Ethiopia and the five-member Ghazali family from Syria. The Ghazalis fled when a recruiter demanded that Nasur Al Ghazali re-enlist in the army, eight years after he had fulfilled his two-year obligation.</p>
<p>After the logistics of housing, medical checkups, dental exams, school enrollments, house furnishing and job searches —&#160;all while dealing with translators —&#160;the residual effect for most volunteers is that they become not just “sponsors” but friends.</p>
<p>Becoming vulnerable to a family that doesn’t speak your language and is not familiar with your world, a family of an ethnic identity that politicians tell you to fear, is testimony to a faith that thrives far beyond the pulpit and pew.</p>
<p>It can even be an action that forges links between faiths.</p>
<p>Phyllis Boozer of Wilton (Conn.) Baptist Church chaired a common effort among eight Christian churches, a synagogue and the local Islamic center to resettle a widowed Syrian mother and her five children who walked 12 days to reach a refugee camp in Jordan.</p>
<p>“Knowing someone, and understanding the nature of the individual and seeing them as a person and not as a Syrian, Russian, Lithuanian or whatever ethnicity they are makes us have less desire to wipe them off the face of the earth just because they don’t believe like I do,“ said Boozer. She is also the coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of the Northeast, a band of a dozen churches and many other individuals.</p>
<p>“Knowing someone, and understanding the nature of the individual and seeing them as a person and not as a Syrian, Russian, Lithuanian or whatever ethnicity they are makes us have less desire to wipe them off the face of the earth just because they don’t believe like I do.“</p>
<p>“A benefit to us as Christians or human beings is being a witness to their pain,” Rubin said. “And seeing how we can’t fix it, but we can be with them in it. And learning that being there is enough. That is my biggest lesson.”</p>
<p>“The most positive surprise for me has to do with the relationships that formed,” said Clifford, 75. “We really are friends. If the children see me out somewhere they run to throw their arms around me. The family is totally hospitable and responsive. It’s amazing how they have taken us into their lives and made us their family.</p>
<p>“When one of our team member’s parents died, Aisha and Mohammed showed up at their house to give their respects. They refer to our team members as their sisters, and to me as ‘mother.”</p>
<p>“We’re getting to meet people from around the world that otherwise we would never meet and we get to experience their hospitality and their culture,” Rubin said. “We’ve had a positive relationship that’s been mutually beneficial.</p>
<p>“We’ve shared meals together in their home and in ours. They’ve been very appreciative of everything they’ve done. It’s really been a gift to us to be able to meet them and join them on their journey for this short period. It’s opened our eyes to things we previously didn’t know and hadn’t experienced.”</p>
<p>That’s exactly the globally healing effect of interaction between cultures for which Dina Shehata yearns. A member of the local Annoor Islamic Center, Shehata is a willing volunteer and interpreter for Christian churches resettling refugees. Her family, which immigrated from Egypt, runs a local Italian restaurant.</p>
<p>Christians helping to resettle Muslim refugees is “definitely a great, great step toward really clearing up misconceptions” about each other, Shehata said. “People don’t understand because they just don’t know.</p>
<p>“Once we work together we learn a lot more about each other and that builds a bridge to more understanding in the future,” she said.</p>
<p>Even with a commitment simply to serve, and not to proselytize, the Christian motivation of these volunteers is clear. “The Bible is very clear about welcoming the stranger and refugees,” Clifford said. “As followers of Jesus we are to live by Matthew 25 which calls us to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, care for the sick.</p>
<p>“That is a very clear command for us to love our neighbor. And the story of the good Samaritan defines ‘neighbor’ as anyone who needs help or gives help.”</p>
<p>The chasm narrowing power of being a neighbor is spreading in Winston-Salem. Knollwood has partnered with the local Jewish temple to resettle a family, and is forming another Good Neighbor team for a second joint effort. So a Baptist church, a Jewish synagogue and Muslim mosque are working together to resettle a Muslim family.</p>
<p>“Our contract is done,” said Clifford about their first family. “Our work is not over by any means. I think we’ll want to stand with this family for a long time.”</p>
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president trumps executive orders future us refugee resettlement programs uncertain second series might mean syrians fleeing wartorn country tomorrow refugee resettlement programs endangered thanks trump currently operate160yesterday syrian refugees recruiters call signaled time flee moved 2015 dramatic picture 2yearold alan kurdis body washed ashore turkey dean clifford wondered face pain anguish answer came short order right saw picture clifford spoke elementary school faculty winstonsalem nc young teacher greeted excitedly clifford mentioned member knollwood baptist church teacher told clifford volunteers knollwood resettled family refugees cambodia 1970s grateful teacher positively effusive thanks clifford said hours later clifford addressed wednesday night fellowship meeting church referred refugee family told fellow congregants time us volunteers like clifford team arteries heart refugee resettlement without nine agencies us government engages legwork resettlement would limbless simple suggestion connected dots anna rubin lead ardmore baptist church sponsor two refugee families ardmore pastor gordon suggested deacon chair 2015 church consider sponsoring refugee family within weeks rubin arranged presentation christian resettlement agency world relief real resistance among deacons stemmed low confidence refugee vetting process could church sure family helped posed terrorist threat families coming regardless rubin said assured church felt least insecurity vocal resistance faded ardmore settled christian family ethiopia fivemember ghazali family syria ghazalis fled recruiter demanded nasur al ghazali reenlist army eight years fulfilled twoyear obligation logistics housing medical checkups dental exams school enrollments house furnishing job searches 160all dealing translators 160the residual effect volunteers become sponsors friends becoming vulnerable family doesnt speak language familiar world family ethnic identity politicians tell fear testimony faith thrives far beyond pulpit pew even action forges links faiths phyllis boozer wilton conn baptist church chaired common effort among eight christian churches synagogue local islamic center resettle widowed syrian mother five children walked 12 days reach refugee camp jordan knowing someone understanding nature individual seeing person syrian russian lithuanian whatever ethnicity makes us less desire wipe face earth dont believe like said boozer also coordinator cooperative baptist fellowship northeast band dozen churches many individuals knowing someone understanding nature individual seeing person syrian russian lithuanian whatever ethnicity makes us less desire wipe face earth dont believe like benefit us christians human beings witness pain rubin said seeing cant fix learning enough biggest lesson positive surprise relationships formed said clifford 75 really friends children see somewhere run throw arms around family totally hospitable responsive amazing taken us lives made us family one team members parents died aisha mohammed showed house give respects refer team members sisters mother getting meet people around world otherwise would never meet get experience hospitality culture rubin said weve positive relationship thats mutually beneficial weve shared meals together home theyve appreciative everything theyve done really gift us able meet join journey short period opened eyes things previously didnt know hadnt experienced thats exactly globally healing effect interaction cultures dina shehata yearns member local annoor islamic center shehata willing volunteer interpreter christian churches resettling refugees family immigrated egypt runs local italian restaurant christians helping resettle muslim refugees definitely great great step toward really clearing misconceptions shehata said people dont understand dont know work together learn lot builds bridge understanding future said even commitment simply serve proselytize christian motivation volunteers clear bible clear welcoming stranger refugees clifford said followers jesus live matthew 25 calls us clothe naked feed hungry care sick clear command us love neighbor story good samaritan defines neighbor anyone needs help gives help chasm narrowing power neighbor spreading winstonsalem knollwood partnered local jewish temple resettle family forming another good neighbor team second joint effort baptist church jewish synagogue muslim mosque working together resettle muslim family contract done said clifford first family work means think well want stand family long time
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<p>As an advocate for immigrant children, Julie Contreras has witnessed firsthand the stress experienced by children who come into the United States unaccompanied by an adult.</p>
<p>When she meets with them, some erupt into tears. Children as young as 2 and 3 years old have told her how much they want their “papeles” [legal papers] so their mothers will stop crying. After leaving tenuous situations at home and enduring a long and difficult journey to the United States from places such as Guatemala and Honduras, reunification with family members they haven’t seen in years can add to the strain.</p>
<p>The stress can build up as children face challenges at every stage of their journey – from dealing with guides paid to help them cross the border, who sometimes exploit them, to the uncertainty and limbo of U.S. immigration court.</p>
<p>Unaccompanied minors face temporary displacement, language barriers and other challenges that can lead to anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other serious mental health problems, according to research. Advocates say more services, such as talk therapy and support groups, are needed to help them deal with the stress and trauma they have experienced.</p>
<p>The children would greatly benefit from mental health counseling, said Contreras, who works for the League of United Latin American Citizens, which provides legal and other types of assistance to immigrants.</p>
<p>“It’s a healing process,” she said.</p>
<p>The majority of unaccompanied immigrant children come from the Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Almost 52,000 children arrived in the Chicago area from the three countries between Oct. 1, 2013 and Sept. 30, 2014, according to <a href="http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-border-unaccompanied-children" type="external">U.S. Customs and Border Protection</a>.</p>
<p>Heartland Alliance, an anti-poverty group based in the Midwest, operates nine shelters and provides services for most of the children placed in the Chicago area by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement. Children 17 and younger receive individual and group counseling in Heartland’s shelters.</p>
<p>Children remain there until they can be reunited with family, typically in 30 to 35 days, said Susan Trudeau, managing director of youth and resident services at <a href="http://www.heartlandalliance.org/whoweare/corporatestructure/heartland-human-care-services.html" type="external">Heartland Human Care Services</a>. Trudeau said: “They’re all exhibiting some symptoms of, at least, trauma and loss – being separated from family. The journey that they took to come to the U.S. is pretty traumatic. Most of the children exhibit some low-level mental health symptoms – trouble eating, trouble sleeping, things like that.”</p>
<p>Trudeau said she sees a need for more community mental health services in Spanish as well as more centers that can work with undocumented families after children leave the shelters. However, only a small number of the children qualify for follow-up services after they leave.</p>
<p>Once the children are released into communities, “there may not be any therapists that speak Spanish,” said Elizabeth Frankel, associate director of the <a href="http://theyoungcenter.org/" type="external">Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights</a>, a nonprofit that provides advocates to assist unaccompanied immigrant children.</p>
<p>“There might not be people who are familiar with this population that might understand the specific stressors that they’re under. We find that oftentimes it can be very challenging to find mental health services for kids that really need it.”</p>
<p>Chicago Immigration Court, for the first time, has started to collect statistics on unaccompanied children who arrive in the city. More than 200 unaccompanied children were assigned to the court between July 18 and Oct. 21, 2014, according to the federal Executive Office of Immigration Review. The office began identifying unaccompanied children separately in July because they have become one of its agency’s priorities.</p>
<p>Many children leaving their countries of origin are fleeing violence. While unaccompanied immigrant children are not technically refugees, a study from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported that 58 percent of unaccompanied children from Central America and Mexico <a href="http://www.unhcrwashington.org/sites/default/wp-content/uploads/1_UAC_Children%20on%20the%20Run_Full%20Report.pdf" type="external">potentially need international protection</a>, meaning they qualify as refugees or should be given access to a process for attaining legal status.</p>
<p>“It’s important to realize the kids have endured trauma at three points: in their countries of origin, in transit and once they reach the U.S.,” said Elizabeth Kennedy, a social scientist and doctoral candidate at San Diego State University, who has interviewed hundreds of the children in El Salvador. “That compounding of trauma can be especially problematic.”</p>
<p>Rebecca Seligman, an assistant professor of anthropology at Northwestern University, said the effects of accumulated trauma are not totally understood, but research suggests that ongoing trauma and stress wear down coping mechanisms. Unaccompanied immigrant children enter an unfamiliar environment, far from family or friends who can provide support.</p>
<p>“All of the things that would help people to cope when dealing with trauma, a lot of those things are lacking,” said Seligman, whose work focuses on transcultural psychiatry.</p>
<p>Kennedy spent 13 months in El Salvador interviewing more than 700 child immigrants. Her research, which was published by the American Immigration Council, showed that more than half of 322 Salvadoran children interviewed listed crime, gang threats or violence as a reason for leaving the country. In an <a href="https://www.academia.edu/2557644/Unnecessary_Suffering_Potential_Unmet_Mental_Health_Needs_of_Unaccompanied_Alien_Children" type="external">article in JAMA Pediatrics</a>last year, she wrote that “the high level of potential trauma before and during migration may lead to some of the highest levels of mental illness among children in the United States.”</p>
<p>The father of Andy Paz, a teenager that Contreras works with, disappeared in Honduras when he refused to continue working for a criminal organization. Contreras said the 13-year-old, who arrived in the United States in May and is applying for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, should be focused on having fun with his friends. Instead, he is coping with more serious issues, she said.</p>
<p>“It’s sad to see,” she said.</p>
<p>Contreras also witnesses the stress families go through when unaccompanied children join them in the United States. Sometimes the parents have had more children or started new families since immigrating. Contreras recalls the time a crying child told her that his new siblings with American citizenship were luckier than him because, “they were born with everything.”</p>
<p>Seligman said that mental health care can be a challenge because of issues of cultural sensitivity. But one way to address mental health for unaccompanied children is to make sure living conditions for immigrant children are better after they arrive in the States, lowering their levels of stress and the possibility that a serious mental health problem will develop, she said. Some of the stresses children are exposed to include poverty, uncertainty and loss of a familiar way of life.</p>
<p>If children are given more social support and access to their culture after they arrive, they’re going to do better, Seligman said.</p>
<p>Kennedy said the Office of Refugee Resettlement should solicit best practices from universities where researchers have been developing questionnaires specifically to screen for mental health issues in immigrants and refugees. Frankel said the Young Center brings in trauma experts, usually psychologists who have worked with immigrant children, as part of their advocate training.</p>
<p>“These (treatment) models do exist,” Kennedy said. “Trauma care has been adapted to be culturally sensitive for years now.”</p>
<p>Kennedy praised the work of Heartland Alliance, but said other facilities need to provide more counseling and follow-up services for children.</p>
<p>“There’s a misperception that kids don’t know the risk of the journey, that they’re just haphazardly making decisions, doing something for fun,” she said. “But kids know how dangerous it is for them to leave, and that’s perhaps the biggest sign of their desperation and what they’ve endured. When you acknowledge that and you also acknowledge how dangerous the journey is, it would be crazy to say that they don’t all have at least a short-term need for counseling.”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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advocate immigrant children julie contreras witnessed firsthand stress experienced children come united states unaccompanied adult meets erupt tears children young 2 3 years old told much want papeles legal papers mothers stop crying leaving tenuous situations home enduring long difficult journey united states places guatemala honduras reunification family members havent seen years add strain stress build children face challenges every stage journey dealing guides paid help cross border sometimes exploit uncertainty limbo us immigration court unaccompanied minors face temporary displacement language barriers challenges lead anxiety depression posttraumatic stress disorder serious mental health problems according research advocates say services talk therapy support groups needed help deal stress trauma experienced children would greatly benefit mental health counseling said contreras works league united latin american citizens provides legal types assistance immigrants healing process said majority unaccompanied immigrant children come central american countries guatemala honduras el salvador almost 52000 children arrived chicago area three countries oct 1 2013 sept 30 2014 according us customs border protection heartland alliance antipoverty group based midwest operates nine shelters provides services children placed chicago area federal office refugee resettlement children 17 younger receive individual group counseling heartlands shelters children remain reunited family typically 30 35 days said susan trudeau managing director youth resident services heartland human care services trudeau said theyre exhibiting symptoms least trauma loss separated family journey took come us pretty traumatic children exhibit lowlevel mental health symptoms trouble eating trouble sleeping things like trudeau said sees need community mental health services spanish well centers work undocumented families children leave shelters however small number children qualify followup services leave children released communities may therapists speak spanish said elizabeth frankel associate director young center immigrant childrens rights nonprofit provides advocates assist unaccompanied immigrant children might people familiar population might understand specific stressors theyre find oftentimes challenging find mental health services kids really need chicago immigration court first time started collect statistics unaccompanied children arrive city 200 unaccompanied children assigned court july 18 oct 21 2014 according federal executive office immigration review office began identifying unaccompanied children separately july become one agencys priorities many children leaving countries origin fleeing violence unaccompanied immigrant children technically refugees study united nations high commissioner refugees reported 58 percent unaccompanied children central america mexico potentially need international protection meaning qualify refugees given access process attaining legal status important realize kids endured trauma three points countries origin transit reach us said elizabeth kennedy social scientist doctoral candidate san diego state university interviewed hundreds children el salvador compounding trauma especially problematic rebecca seligman assistant professor anthropology northwestern university said effects accumulated trauma totally understood research suggests ongoing trauma stress wear coping mechanisms unaccompanied immigrant children enter unfamiliar environment far family friends provide support things would help people cope dealing trauma lot things lacking said seligman whose work focuses transcultural psychiatry kennedy spent 13 months el salvador interviewing 700 child immigrants research published american immigration council showed half 322 salvadoran children interviewed listed crime gang threats violence reason leaving country article jama pediatricslast year wrote high level potential trauma migration may lead highest levels mental illness among children united states father andy paz teenager contreras works disappeared honduras refused continue working criminal organization contreras said 13yearold arrived united states may applying special immigrant juvenile status focused fun friends instead coping serious issues said sad see said contreras also witnesses stress families go unaccompanied children join united states sometimes parents children started new families since immigrating contreras recalls time crying child told new siblings american citizenship luckier born everything seligman said mental health care challenge issues cultural sensitivity one way address mental health unaccompanied children make sure living conditions immigrant children better arrive states lowering levels stress possibility serious mental health problem develop said stresses children exposed include poverty uncertainty loss familiar way life children given social support access culture arrive theyre going better seligman said kennedy said office refugee resettlement solicit best practices universities researchers developing questionnaires specifically screen mental health issues immigrants refugees frankel said young center brings trauma experts usually psychologists worked immigrant children part advocate training treatment models exist kennedy said trauma care adapted culturally sensitive years kennedy praised work heartland alliance said facilities need provide counseling followup services children theres misperception kids dont know risk journey theyre haphazardly making decisions something fun said kids know dangerous leave thats perhaps biggest sign desperation theyve endured acknowledge also acknowledge dangerous journey would crazy say dont least shortterm need counseling 160
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<p />
<p>MAY 12, 2010</p>
<p>By STEVEN GREENHUT</p>
<p>“One cannot be both a progressive and be opposed to pension reform,” argued Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s top pension advisor, David Crane, during a pension-reform hearing on Monday. “The math is irrefutable that the losers from excessive and unfunded pensions are precisely the programs progressive Democrats tend to applaud. Those programs are being driven out of existence by rising pension costs.”</p>
<p>Yet it’s clear – from their votes and posturing during pension-related debates – that the progressive Democrats who run California’s Legislature and who controlled the committee hearing have no intention of doing anything to anger the state’s powerful public employee unions. Union leaders and activists filled the committee room to speak out against SB919, which would increase retirement ages and decrease defined pension benefits for newly hired state employees. The new levels would still be far more generous than pension plans in the private sector.</p>
<p>Thus I am left with this sad but reasonable conclusion: There is absolutely no chance that California’s Legislature will embrace even modest reforms to its public employee pension system, which has a pension liability that is estimated by some sources as high as $500 billion.</p>
<p>My conclusion is not born purely out of pessimism, even though I admit to having a generous dose of it based on my dozen years of watching public employee unions have their way with local, county and state governments. This simply is reality – one that has become more obvious after the hearing. The committee didn’t even get a quorum to take a vote. Indeed, Republican Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, at the end of the meeting, stated the obvious: this bill will never get out of committee and the only hope for reform is in the initiative process.</p>
<p>Because unions have the ability to raise political funds from member dues and have armies of foot soldiers to engage in campaign warfare, any sort of statewide initiative reform is a tough road as well. Two recent union-related initiative campaigns – a Paycheck Protection measure to reduce unions’ ability to collect dues for political purposes, and a second-tier pension reform plan – have died on the vine, as they lacked sufficient funding and signatures to make it to the ballot. The backer of the pension-reform measure has publicly accused the leading Republican for governor, Meg Whitman, of torpedoing the measure by leading on reform supporters with promises of financial aid and then dropping such support late in the game, thus leaving activists without time and resources to qualify the measure for the ballot. On the Democratic side, former Gov. Jerry Brown is seeking a comeback and has been actively courting union members and defending his ‘70s-era decision giving public employees the right to join unions. There’s not much hope that the political climate will change when a new governor takes office.</p>
<p>This doesn’t leave California with many options. While union activists gained the most attention with their testimony against the pension reform bill on Monday, Schwarzenegger advisor Crane gave a stunning and detailed warning about California’s pension system and about the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the nation’s largest pension fund and a big player in the past decade’s expansion of benefits that has led to the current crisis.</p>
<p>Crane’s call to fellow progressives fell on deaf ears. So did his reminder of how the state’s pension system works. Union officials insist that unfunded liabilities don’t mean very much because the market goes up and down and they insist all will be well when the economy rebounds. But Crane reminded listeners that no rebound can fix the current problem. He also gave a short primer on the pension system: “When the state makes a pension promise to a state employee, it is simply promising to pay money to the employee at points in the future. Thus, state pension obligations are no different than state debt obligations, which also are promises to pay amounts in the future.&#160; But they differ in two important respects: (1) voter approval is not required for pension obligations – governors and legislators have all the responsibility in that regard, and (2) pension costs, unlike debt service costs, are neither capped nor precisely quantifiable in advance.”</p>
<p>In other words, these are fixed debt obligations – no different than any other debt obligations incurred by the government, except that they are not capped and not subject to public approval. And, he emphasized, “Pension payments are senior obligations of the state to its employees and accordingly have priority over every other expenditure except Proposition 98 (i.e., K-14) expenditures and arguably even before debt service.” Prop. 98 earmarks 40 percent of the state budget to education. After that, the state must pay for these debts before it funds anything else. It’s understandable that unions take the “don’t worry, be happy” approach toward pension obligations – they get theirs no matter what. But any legislator who believes that such obligations don’t harm programs or endanger the state’s budget situation is not dealing with fiscal reality.</p>
<p>Crane hearing attendees that these defined-benefit pensions are funded when employers and employees make contributions to the retirement system (often, the employer, which is the government agency via the taxpayer, makes the full contribution to the system) and that the combination of contributions and investments earnings is expected to pay for the promised retirement amount. Unlike the 401(k) systems common in the private sector, however, “the state” is required to make up any shortfalls because of insufficient contributions or investment return shortfalls.</p>
<p>As Crane recounted, CalPERS – which testified against SB919 and insisted at the hearing that the economy was rebounding – has not been particularly accurate in its past predictions. The public assumes all the risk from this pension deal, yet “CalPERS refuses to disclose the information necessary for the state to be aware of and plan for those risks ….” In referring to CalPERS’ 1999 plan to retroactively increase pensions, Crane argued, “It’s nothing short of astonishing that the CalPERS Proposal, which promoted the largest non-voter approved debt issuance in California history, was not accompanied by disclosures of risks or conflicts of interest.&#160; Frankly I’ve never seen anything like the CalPERS sales document, which makes even Goldman Sachs’s alleged non-disclosure look like child’s play.”</p>
<p>When CalPERS pitched that idea in ’99, Crane noted, it never noted that the state would be responsible for any shortfall in investment returns, that its assumed investment returns required “the Dow Jones to reach roughly 25,000 by 2009 and 28,000,0000 by 2099,” that the state had no cap on potential taxpayer liabilities, that its own employees would directly benefit from the pension increases, and that CalPERS’ board members “had received campaign contributions from beneficiaries of the legislation.”</p>
<p>Yet at the hearing, CalPERS had mocked the Stanford study pointing to the half-trillion-dollar pension liability, which used a “risk-free’ rate of return of 4 percent as a means to identify the current debt free from other financial assumptions. That assumption might be too low, but CalPERS’s own predictions have repeatedly erred too far in the other direction.</p>
<p>Union representatives insisted over and again that any pension matters should be handled at the negotiating table, even though such negotiations have resulted in the current fiscal train wreck. Unions are at their strongest at the bargaining table, especially when we considers that the government staff who supposedly represent the taxpayers also benefit from any gains the unions achieve, which in part explains such little resistance to the retroactive “3 percent at 50” deals approved in 1999 that have put California in its current bind. That formula allows public safety employees – police, fire, prison guards, etc. – to retire at age 50 with 90 percent of their final year’s pay guaranteed for their lives and the lives of their spouses. That percentage goes even high when various pension-spiking gimmicks are included.</p>
<p>SB919 would also rein in some of those schemes, require that the pension is based on the final three years of work and stop certain categories of workers such as milk inspectors and billboard inspectors from receiving enhanced “public safety” formulas. It’s hard to understand how anyone could oppose these reasonable tweaks given the financial data. But Senate Democrats weren’t considering serious arguments and didn’t respond to Crane’s point that “All the consequences of rising pension costs fall on the budgets for programs such as higher education, health and human services, parks and recreation and environmental protection that are junior in priority and therefore have their funding reduced whenever more money is needed to pay for pension costs.”</p>
<p>Apparently, there aren’t any real progressives left in California’s Legislature. The Legislature seems to be willing to take CalPERS’ word on the matter for now, even as the pension fund and its former officials have dominated the front-page news in California with wild tales of alleged pay-for-play schemes and bone-headed leveraged investments in housing developments at the height of the market.</p>
<p>In the union worldview, all the current problems are the result of Wall Street. The Bay Area city of Vallejo didn’t go bankrupt because nearly 80 percent of its funds went to public safety budgets that ginned up $300,000 a year compensation packages for police captains, but because of supposed municipal mismanagement. And they say there’s no need for new legislation that creates a lower, second-tier retirement plan for new hires because the system is working perfectly well.</p>
<p>As the Retired Public Employees Association argued in a letter to committee Chairman Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, in opposition to SB919, “RPEA disagrees with the assertion that California’s public employee pension system is broken. California’s system of providing retirement security and healthcare for our hard working public employees has worked for years – and is working now. It is a well managed system that allows us to recruit and retain good public employees, while keeping the promise made to them for secure, fair and well earned retirement.”</p>
<p>There’s no question the system does work well for one group of beneficiaries. Government has been involved in a massive transfer of wealth from the private sector to the public sector and those who are slated to receive these millionaires’ pensions – often north of $100,000 a year, cost-of-living adjusted for the life of the retiree and spouse, plus full health care and other benefits, available as early as age 50 – aren’t about to give any ground even though the legislative fixes are for new hires only. The union members were so disrespectful to the few bill supporters who testified at the hearing that the sergeant-at-arms had to hush them. This isn’t about seriously dealing with a fiscal emergency, but engaging in the show-of-force politicking that public sector unions have perfected in Sacramento and elsewhere.</p>
<p>CalPERS own chief actuary, Ron Seeling, recently said the current pension system is unsustainable, but CalPERS officials were there telling the committee that all is well – not only with the investment fund but with its “smoothing” practices that spread debt out far into the future.</p>
<p>Indeed, one union official with whom I argued before the hearing just turned 50 and is eligible for a six-figure lifetime retirement benefit whenever he chooses to stop working. I’m a year younger than him and like to think that I’ve worked hard in my career also, but like most private-sector workers I see no retirement date on the horizon. We all must live with the pros and cons of the decisions we make, but from a public policy standpoint it’s odd to create a system that puts the public sector so far ahead of private-sector counterparts. More Americans are starting to see the disparity, a product of political power. One of the stated goals of the legislation, according to its author Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murrieta, is to “put public sector workers’ compensation more in line with what is offered in the private sector.”</p>
<p>That’s a reasonable goal, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon – and it’s not going to be based on rational arguments. For instance, Sen. Denise Ducheny, the Chula Vista Democrat who didn’t conceal her hostility to the bill, mocked the bill because it won’t do anything to fix current budget problems (it will take years before the new savings from the new hires are realized) and because it deals only with state workers – not the many local agencies that pay equally generous packages to public employees. That would argue for a tougher bill that took on current employee benefit packages, but it’s no surprise that Ducheny was not advocating for that approach, but for the do-nothing approach of her union allies.</p>
<p>Some legislators are proposing some minor tweaks in pension-spiking, but the Legislature is not going to pass substantial reforms. In some cases, it is in the process of expanding retirement benefits! That means more program cuts and a continued push for massive tax increases. Democrats are pinning their hopes on plans to eliminate the two-thirds legislative vote requirement to pass budgets and on a host of fee and tax-increase proposals.</p>
<p>With the state punting on the issue, localities will increasingly look toward bankruptcy. In a recent Wall Street Journal column, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and investment advisor Alexander Rubalcava argued that LA is on the brink of bankruptcy: “According to the city’s own forecasts, in the next four years annual pension and post-retirement health-care costs will increase by about $2.5 billion if no action is taken by the city government.&#160; Even if Villaraigosa were to enact drastic pension reform today — which he shows no signs of doing — the city would only save a few hundred million per year.”</p>
<p>This sets the stage for a fiscal meltdown or a massive statewide initiative battle, which could rival the importance of property-tax-limiting Proposition 13 from 1978, which permanently changed California’s and the nation’s political landscape. Given the bent of the Legislature, there aren’t many other choices.</p>
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may 12 2010 steven greenhut one progressive opposed pension reform argued gov arnold schwarzeneggers top pension advisor david crane pensionreform hearing monday math irrefutable losers excessive unfunded pensions precisely programs progressive democrats tend applaud programs driven existence rising pension costs yet clear votes posturing pensionrelated debates progressive democrats run californias legislature controlled committee hearing intention anything anger states powerful public employee unions union leaders activists filled committee room speak sb919 would increase retirement ages decrease defined pension benefits newly hired state employees new levels would still far generous pension plans private sector thus left sad reasonable conclusion absolutely chance californias legislature embrace even modest reforms public employee pension system pension liability estimated sources high 500 billion conclusion born purely pessimism even though admit generous dose based dozen years watching public employee unions way local county state governments simply reality one become obvious hearing committee didnt even get quorum take vote indeed republican sen dave cox rfair oaks end meeting stated obvious bill never get committee hope reform initiative process unions ability raise political funds member dues armies foot soldiers engage campaign warfare sort statewide initiative reform tough road well two recent unionrelated initiative campaigns paycheck protection measure reduce unions ability collect dues political purposes secondtier pension reform plan died vine lacked sufficient funding signatures make ballot backer pensionreform measure publicly accused leading republican governor meg whitman torpedoing measure leading reform supporters promises financial aid dropping support late game thus leaving activists without time resources qualify measure ballot democratic side former gov jerry brown seeking comeback actively courting union members defending 70sera decision giving public employees right join unions theres much hope political climate change new governor takes office doesnt leave california many options union activists gained attention testimony pension reform bill monday schwarzenegger advisor crane gave stunning detailed warning californias pension system california public employees retirement system nations largest pension fund big player past decades expansion benefits led current crisis cranes call fellow progressives fell deaf ears reminder states pension system works union officials insist unfunded liabilities dont mean much market goes insist well economy rebounds crane reminded listeners rebound fix current problem also gave short primer pension system state makes pension promise state employee simply promising pay money employee points future thus state pension obligations different state debt obligations also promises pay amounts future160 differ two important respects 1 voter approval required pension obligations governors legislators responsibility regard 2 pension costs unlike debt service costs neither capped precisely quantifiable advance words fixed debt obligations different debt obligations incurred government except capped subject public approval emphasized pension payments senior obligations state employees accordingly priority every expenditure except proposition 98 ie k14 expenditures arguably even debt service prop 98 earmarks 40 percent state budget education state must pay debts funds anything else understandable unions take dont worry happy approach toward pension obligations get matter legislator believes obligations dont harm programs endanger states budget situation dealing fiscal reality crane hearing attendees definedbenefit pensions funded employers employees make contributions retirement system often employer government agency via taxpayer makes full contribution system combination contributions investments earnings expected pay promised retirement amount unlike 401k systems common private sector however state required make shortfalls insufficient contributions investment return shortfalls crane recounted calpers testified sb919 insisted hearing economy rebounding particularly accurate past predictions public assumes risk pension deal yet calpers refuses disclose information necessary state aware plan risks referring calpers 1999 plan retroactively increase pensions crane argued nothing short astonishing calpers proposal promoted largest nonvoter approved debt issuance california history accompanied disclosures risks conflicts interest160 frankly ive never seen anything like calpers sales document makes even goldman sachss alleged nondisclosure look like childs play calpers pitched idea 99 crane noted never noted state would responsible shortfall investment returns assumed investment returns required dow jones reach roughly 25000 2009 280000000 2099 state cap potential taxpayer liabilities employees would directly benefit pension increases calpers board members received campaign contributions beneficiaries legislation yet hearing calpers mocked stanford study pointing halftrilliondollar pension liability used riskfree rate return 4 percent means identify current debt free financial assumptions assumption might low calperss predictions repeatedly erred far direction union representatives insisted pension matters handled negotiating table even though negotiations resulted current fiscal train wreck unions strongest bargaining table especially considers government staff supposedly represent taxpayers also benefit gains unions achieve part explains little resistance retroactive 3 percent 50 deals approved 1999 put california current bind formula allows public safety employees police fire prison guards etc retire age 50 90 percent final years pay guaranteed lives lives spouses percentage goes even high various pensionspiking gimmicks included sb919 would also rein schemes require pension based final three years work stop certain categories workers milk inspectors billboard inspectors receiving enhanced public safety formulas hard understand anyone could oppose reasonable tweaks given financial data senate democrats werent considering serious arguments didnt respond cranes point consequences rising pension costs fall budgets programs higher education health human services parks recreation environmental protection junior priority therefore funding reduced whenever money needed pay pension costs apparently arent real progressives left californias legislature legislature seems willing take calpers word matter even pension fund former officials dominated frontpage news california wild tales alleged payforplay schemes boneheaded leveraged investments housing developments height market union worldview current problems result wall street bay area city vallejo didnt go bankrupt nearly 80 percent funds went public safety budgets ginned 300000 year compensation packages police captains supposed municipal mismanagement say theres need new legislation creates lower secondtier retirement plan new hires system working perfectly well retired public employees association argued letter committee chairman lou correa dsanta ana opposition sb919 rpea disagrees assertion californias public employee pension system broken californias system providing retirement security healthcare hard working public employees worked years working well managed system allows us recruit retain good public employees keeping promise made secure fair well earned retirement theres question system work well one group beneficiaries government involved massive transfer wealth private sector public sector slated receive millionaires pensions often north 100000 year costofliving adjusted life retiree spouse plus full health care benefits available early age 50 arent give ground even though legislative fixes new hires union members disrespectful bill supporters testified hearing sergeantatarms hush isnt seriously dealing fiscal emergency engaging showofforce politicking public sector unions perfected sacramento elsewhere calpers chief actuary ron seeling recently said current pension system unsustainable calpers officials telling committee well investment fund smoothing practices spread debt far future indeed one union official argued hearing turned 50 eligible sixfigure lifetime retirement benefit whenever chooses stop working im year younger like think ive worked hard career also like privatesector workers see retirement date horizon must live pros cons decisions make public policy standpoint odd create system puts public sector far ahead privatesector counterparts americans starting see disparity product political power one stated goals legislation according author dennis hollingsworth rmurrieta put public sector workers compensation line offered private sector thats reasonable goal going happen anytime soon going based rational arguments instance sen denise ducheny chula vista democrat didnt conceal hostility bill mocked bill wont anything fix current budget problems take years new savings new hires realized deals state workers many local agencies pay equally generous packages public employees would argue tougher bill took current employee benefit packages surprise ducheny advocating approach donothing approach union allies legislators proposing minor tweaks pensionspiking legislature going pass substantial reforms cases process expanding retirement benefits means program cuts continued push massive tax increases democrats pinning hopes plans eliminate twothirds legislative vote requirement pass budgets host fee taxincrease proposals state punting issue localities increasingly look toward bankruptcy recent wall street journal column former los angeles mayor richard riordan investment advisor alexander rubalcava argued la brink bankruptcy according citys forecasts next four years annual pension postretirement healthcare costs increase 25 billion action taken city government160 even villaraigosa enact drastic pension reform today shows signs city would save hundred million per year sets stage fiscal meltdown massive statewide initiative battle could rival importance propertytaxlimiting proposition 13 1978 permanently changed californias nations political landscape given bent legislature arent many choices
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<p>The Obama administration has hit out at Russia's&#160;decision to supply Syria with anti-ship missiles.</p>
<p>General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the move was "ill-timed and very unfortunate" and will only worsen the civil war, <a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/us-slams-russian-anti-ship-missiles-going-syria" type="external">AP reported.</a></p>
<p>Dempsey said the missile delivery would embolden Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime and "prolong the suffering".</p>
<p>He was commenting on a New York Times report that&#160;Russia has sent advanced antiship cruise missiles to Syria.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/17/world/middleeast/russia-provides-syria-with-advanced-missiles.html?_r=0" type="external">The New York Times quoted</a> an unnamed military source saying that while Russia has previously supplied weapons to Syria, the latest round are more sophisticated in countering any potential future foreign military intervention in Syria.</p>
<p>The source said the move is a clear indication of the depth of Russia's support for the Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad.</p>
<p>GlobalPost senior correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky said that the weapons Russia sent to Syria are "likely to interfere with any of the non-lethal international efforts that have been discussed as possibilities: a no-fly zone, a naval blockade, the transfer of materiel to the rebels."</p>
<p>As such, "Russians seem to be pushing the Western powers into a corner," Tarnopolsky said. "If Russia succeeds, that would leave Europe and the United States with only two options: do nothing, or enter with overwhelming, massive military force and be prepared to confront extremely advanced Russian weapons systems."</p>
<p>Russia's foreign minister would not confirm details but said Russian supplies did not break any international rules, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22565405" type="external">the BBC reported</a>.</p>
<p>Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday he did not understand the uproar sparked by Moscow's continuing weapons cooperation with Syria.</p>
<p>"I do not understand why the media is trying to create a sensation out of this," Lavrov said, according to&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130517/russia-does-not-understand-uproar-over-syria-arms-sales-0" type="external">Agence France-Presse</a>.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130516/turkish-pm-erdogan-obama-syria-action" type="external">Obama plays down mounting controversies</a></p>
<p>During a joint press appearance in Sochi with visiting United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Lavrov said: "We are first and foremost supplying defense weapons related to air defense.”</p>
<p>"We have not hidden that we supply weapons to Syria under signed contracts, without violating any international agreements, or our own legislation."</p>
<p>GlobalPost's Tarnopolsky said that "in fact, these anti-missile systems are equipped with significantly more sophisticated systems than anything Assad has gotten before."</p>
<p>Moreover, sending the missiles as well as warships the very week Putin held diplomatic meetings with both the United States and Israel on the subject of Syria — and while the United States is pushing for a Russian-US led summit in early June — "shows a really breathtaking lack of consideration for Western concerns, " Tarnopolsky added, "and for the niceties of normal diplomatic discourse."</p>
<p>Stephen Sestanovich <a href="http://www.cfr.org/experts/europerussia-centraleastern-europe-caucasus/stephen-sestanovich/b7485/bio" type="external">of the Council on Foreign Relations</a> told GlobalPost via email that, "Russia stubbornly defends its right to support other sovereign states to defend themselves. For them, this is a matter of dollars and cents but also high principle."</p>
<p>"The standard Russian response to criticism of such moves is that they're simply fulfilling a contract that's been in place for years. They'll say that it doesn't matter that Syria has become a war zone since the contract was signed," Sestanovich said.</p>
<p>Lavrov has <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130517/un-russia-call-urgent-syria-conference" type="external">urged that a peace conference</a> bringing the Syrian government and opposition to the negotiating table should be held as soon as possible.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/russia/130517/analysis-russia-syria-missiles-yakhont" type="external">Analysis: Russia steps up its old game over Syria</a></p>
<p>Does the delivery of the missiles contradict Russia's push for a peace conference? Sestanovich observed: "The Russian answer would be that they'll have more influence over the Syrian government by not abandoning them."</p>
<p>"The same logic would suggest that the US and its allies would have more influence over the insurgents by giving them arms," Sestanovich said. "The Russians would denounce that idea, but they are probably making it more likely that this will happen."</p>
<p>To date, the West's support for the Syrian opposition has been of the non-lethal and humanitarian variety. US President Barack Obama stressed the importance of maintaining pressure on the Assad regime while <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130513/obama-cameron-hold-talks-syria-live-video" type="external">meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron</a> Monday.</p>
<p>Cameron, who met with Putin last week, said, "It is in both our [Russia and Britain's] interests that at the end of this there is a stable Syria."</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/syria/130517/syria-refugee-count-tops-15-million-un-says" type="external">Syria refugee count tops 1.5 million, UN says</a></p>
<p>The reports of Russia's support for Syria's military come amid growing alarm that chemical weapons may be being used in Syria.</p>
<p>Last month, Obama said there was evidence chemical weapons were used, but there was still much that US intelligence agencies did not know, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/30/us-syria-crisis-usa-obama-idUSBRE93T0QX20130430" type="external">Reuters reported</a>.</p>
<p>"We don't know how they were used, when they were used, who used them," he said, and, "We don't have a chain of custody that establishes what exactly happened," he told a White House news conference.</p>
<p>Obama has not ruled out military action against Assad's government, but while speaking at a press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Reccep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, he ruled out acting unilaterally.</p>
<p>As for the missiles,&#160;Sestanovich said, "We don't know a lot about what these missiles can do.&#160;For a long time, Western analysts have explained that the Russian-supplied air defense system that Syria has is extremely effective. Then Israel bombed military sites in Syria, and Syrian air-defenses looked completely useless."</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/syria/130509/us-afraid-russia-might-sell-air-defense-syria-report" type="external">US concerned Russia may sell air-defense system to Syria: report</a></p>
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obama administration hit russias160decision supply syria antiship missiles general martin dempsey chairman joint chiefs staff said move illtimed unfortunate worsen civil war ap reported dempsey said missile delivery would embolden syrian president bashar assads regime prolong suffering commenting new york times report that160russia sent advanced antiship cruise missiles syria new york times quoted unnamed military source saying russia previously supplied weapons syria latest round sophisticated countering potential future foreign military intervention syria source said move clear indication depth russias support syrian government led president bashar alassad globalpost senior correspondent noga tarnopolsky said weapons russia sent syria likely interfere nonlethal international efforts discussed possibilities nofly zone naval blockade transfer materiel rebels russians seem pushing western powers corner tarnopolsky said russia succeeds would leave europe united states two options nothing enter overwhelming massive military force prepared confront extremely advanced russian weapons systems russias foreign minister would confirm details said russian supplies break international rules bbc reported foreign minister sergei lavrov said friday understand uproar sparked moscows continuing weapons cooperation syria understand media trying create sensation lavrov said according to160 agence francepresse globalpost160 obama plays mounting controversies joint press appearance sochi visiting united nations secretary general ban kimoon lavrov said first foremost supplying defense weapons related air defense hidden supply weapons syria signed contracts without violating international agreements legislation globalposts tarnopolsky said fact antimissile systems equipped significantly sophisticated systems anything assad gotten moreover sending missiles well warships week putin held diplomatic meetings united states israel subject syria united states pushing russianus led summit early june shows really breathtaking lack consideration western concerns tarnopolsky added niceties normal diplomatic discourse stephen sestanovich council foreign relations told globalpost via email russia stubbornly defends right support sovereign states defend matter dollars cents also high principle standard russian response criticism moves theyre simply fulfilling contract thats place years theyll say doesnt matter syria become war zone since contract signed sestanovich said lavrov urged peace conference bringing syrian government opposition negotiating table held soon possible globalpost160 analysis russia steps old game syria delivery missiles contradict russias push peace conference sestanovich observed russian answer would theyll influence syrian government abandoning logic would suggest us allies would influence insurgents giving arms sestanovich said russians would denounce idea probably making likely happen date wests support syrian opposition nonlethal humanitarian variety us president barack obama stressed importance maintaining pressure assad regime meeting british prime minister david cameron monday cameron met putin last week said russia britains interests end stable syria globalpost160 syria refugee count tops 15 million un says reports russias support syrias military come amid growing alarm chemical weapons may used syria last month obama said evidence chemical weapons used still much us intelligence agencies know reuters reported dont know used used used said dont chain custody establishes exactly happened told white house news conference obama ruled military action assads government speaking press conference turkish prime minister reccep tayyip erdogan thursday ruled acting unilaterally missiles160sestanovich said dont know lot missiles do160for long time western analysts explained russiansupplied air defense system syria extremely effective israel bombed military sites syria syrian airdefenses looked completely useless globalpost160 us concerned russia may sell airdefense system syria report
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<p>&#160;</p>
<p>[A <a href="http://www.extranews.net/news.php?clan=1&amp;nid=4378" type="external">Spanish-language version</a> of this story was published&#160;in the&#160;Nov. 25 edition of&#160;Extra newspaper.]</p>
<p>Kenneth Green knew he wanted to send his daughter to a magnet school, Chicago’s oldest schools of choice. He spent hours enveloped in research and touring campuses, trying to find the right combination of high academic expectations and a diverse racial mix.</p>
<p>He found what he wanted in Franklin Fine Arts Academy on the Near North Side. “I liked the feel of the building, the fact it was set back from the street and that it was a small school,” Green says.</p>
<p>Along with strong academics and a good climate, a school’s diversity can be a powerful draw for parents like Green, who want their children to attend multi-racial, multi-ethnic schools that mirror the real world. These parents are more likely to opt for an integrated school when choosing among several options. Green, whose wife is Latina, rejected Sabin Elementary, a mostly Latino magnet school closer to his home in Humboldt Park.</p>
<p>But many magnets, like Franklin, are becoming less diverse. And magnets are becoming lower-performing in general.</p>
<p>Twenty years ago, in the heyday of the magnet program, 25 of 28 elementary magnets were racially mixed (with no predominant racial group) and 22 of the 28 ranked among the top 100 elementary schools. But now, in 2008, just 10 of 27 magnets are racially mixed and among the top 100 schools. The remaining 17 are either predominantly black or Latino, and just five of them are among the top 100 schools.</p>
<p>(Nine magnets have been created in the past two years, but are not included in the analysis because they do not have complete data.) There still exists a cadre of 15 high-performing sought-after elementary magnet schools. Franklin is among them, and has just one seat available for every 14 applications.</p>
<p>But in the top 10 high-demand magnet schools, the share of black and Latino students has fallen over the past two decades, to 45 percent from 65 percent. Only 40 percent of students in these high-demand magnets are low-income, compared to 83 percent districtwide. A similar phenomenon is taking place in the city’s magnet and selective high schools. ( <a href="/news/index.php?item=2301&amp;cat=30" type="external">See Catalyst, November 2007</a>.)</p>
<p>Latinos are especially underrepresented in magnet schools, a phenomenon that was first noted in a 2000 report by the Consortium on Chicago School Research. Since then, while the percentage of Latinos in all elementary schools has risen to 42 percent, the percentage in magnets has remained at just under 30 percent.</p>
<p>These schools are the crown jewels of what CPS has to offer, says Ricardo Meza, midwest regional counsel for the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. It frustrates him that so few Latinos win spots in them.</p>
<p>Finding these schools and understanding how to get into them is complicated for any parent, especially those who don’t speak English well and are poorly educated, Meza says.&#160;</p>
<p>“These schools are popular, and the biggest problem we face as a community is that, though we are large in number, our resources and our access are limited,” he says.</p>
<p>Green believes that for some Latino families, especially new immigrants, magnets may be intimidating. One Latino family he knew didn’t like having to ask for everything to be translated into Spanish, Green recalls, and eventually moved their daughter back to a neighborhood school from Franklin.</p>
<p>There are other pressures that might make families uncomfortable. For example, parents at Franklin set a goal this year of raising $70,000, asking parents to support fundraisers and donate cash—cash that, as Green observes, some families may not have.</p>
<p>An additional nine magnet schools have opened up in the past two years. This year, to create new schools of choice and attract parents, CPS sought to capitalize on the popularity of some of the most sought-after magnets by “franchising” them. Two of the franchises, however, opened in gentrifying, increasingly white neighborhoods. A third never opened at all.</p>
<p>CPS opened Disney II, named after the city’s oldest magnet and featuring an open-space environment and team teaching, on the campus of under-utilized Irving Park Middle School. LaSalle II, which gets its name from a foreign language school on the Gold Coast, opened up in another underused school, Andersen in Wicker Park.</p>
<p>LaSalle II took in the students who would have otherwise gone to Andersen, and still has a mostly Latino enrollment. But Principal Suzanne Velasquez-Sheehy theorizes that in the future, the ‘franchise’ will be a draw for the changing neighborhood. LaSalle II, like the original LaSalle, provides daily instruction for students in a foreign language, though the languages offered at the two schools are different.</p>
<p>“LaSalle has a very good name,” she says. “A lot of the new families have young children, and they seem very interested in LaSalle II. I think we can attract them.”</p>
<p>Some magnets that CPS has created in minority communities have yet to show substantial achievement gains.</p>
<p>CPS used part of a $9 million federal magnet schools grant to transform struggling Smyth Elementary on the Near West Side into a magnet with International Baccalaureate programs. Principal Ronald Whitmore says the cash has been a boon to help improve the school. Teachers are undergoing training in the rigorous IB curriculum as they prepare for the accreditation process. Events and outside speakers are brought in to infuse an international feel into the school. And Smyth now has two technology labs and two science labs.&#160;</p>
<p>Although students do not have to take an admissions test (the International Baccalaureate Organization, stresses equal access for all students), and Smyth enrolls children from the neighborhood, the school is considered a magnet and will take students from outside its attendance boundary. But Whitmore says few have applied so far, although he has put ads in local newspapers and talked to real estate developers about the school, offering to take new residents on tours.</p>
<p>Smyth remains one of the lower-performing schools in the district, with only 38 percent of students meeting or exceeding standards in reading in 2007. Despite the tidy new mixed-income condos and townhomes that have replaced the public housing project that used to surround Smyth, the school is still 98 percent black and 93 percent low-income.</p>
<p>Whitmore is quick to say that the quality of education is on the rise. “I don’t care if we have black, orange or purple children,” he says.</p>
<p>This fall, Green was among about 50 parents who attended an informational session about CPS’ bid to have the desegregation consent decree lifted, a move that could have a substantial impact on how magnets schools operate. In January, U.S. District Judge Charles Kocoras will again consider whether to let CPS out of the decree; he has indicated that he is open to doing so. Magnet programs are funded with cash set aside because of the desegregation order.</p>
<p>The session was organized by parents from Drummond, a magnet school with a Montessori curriculum that opened in Logan Square. Drummond parents are concerned that the school, in a gentrifying neighborhood, is likely to become all-white if the decree is lifted.</p>
<p>Already, Green observes, the opportunities for black and Latino students in the best of the magnet schools are too few and far between. After submitting an application to at least a dozen schools and losing all those lotteries, Green won a spot for his daughter at Franklin by making daily calls to Arne Duncan, who was the head of academic enhancement at the time.</p>
<p>That was nine years ago, and Green’s daughter, Xiomara, graduated from Franklin Fine Arts in June. Like elementary magnets, competition to get into high-performing high schools is intense.</p>
<p>So this time, Green took a different route, abandoning the oldest of the district’s choices for one of the the newest ones: He enrolled his daughter in a charter school, the University of Illinois at Chicago College Prep.</p>
<p><a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
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160 spanishlanguage version story published160in the160nov 25 edition of160extra newspaper kenneth green knew wanted send daughter magnet school chicagos oldest schools choice spent hours enveloped research touring campuses trying find right combination high academic expectations diverse racial mix found wanted franklin fine arts academy near north side liked feel building fact set back street small school green says along strong academics good climate schools diversity powerful draw parents like green want children attend multiracial multiethnic schools mirror real world parents likely opt integrated school choosing among several options green whose wife latina rejected sabin elementary mostly latino magnet school closer home humboldt park many magnets like franklin becoming less diverse magnets becoming lowerperforming general twenty years ago heyday magnet program 25 28 elementary magnets racially mixed predominant racial group 22 28 ranked among top 100 elementary schools 2008 10 27 magnets racially mixed among top 100 schools remaining 17 either predominantly black latino five among top 100 schools nine magnets created past two years included analysis complete data still exists cadre 15 highperforming soughtafter elementary magnet schools franklin among one seat available every 14 applications top 10 highdemand magnet schools share black latino students fallen past two decades 45 percent 65 percent 40 percent students highdemand magnets lowincome compared 83 percent districtwide similar phenomenon taking place citys magnet selective high schools see catalyst november 2007 latinos especially underrepresented magnet schools phenomenon first noted 2000 report consortium chicago school research since percentage latinos elementary schools risen 42 percent percentage magnets remained 30 percent schools crown jewels cps offer says ricardo meza midwest regional counsel mexicanamerican legal defense educational fund frustrates latinos win spots finding schools understanding get complicated parent especially dont speak english well poorly educated meza says160 schools popular biggest problem face community though large number resources access limited says green believes latino families especially new immigrants magnets may intimidating one latino family knew didnt like ask everything translated spanish green recalls eventually moved daughter back neighborhood school franklin pressures might make families uncomfortable example parents franklin set goal year raising 70000 asking parents support fundraisers donate cashcash green observes families may additional nine magnet schools opened past two years year create new schools choice attract parents cps sought capitalize popularity soughtafter magnets franchising two franchises however opened gentrifying increasingly white neighborhoods third never opened cps opened disney ii named citys oldest magnet featuring openspace environment team teaching campus underutilized irving park middle school lasalle ii gets name foreign language school gold coast opened another underused school andersen wicker park lasalle ii took students would otherwise gone andersen still mostly latino enrollment principal suzanne velasquezsheehy theorizes future franchise draw changing neighborhood lasalle ii like original lasalle provides daily instruction students foreign language though languages offered two schools different lasalle good name says lot new families young children seem interested lasalle ii think attract magnets cps created minority communities yet show substantial achievement gains cps used part 9 million federal magnet schools grant transform struggling smyth elementary near west side magnet international baccalaureate programs principal ronald whitmore says cash boon help improve school teachers undergoing training rigorous ib curriculum prepare accreditation process events outside speakers brought infuse international feel school smyth two technology labs two science labs160 although students take admissions test international baccalaureate organization stresses equal access students smyth enrolls children neighborhood school considered magnet take students outside attendance boundary whitmore says applied far although put ads local newspapers talked real estate developers school offering take new residents tours smyth remains one lowerperforming schools district 38 percent students meeting exceeding standards reading 2007 despite tidy new mixedincome condos townhomes replaced public housing project used surround smyth school still 98 percent black 93 percent lowincome whitmore quick say quality education rise dont care black orange purple children says fall green among 50 parents attended informational session cps bid desegregation consent decree lifted move could substantial impact magnets schools operate january us district judge charles kocoras consider whether let cps decree indicated open magnet programs funded cash set aside desegregation order session organized parents drummond magnet school montessori curriculum opened logan square drummond parents concerned school gentrifying neighborhood likely become allwhite decree lifted already green observes opportunities black latino students best magnet schools far submitting application least dozen schools losing lotteries green spot daughter franklin making daily calls arne duncan head academic enhancement time nine years ago greens daughter xiomara graduated franklin fine arts june like elementary magnets competition get highperforming high schools intense time green took different route abandoning oldest districts choices one newest ones enrolled daughter charter school university illinois chicago college prep karpcatalystchicagoorg
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<p>Never let the facts get in the way of a good lawsuit.</p>
<p>In a <a href="http://www.calnewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Sloat-higgens-jensen-lawsuit.pdf" type="external">wrongful termination lawsuit</a> filed on Christmas Eve, Rhonda Smira, a former employee of the powerhouse lobbying firm Sloat Higgins Jensen and Associates, claims that her former employer, Kevin Sloat, routinely violated state campaign finance laws by failing to report fundraising events “ <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2013/dec/26/local/la-me-ff-lobbying-lawsuit-20131227" type="external">to dozens of politicians — including nearly a third of the Legislature</a>.” Smira says that she was fired in 2012, after years of protesting the practice.</p>
<p>But state campaign finance reports dispute some of the allegations against Sloat Higgins Jensen and Associates. An&#160;analysis of campaign finance records shows that dozens of&#160;state campaigns and political action committees reported thousands of dollars in payments to Sloat for hosting fundraising events. There also isn't much mystery about the politicians involved; 18 state officials reported payments to Sloat Higgins Jensen and Associates in state campaign finance reports for various purposes, including hosting fundraising events.</p>
<p>Much of the lawsuit's intrigue arises from the mysterious identities of the state officials involved.</p>
<p><a href="https://i2.wp.com/www.calnewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Sloat-Higgins-Jensen-Reported-Padilla-Fundraiser.jpg" type="external" />“Since 2000 to the present, defendants have hosted hundreds of fundraising events in which defendants illegally contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to dozens of elected officials, including but not limited to, 11 Senators, 26 Assembly men/women, and various other high ranking public officials and representatives,” Smira&#160; <a href="http://www.calnewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Sloat-higgens-jensen-lawsuit.pdf" type="external">alleges in&#160;</a> <a href="http://www.calnewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Sloat-higgens-jensen-lawsuit.pdf" type="external">court documents</a>&#160;filed&#160;in Sacramento Superior Court.</p>
<p>Smira's attorney, Jesse Ortiz, did not provide a comment to CalWatchdog.com. However, he told&#160; <a href="http://www.news10.net/news/california/article/267060/430/Lawsuit-alleges-hidden-Sacramento-lobbying-gifts" type="external">News 10</a>&#160;that the legislators “will be identified” later in the case.</p>
<p>At these fundraising events, Smira alleges Sloat spent lavishly on wine, decorations, flowers, imported cigars and high-end cognac. According to the lawsuit, “Neither Defendants, nor the elected officials, would declare the non-monetary contributions to the FPPC and/or Secretary of State.”</p>
<p>Yet, campaign reports refute Smira's account of widespread reporting problems by the lobbying firm. More than two dozen state officials have reported reimbursements to Sloat for fundraising events. Those reporting payments to Sloat for various campaign activities include former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, state Sen. Kevin de Leon and more than a dozen other legislators.</p>
<p>Payments to Sloat for fundraising events range in value from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, and in some cases, include more detail than is commonly found on state finance reports. On Sept. 3, 2008, Sloat hosted a fundraising dinner for the campaign of&#160; <a href="http://www.calnewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Sloat-Higgins-Jensen-Reported-Fundraiser-1.pdf" type="external">state Sen. Alex Padilla</a>,&#160;which cost $444.92 for the event's 10 guests.</p>
<p>Just a month later, Sloat reported $444.91 in expenses for “fundraising events” for then- <a href="http://www.calnewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Felipe-Fuentes-2008-Sloat-Fundraiser.pdf" type="external">Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes</a>, now a member of the Los Angeles City Council. In November 2008, Sloat&#160;hosted a more lavish fundraising event for the campaign of&#160; <a href="http://www.calnewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Sloat-Higgins-Jensen-Reported-Fundraiser-2.pdf" type="external">Assemblyman Jose Solorio</a>, D-Santa Ana,&#160;that cost $2,611.59.</p>
<p><a href="https://i2.wp.com/www.calnewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Sloat-Higgins-Jensen-Reported-Padilla-Fundraiser.jpg" type="external" />The three fundraising events appear to have been properly reported in a timely manner — identifying the cost of the event with reimbursements to the host for out-of-pocket, in-kind contributions. Moreover, the dates of the Sloat fundraising events contradict the timeline presented in Smira's lawsuit, which alleges such events were unreported prior to 2010.</p>
<p>“In or about 2010, after receiving continued complaints from SMIRA, SLOAT directed SMIRA to start asking candidates to pay for catering and use the candidate's campaign account to make deposits for catering,” the lawsuit alleges.</p>
<p>A spokesman for Sloat released <a href="http://www.calnewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Sloat-Higgins-Jensen-Statement-on-Smira-Lawsuit.pdf" type="external">a statement to the media</a>&#160;that dismissed the allegations as “a desperate legal maneuver.”</p>
<p>“While we have not yet seen the full complaint, we are not at all surprised that the&#160;plaintiff, a former bookkeeper for the firm, has resorted to such a desperate legal&#160;maneuver,” said&#160;Stevan Allen, a &#160;spokesman for the firm.&#160;&#160;“Because the case against our former bookkeeper remains active, we are unable to provide any additional comment at this time. However, we look forward to&#160;sharing more information at the appropriate time.”</p>
<p>Sloat Higgins Jensen &amp; Associates, which reported <a href="http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Lobbying/Firms/Detail.aspx?id=1147635&amp;session=2013&amp;view=activity" type="external">$3.47 million in lobbying fees&#160;for the first three quarters of 2013</a>, lists dozens of top corporations, major associations and government agencies as lobbying clients. The clients include Anheuser-Busch,&#160;Anthem Blue Cross, City of Anaheim, Pacific Gas &amp; Electric and Verizon.</p>
<p>The lawsuit takes a direct shot at undermining the firm's relationship with its clients by alleging that Sloat classified some clients as “unsophisticated.”</p>
<p>“Plaintiff is&#160;informed and believes, and thereon alleges that the clients on&#160;the list were the clients SLOAT saw as unsophisticated and&#160;clients who did not ask why they were making contributions to&#160;the candidates,” the lawsuit claims. “The more sophisticated clients who required&#160;background or some rationale as to why Defendant was asking them&#160;to contribute were only rarely invited.”</p>
<p>Thomas Murphy of Hunton &amp; Williams LLP told <a href="http://www.hunton.com/files/News/236c18dd-fcb6-4486-a348-e96597a7062a/Presentation/NewsAttachment/4ef14289-8ad8-4aa1-b2e6-9af18a76a3a8/To_Settle_Or_Not_To_Settle_Law360.pdf" type="external">Law 360 in 2009</a> that&#160;high-profile employment cases can undermine a company's reputation even if it ultimately prevails in court.</p>
<p>“Bad allegations will hurt the brand, no matter what,”&#160;Murphy said. “We know Andy Warhol's 15&#160;minutes of fame starts running at the beginning, not the end, of a case.”</p>
<p>Gary Winuk, chief of enforcement for the California Fair Political Practices Commission, told the&#160; <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2013/12/27/6031339/lawsuit-alleges-sacramento-lobbing.html" type="external">Sacramento Bee</a>&#160;that directing campaign contributions is a routine practice for lobbyists.</p>
<p>“The law currently allows lobbyists to connect people to other people,” he told the <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2013/12/27/6031339/lawsuit-alleges-sacramento-lobbing.html" type="external">Bee</a>. “It happens every day.”</p>
<p>However, Winuk declined to comment to CalWatchdog.com on the case.</p>
<p>In a written statement on behalf of the lobbying firm, Allen said that no private plaintiff can bring claims under the Political Reform Act without&#160;prior approval of the Fair Political Practices Commission. “No such&#160;permission has been given to the plaintiff in the lawsuit against our firm,” he said.</p>
<p>Past and current state officials and groups that have reported payments to Sloat Higgins Jensen and Associates on campaign reports include:</p>
<p>* Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger;</p>
<p>* Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom;</p>
<p>* State Sens. Joel Anderson, Anthony Cannella, Kevin de Leon, Ted Lieu, Christine Kehoe,&#160;Alex Padilla, Michael Rubio, Darrell Steinberg and Juan Vargas;</p>
<p>* Assembly members Toni Atkins, Bob&#160;Blumenfield,&#160;Felipe Fuentes,&#160;Isadore Hall, Mary Hayashi,&#160;Jose Solorio and Jim Silva;</p>
<p>* The Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies PAC;</p>
<p>* Democratic State Central Committee of California.</p>
<p><a href="https://i1.wp.com/www.calnewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Expenses-Paid-to-Sloat.png" type="external" /></p>
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never let facts get way good lawsuit wrongful termination lawsuit filed christmas eve rhonda smira former employee powerhouse lobbying firm sloat higgins jensen associates claims former employer kevin sloat routinely violated state campaign finance laws failing report fundraising events dozens politicians including nearly third legislature smira says fired 2012 years protesting practice state campaign finance reports dispute allegations sloat higgins jensen associates an160analysis campaign finance records shows dozens of160state campaigns political action committees reported thousands dollars payments sloat hosting fundraising events also isnt much mystery politicians involved 18 state officials reported payments sloat higgins jensen associates state campaign finance reports various purposes including hosting fundraising events much lawsuits intrigue arises mysterious identities state officials involved since 2000 present defendants hosted hundreds fundraising events defendants illegally contributed hundreds thousands dollars dozens elected officials including limited 11 senators 26 assembly menwomen various high ranking public officials representatives smira160 alleges in160 court documents160filed160in sacramento superior court smiras attorney jesse ortiz provide comment calwatchdogcom however told160 news 10160that legislators identified later case fundraising events smira alleges sloat spent lavishly wine decorations flowers imported cigars highend cognac according lawsuit neither defendants elected officials would declare nonmonetary contributions fppc andor secretary state yet campaign reports refute smiras account widespread reporting problems lobbying firm two dozen state officials reported reimbursements sloat fundraising events reporting payments sloat various campaign activities include former gov arnold schwarzenegger lt gov gavin newsom senate president pro tem darrell steinberg state sen kevin de leon dozen legislators payments sloat fundraising events range value hundred thousand dollars cases include detail commonly found state finance reports sept 3 2008 sloat hosted fundraising dinner campaign of160 state sen alex padilla160which cost 44492 events 10 guests month later sloat reported 44491 expenses fundraising events assemblyman felipe fuentes member los angeles city council november 2008 sloat160hosted lavish fundraising event campaign of160 assemblyman jose solorio dsanta ana160that cost 261159 three fundraising events appear properly reported timely manner identifying cost event reimbursements host outofpocket inkind contributions moreover dates sloat fundraising events contradict timeline presented smiras lawsuit alleges events unreported prior 2010 2010 receiving continued complaints smira sloat directed smira start asking candidates pay catering use candidates campaign account make deposits catering lawsuit alleges spokesman sloat released statement media160that dismissed allegations desperate legal maneuver yet seen full complaint surprised the160plaintiff former bookkeeper firm resorted desperate legal160maneuver said160stevan allen 160spokesman firm160160because case former bookkeeper remains active unable provide additional comment time however look forward to160sharing information appropriate time sloat higgins jensen amp associates reported 347 million lobbying fees160for first three quarters 2013 lists dozens top corporations major associations government agencies lobbying clients clients include anheuserbusch160anthem blue cross city anaheim pacific gas amp electric verizon lawsuit takes direct shot undermining firms relationship clients alleging sloat classified clients unsophisticated plaintiff is160informed believes thereon alleges clients on160the list clients sloat saw unsophisticated and160clients ask making contributions to160the candidates lawsuit claims sophisticated clients required160background rationale defendant asking them160to contribute rarely invited thomas murphy hunton amp williams llp told law 360 2009 that160highprofile employment cases undermine companys reputation even ultimately prevails court bad allegations hurt brand matter what160murphy said know andy warhols 15160minutes fame starts running beginning end case gary winuk chief enforcement california fair political practices commission told the160 sacramento bee160that directing campaign contributions routine practice lobbyists law currently allows lobbyists connect people people told bee happens every day however winuk declined comment calwatchdogcom case written statement behalf lobbying firm allen said private plaintiff bring claims political reform act without160prior approval fair political practices commission such160permission given plaintiff lawsuit firm said past current state officials groups reported payments sloat higgins jensen associates campaign reports include gov arnold schwarzenegger lt gov gavin newsom state sens joel anderson anthony cannella kevin de leon ted lieu christine kehoe160alex padilla michael rubio darrell steinberg juan vargas assembly members toni atkins bob160blumenfield160felipe fuentes160isadore hall mary hayashi160jose solorio jim silva association california life health insurance companies pac democratic state central committee california
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<p>Given a choice between working independently during classes or working in a small group, Von Steuben high school senior Maria Proano would choose the group work.</p>
<p>“If you get something wrong, someone else in the group can help you,” Proano says, “and you can get different opinions on a problem.”</p>
<p>Given the same choice, Von Steuben sophomore Anna Tran would work alone. In groups, she explains, sometimes one person ends up doing everything while others copy the answers. “I’d just rather do it by myself,” Tran says.</p>
<p>Proano is Hispanic. Tran is Asian. And that might be the basis for their preferences. A study of student engagement in high school math and science classes found significant variations in engagement levels among racial and ethnic groups, depending on whether students were listening to a lecture, working independently at their seats or working collaboratively in groups.</p>
<p>Part of an evaluation of the National Science Foundation’s Urban Systemic Initiative, the study defined engaged students as those who “pay close attention to ongoing classroom activities, are interested in the content of classroom lessons, and may feel that time flows quickly.”</p>
<p>Hispanic students were found to have the lowest overall level of engagement, while black students had the highest. Whites and Asians were only slightly less engaged than blacks.</p>
<p>But Hispanic students became just as engaged as black and white students when the activity was group work. Listening to a lecture or doing individual work caused Hispanic students’ engagement to drop.</p>
<p>In contrast, Asian students were most engaged when working alone and least engaged by group activity. Black students had similar engagement levels across all three types of work.</p>
<p>The study included two high schools in each of four cities: Chicago; El Paso, Tex.; Memphis; and Miami. Researchers observed the classes of one math and one science teacher at each school for one week. Ten students from each class were given vibrating beepers and, when beeped, were asked to complete brief surveys about what they were doing and how they were feeling about the class.</p>
<p>Students in Chicago had the lowest overall engagement scores of the four cities, while El Paso students had the highest. However, with only two schools included from each city, co-author Kazuaki Uekawa of the University of Chicago says the sample is much too small to draw any city-to-city comparisons.</p>
<p>And since the sample size of students was relatively small (only 21 Asian students were in the study), Uekawa says it’s also too early to draw conclusions based on race or ethnicity.</p>
<p>“It’s too big of a sweeping statement to say that ‘Hispanics like this’ or ‘Asians like that,’ but it’s a starting point for looking at this,” says Uekawa.</p>
<p>Group work is on the rise</p>
<p>In the study, students listened to lectures 41 percent of the time and worked alone 34 percent of the time, compared to working in groups for only 13 percent of class time. Those figures are consistent with previous research that shows lecture and seatwork are the predominant classroom activities, says Uekawa. Group work is on the rise, though, particularly in math, says Johnny Lott, president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.</p>
<p>“There’s a growing body of knowledge that says kids do learn some math better in groups.</p>
<p>Sometimes we expect kids to learn things totally on their own, when simply talking to their peers about it helps in the learning process,” Lott says.</p>
<p>Lott adds that studies done in Montana, where he lives, have shown Native American students, like Hispanics, prefer collaborative learning. “They perform better in school when they’re able to talk with each other,” Lott says.</p>
<p>Students interviewed at Von Steuben report working in groups at least once a week, depending on the teacher.</p>
<p>Martin Gartzman, chief officer in the CPS Office of Mathematics and Science, says assigning group work is up to the individual teacher and adds that there is no way to accurately measure whether group work is on the rise in CPS.</p>
<p>Not surprisingly, group work was rated highest by those students who also said they had more fun and felt less sleepy when working with others.</p>
<p>More surprising, says Uekawa, is the finding that group work discouraged chatting (talking about non-school matters). Students were found to be more likely to chat with friends during lectures and seatwork.</p>
<p>Kenneth Addison, an associate professor at Northeastern Illinois University who teaches a course in cultural diversity and schools, says it’s not surprising that the study found ethnic and cultural differences in learning preferences.</p>
<p>Addison explains that Hispanic cultures value the common good over individual achievement, which explains why Hispanic students might prefer working together. He also theorizes that the overall lower engagement of Hispanic students in the study might be a result of their more interdependent culture.</p>
<p>“Relationship is paramount [for Hispanics],” says Addison. “They look to the teacher and want to establish a relationship. People count first.” If the teacher doesn’t engage them on a personal level then the student might not become engaged in the class.</p>
<p>In East Asian cultures, Addison adds, the learning process “requires an individual focus on perfection because that’s what is required to bring honor to your family.”</p>
<p>For teachers who have a diverse student population, Addison recommends using several instructional models, perhaps spending one-third of class time each on teacher-centered instruction, well-structured group activities and individual work.</p>
<p>“If you rotate through the three, you’ll touch every learning style,” he says. “You also can create group activities that have imbedded individual responsibilities, and that’s something I’ve found my East Asian students can enjoy because they can work at home and get their portion done as perfectly as they can, but also contribute to the overall group.”</p>
<p>Not enough difficult material</p>
<p>The study also examined students’ perceptions of the curriculum, and found students believed they were exposed to new content only 37 percent of the time. Group work again fared the best, with students believing they were exposed to new content 54 percent of the time while in groups, 10 percent more than when they were listening to a lecture.</p>
<p>Students also reported covering what they deemed to be difficult content only 10 percent of the time, echoing previous research. Students gauged their work to be “very easy” or “easy” 30 percent of the time.</p>
<p>Uekawa says this finding points to a perception gap between students and teachers, and recommends teachers ask students directly if the work is too easy or too hard, “to see what students are thinking.”</p>
<p>Lott says he wouldn’t generalize about math classes being redundant. “It may depend on the sample of students they used or the types of materials being used,” he says.</p>
<p>The study also found engagement did not depend on the teacher. “We tend to think of boring teachers or bad teachers,” Uekawa says, “but based on our sample, the difference between teachers was not that great.” Instead, the bigger gaps were found among individual students in the same class, or when the same student was engaged in different activities.</p>
<p>Time also proved to be a factor. Students reported slightly lower engagement levels on Mondays and Fridays, and during classes that lasted more than 45 minutes. Uekawa says the 90-minute block scheduling of classes in El Paso, “really restricts opportunities to learn because [teachers] seem to do less teaching.” Teachers would teach for about 30 minutes, students would work on seatwork for another 30 minutes and then they’d socialize until the class was over.</p>
<p>In Chicago, students with low math scores are assigned to double periods of algebra this year. Gartzman says in some schools those classes are back-to-back, while other schools separate the periods. “We’re looking carefully at the effectiveness of the various configurations,” he says. Grades on first-semester tests will be the first indication of how the configurations are working.</p>
<p>Says Gartzman, “Some people say [double periods are too long] and others say having back-to-back classes allows the kind of problem solving you’re not able to do in 45 minutes.”</p>
| false | 3 |
given choice working independently classes working small group von steuben high school senior maria proano would choose group work get something wrong someone else group help proano says get different opinions problem given choice von steuben sophomore anna tran would work alone groups explains sometimes one person ends everything others copy answers id rather tran says proano hispanic tran asian might basis preferences study student engagement high school math science classes found significant variations engagement levels among racial ethnic groups depending whether students listening lecture working independently seats working collaboratively groups part evaluation national science foundations urban systemic initiative study defined engaged students pay close attention ongoing classroom activities interested content classroom lessons may feel time flows quickly hispanic students found lowest overall level engagement black students highest whites asians slightly less engaged blacks hispanic students became engaged black white students activity group work listening lecture individual work caused hispanic students engagement drop contrast asian students engaged working alone least engaged group activity black students similar engagement levels across three types work study included two high schools four cities chicago el paso tex memphis miami researchers observed classes one math one science teacher school one week ten students class given vibrating beepers beeped asked complete brief surveys feeling class students chicago lowest overall engagement scores four cities el paso students highest however two schools included city coauthor kazuaki uekawa university chicago says sample much small draw citytocity comparisons since sample size students relatively small 21 asian students study uekawa says also early draw conclusions based race ethnicity big sweeping statement say hispanics like asians like starting point looking says uekawa group work rise study students listened lectures 41 percent time worked alone 34 percent time compared working groups 13 percent class time figures consistent previous research shows lecture seatwork predominant classroom activities says uekawa group work rise though particularly math says johnny lott president national council teachers mathematics theres growing body knowledge says kids learn math better groups sometimes expect kids learn things totally simply talking peers helps learning process lott says lott adds studies done montana lives shown native american students like hispanics prefer collaborative learning perform better school theyre able talk lott says students interviewed von steuben report working groups least week depending teacher martin gartzman chief officer cps office mathematics science says assigning group work individual teacher adds way accurately measure whether group work rise cps surprisingly group work rated highest students also said fun felt less sleepy working others surprising says uekawa finding group work discouraged chatting talking nonschool matters students found likely chat friends lectures seatwork kenneth addison associate professor northeastern illinois university teaches course cultural diversity schools says surprising study found ethnic cultural differences learning preferences addison explains hispanic cultures value common good individual achievement explains hispanic students might prefer working together also theorizes overall lower engagement hispanic students study might result interdependent culture relationship paramount hispanics says addison look teacher want establish relationship people count first teacher doesnt engage personal level student might become engaged class east asian cultures addison adds learning process requires individual focus perfection thats required bring honor family teachers diverse student population addison recommends using several instructional models perhaps spending onethird class time teachercentered instruction wellstructured group activities individual work rotate three youll touch every learning style says also create group activities imbedded individual responsibilities thats something ive found east asian students enjoy work home get portion done perfectly also contribute overall group enough difficult material study also examined students perceptions curriculum found students believed exposed new content 37 percent time group work fared best students believing exposed new content 54 percent time groups 10 percent listening lecture students also reported covering deemed difficult content 10 percent time echoing previous research students gauged work easy easy 30 percent time uekawa says finding points perception gap students teachers recommends teachers ask students directly work easy hard see students thinking lott says wouldnt generalize math classes redundant may depend sample students used types materials used says study also found engagement depend teacher tend think boring teachers bad teachers uekawa says based sample difference teachers great instead bigger gaps found among individual students class student engaged different activities time also proved factor students reported slightly lower engagement levels mondays fridays classes lasted 45 minutes uekawa says 90minute block scheduling classes el paso really restricts opportunities learn teachers seem less teaching teachers would teach 30 minutes students would work seatwork another 30 minutes theyd socialize class chicago students low math scores assigned double periods algebra year gartzman says schools classes backtoback schools separate periods looking carefully effectiveness various configurations says grades firstsemester tests first indication configurations working says gartzman people say double periods long others say backtoback classes allows kind problem solving youre able 45 minutes
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<p>About a quarter of Chicago’s elementary schools boosted student reading scores significantly over the last seven years, with the rest showing little or no significant improvement, according to a study released in late October by the school advocacy and research group Designs for Change.</p>
<p>The study’s author, Designs Executive Director Donald Moore, counts the improved performance as evidence that reform centered around local school councils is succeeding. Schools with the biggest test-score gains tend to have better leadership, stronger ties to parents and communities, and more cohesive faculties—the qualities that councils were designed to foster, says Moore. The most-improved schools also tend to have more active local school councils than do less successful schools. These factors were measured in 1994 teacher and student surveys by the Chicago Consortium for School Research.</p>
<p>Role of reform</p>
<p>The School Board’s chief accountability officer, Phil Hansen, applauds the good news, but he notes that leadership, parent connections and faculty teamwork are not unique to Chicago, nor to schools governed by local school councils. They’re part of the national literature about what makes a good school, he says, and they are also qualities that the board’s probation teams work to foster. But Hansen says he doesn’t mean to start a fight over where credit is due. “Let’s all take credit,” he says. “Let’s give the schools credit.”</p>
<p>Researchers at Designs followed the methods of the School Board’s research department, looking at the percentage of students at each school scoring at or above the national average on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills for each year from 1990 to 1997. The board uses this data to determine which schools have strong trends up or down in achievement, which have weak trends, and which have no trend.</p>
<p>The Designs study added two conditions to make its analysis more stringent than the board’s. First, it counted only schools where at least 90 percent of all eligible students were tested in 1997, thereby excluding any schools that might have artificially boosted scores by not testing low-achieving students. Also, Designs required a steeper climb in test scores than School Board researchers did in defining the top category.</p>
<p>Of the 420 schools that Designs studied:</p>
<p>26 percent (111 schools) raised reading scores “substantially”—by an average of more than 1.5 percentage points per year.</p>
<p>17 percent (73 schools) were “tending up”— gaining an average of 1 to 1.5 percentage points per year.</p>
<p>54 percent (224 schools) showed no consistent trend up or down.</p>
<p>3 percent (12) schools were either “tending down” or “significantly down,” losing more than 1 point per year.</p>
<p>Of the 111 schools that improved substantially, 87 had low achievement levels in 1990, the study’s baseline year; fewer than 40 percent of their students scored above the national average. However, schools that had better test scores in 1990 were likelier to make marked improvement; 38 percent of 1990’s group of medium- to high-achieving schools improved markedly, compared with 25 percent of that year’s low-achieving schools.</p>
<p>The researchers gave extra attention to the schools that started with low achievement levels. They found:</p>
<p>There was a moderately strong racial pattern. Low-achieving schools with test scores that rose substantially tended to have fewer black students than did low-achieving schools with no trend; the much improved schools were 39 percent African American, while the no-trend schools were 72 percent black. However, 30 of the much-improved schools were more than 90 percent black, and the substantially-up schools served proportionately more Latino students (38 percent) than did the no-trend schools (24 percent).</p>
<p>There was a weak class pattern. Eighty-four percent of the students in markedly improved schools were low-income, compared to 93 percent of the students in the no-trend schools. But 30 of the much improved schools had at least 93 percent low-income kids, too.</p>
<p>Schools whose scores went up helped the lowest-achieving kids. Substantially-up schools that started with low achievement saw the percentage of students scoring in the bottom quartile nationally shrink from 43 percent to 29 percent.</p>
<p>Some of the significantly up schools started at a level that would have put them on probation.</p>
<p>The Designs study makes an “important contribution [in] looking at the changes in test scores over time,” says John Easton, deputy director at the Consortium, “but it doesn’t go all the way.” The missing step is “looking at the gains of individual students over time,” says Easton; that’s the aim of the Consortium’s own upcoming study of test-score information, tentatively scheduled for a December release.</p>
<p>Moore recommends that the much-improved schools be given special recognition, even a pseudo-charter status, because he says they have shown how well they handle greater freedom. In return, he says, the School Board could use them as a resource in helping other schools improve.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the board recently held an awards ceremony for 134 elementary schools and 34 high schools that last year posted a combined increase of at least 10 points in reading and math.</p>
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quarter chicagos elementary schools boosted student reading scores significantly last seven years rest showing little significant improvement according study released late october school advocacy research group designs change studys author designs executive director donald moore counts improved performance evidence reform centered around local school councils succeeding schools biggest testscore gains tend better leadership stronger ties parents communities cohesive facultiesthe qualities councils designed foster says moore mostimproved schools also tend active local school councils less successful schools factors measured 1994 teacher student surveys chicago consortium school research role reform school boards chief accountability officer phil hansen applauds good news notes leadership parent connections faculty teamwork unique chicago schools governed local school councils theyre part national literature makes good school says also qualities boards probation teams work foster hansen says doesnt mean start fight credit due lets take credit says lets give schools credit researchers designs followed methods school boards research department looking percentage students school scoring national average iowa tests basic skills year 1990 1997 board uses data determine schools strong trends achievement weak trends trend designs study added two conditions make analysis stringent boards first counted schools least 90 percent eligible students tested 1997 thereby excluding schools might artificially boosted scores testing lowachieving students also designs required steeper climb test scores school board researchers defining top category 420 schools designs studied 26 percent 111 schools raised reading scores substantiallyby average 15 percentage points per year 17 percent 73 schools tending gaining average 1 15 percentage points per year 54 percent 224 schools showed consistent trend 3 percent 12 schools either tending significantly losing 1 point per year 111 schools improved substantially 87 low achievement levels 1990 studys baseline year fewer 40 percent students scored national average however schools better test scores 1990 likelier make marked improvement 38 percent 1990s group medium highachieving schools improved markedly compared 25 percent years lowachieving schools researchers gave extra attention schools started low achievement levels found moderately strong racial pattern lowachieving schools test scores rose substantially tended fewer black students lowachieving schools trend much improved schools 39 percent african american notrend schools 72 percent black however 30 muchimproved schools 90 percent black substantiallyup schools served proportionately latino students 38 percent notrend schools 24 percent weak class pattern eightyfour percent students markedly improved schools lowincome compared 93 percent students notrend schools 30 much improved schools least 93 percent lowincome kids schools whose scores went helped lowestachieving kids substantiallyup schools started low achievement saw percentage students scoring bottom quartile nationally shrink 43 percent 29 percent significantly schools started level would put probation designs study makes important contribution looking changes test scores time says john easton deputy director consortium doesnt go way missing step looking gains individual students time says easton thats aim consortiums upcoming study testscore information tentatively scheduled december release moore recommends muchimproved schools given special recognition even pseudocharter status says shown well handle greater freedom return says school board could use resource helping schools improve meanwhile board recently held awards ceremony 134 elementary schools 34 high schools last year posted combined increase least 10 points reading math
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<p>I am scratching my head wondering how the New Baptist Covenant II, supported philosophically and theologically by so many Baptists, drew such meager attendance? Meeting Nov. 17-20 in Atlanta and seven other locations linked by satellite simulcasts, some NBC II optimists initially placed the combined attendance potential at 30,000.</p>
<p>Actual figures are hard to come by because people were coming and going, but by any count the numbers, including 203 who viewed via the internet, do not exceed 2,000. Another 900+ have viewed portions of the national gathering after the fact through streaming video.</p>
<p />
<p>I know that numbers are not the only measure of success. And if we ignore the numbers, the second national gathering of the New Baptist Covenant was indeed successful. Jesus’ purpose statement drawn from Luke 4:18-19 established the theme: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”</p>
<p>Passionate speakers delivered messages that spoke to the heads, hearts and hands of hearers as they provoked thought, challenged negligence and stimulated kingdom action. Atlanta-area combined choirs sang their hearts out and inspired us to listen for the voice of the Lord. And on Saturday actual missions encounters were scheduled enabling previously unacquainted Baptists to work side-by-side in applying Jesus’ words in practical deeds.</p>
<p>Yes, for those who participated, it felt successful. But numbers are telling.</p>
<p>Almost four years ago organizers of the first New Baptist Covenant event were thrilled by the crowd of more than 15,000 that represented every substrata of Baptist life. At that time I editorialized, “Baptists [gathered] from North and South; from inner cities and sprawling farms; from hallowed halls of academia and wretched halls of tenements; from board rooms and mail rooms; from tall steeples and storefronts” (Feb. 7, 2008).</p>
<p>Perhaps the numerical success of that first national gathering inflated our expectations of the second, but still, as I sat last Thursday evening with 14 others in the 1,200-seat sanctuary of the Israel Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., I couldn’t help but conclude that something was amiss. My first inkling of this was when I entered the church and a woman who directs church ministries at Israel Baptist stopped me and asked, “What is going on tonight in the sanctuary?”</p>
<p>I assume I am not the only one asking why we didn’t come close to reaching our potential attendance. Surely the organizers are also wondering. I have more questions than answers, but the questions are worth asking.</p>
<p>First, is there a real purpose for the New Baptist Covenant? Is there benefit in black Baptists and white Baptists coming together in worship and witness? Together, in the name of Jesus, can we more effectively ease suffering and enhance the kingdom of Christ? Is there something to be gained by harnessing the potential spiritual, economic and political power of 30 million Baptists — 10 percent of the U.S. population? Who could possibly believe there is not? In fact, I would go even further than saying there is benefit; I contend there is a real need.</p>
<p>So if there is purpose for the New Baptist Covenant, why did so few get together? Were the two principle personalities involved in promoting NBC II past their organizational prime? Perhaps we relied too heavily on the magnetic power of former president Jimmy Carter to draw a crowd. When the NBC was being formed, it was Carter who invited Baptist leaders together to pitch the concept of a national gathering. It was his influence in inviting speakers that put together such an impressive slate of presenters, from author John Grisham to Bill Clinton. As someone said, “When Jimmy Carter calls and asks you to be a part of something, how can you refuse?” But is Carter’s influence waning?</p>
<p>And Jimmy Allen, bless his heart. He is still passionate and determined, but does he represent a time gone by? Is it time for new faces and new voices? If so, whose?</p>
<p>Or was the attendance problem more basic? Like communication? The pastor of Israel Baptist told me that all he was asked to do was to provide the meeting place and arrange for the satellite hook-up. He also expressed the assumption that the District of Columbia Baptist Convention would publicize the event. What has become rather painfully obvious is that nobody publicized it well. Members, even staff members, of the church didn’t know about it. And no one from the DCBC was present — at least for the Thursday evening and Friday morning sessions.</p>
<p>But lest you imagine that I am engaging in finger-pointing, some of you are probably reading this wondering, “New Baptist Covenant? I didn’t know anything about it!” Although the Religious Herald reported extensively on the initial gathering in 2008, and on regional gatherings between then and now, we could have given NBC II more prominent press coverage than we did.</p>
<p>Was the problem with the timing? As churches prepare for Thanksgiving and the Advent season to follow, were they too caught up in the press of their own events to give much thought to something as ethereal as the NBC II? After all, from the local church perspective, it was one more event layered on top of an already crammed calendar.</p>
<p>Even we at the Herald felt this pressure. Our semi-annual board of trustees meeting was the same day as the opening session of the NBC II. This left our managing editor, Robert Dilday, scrambling to get to Philadelphia and me to D.C. in time to report on what happened in those places.</p>
<p>Or could it be that Baptists just don’t care? Even though the purpose is clear and the need is irrefutable, do Baptists want to keep on as things are instead of moving on into something new and indefinite? Are our differences so great that we would choose diminished impact over cooperative effort? Are egos so pronounced that being a big duck in a small pond is preferable to joining ponds to produce greater possibilities? If so, we are as much like the world as the world we are trying to convert.</p>
<p>But I believe in the idea. I believe it is heaven-sent and Spirit-led. Regardless of the poor showing, eventually Baptists across the boundaries of denominational factions will get together for more than just a worship service. We will discover that we can do more collectively than we can do individually. Didn’t we learn that already? When the disciples are dull, lessons have to be repeated. How often Jesus marveled that the apostles still didn’t get it.</p>
<p>But finally, they did. And so will we. I hope.</p>
<p>Jim White ( <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>) is editor of the Religious Herald.</p>
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scratching head wondering new baptist covenant ii supported philosophically theologically many baptists drew meager attendance meeting nov 1720 atlanta seven locations linked satellite simulcasts nbc ii optimists initially placed combined attendance potential 30000 actual figures hard come people coming going count numbers including 203 viewed via internet exceed 2000 another 900 viewed portions national gathering fact streaming video know numbers measure success ignore numbers second national gathering new baptist covenant indeed successful jesus purpose statement drawn luke 41819 established theme spirit lord anointed preach good news poor sent proclaim freedom prisoners recovery sight blind release oppressed proclaim year lords favor passionate speakers delivered messages spoke heads hearts hands hearers provoked thought challenged negligence stimulated kingdom action atlantaarea combined choirs sang hearts inspired us listen voice lord saturday actual missions encounters scheduled enabling previously unacquainted baptists work sidebyside applying jesus words practical deeds yes participated felt successful numbers telling almost four years ago organizers first new baptist covenant event thrilled crowd 15000 represented every substrata baptist life time editorialized baptists gathered north south inner cities sprawling farms hallowed halls academia wretched halls tenements board rooms mail rooms tall steeples storefronts feb 7 2008 perhaps numerical success first national gathering inflated expectations second still sat last thursday evening 14 others 1200seat sanctuary israel baptist church washington dc couldnt help conclude something amiss first inkling entered church woman directs church ministries israel baptist stopped asked going tonight sanctuary assume one asking didnt come close reaching potential attendance surely organizers also wondering questions answers questions worth asking first real purpose new baptist covenant benefit black baptists white baptists coming together worship witness together name jesus effectively ease suffering enhance kingdom christ something gained harnessing potential spiritual economic political power 30 million baptists 10 percent us population could possibly believe fact would go even saying benefit contend real need purpose new baptist covenant get together two principle personalities involved promoting nbc ii past organizational prime perhaps relied heavily magnetic power former president jimmy carter draw crowd nbc formed carter invited baptist leaders together pitch concept national gathering influence inviting speakers put together impressive slate presenters author john grisham bill clinton someone said jimmy carter calls asks part something refuse carters influence waning jimmy allen bless heart still passionate determined represent time gone time new faces new voices whose attendance problem basic like communication pastor israel baptist told asked provide meeting place arrange satellite hookup also expressed assumption district columbia baptist convention would publicize event become rather painfully obvious nobody publicized well members even staff members church didnt know one dcbc present least thursday evening friday morning sessions lest imagine engaging fingerpointing probably reading wondering new baptist covenant didnt know anything although religious herald reported extensively initial gathering 2008 regional gatherings could given nbc ii prominent press coverage problem timing churches prepare thanksgiving advent season follow caught press events give much thought something ethereal nbc ii local church perspective one event layered top already crammed calendar even herald felt pressure semiannual board trustees meeting day opening session nbc ii left managing editor robert dilday scrambling get philadelphia dc time report happened places could baptists dont care even though purpose clear need irrefutable baptists want keep things instead moving something new indefinite differences great would choose diminished impact cooperative effort egos pronounced big duck small pond preferable joining ponds produce greater possibilities much like world world trying convert believe idea believe heavensent spiritled regardless poor showing eventually baptists across boundaries denominational factions get together worship service discover collectively individually didnt learn already disciples dull lessons repeated often jesus marveled apostles still didnt get finally hope jim white jwhitereligiousheraldorg editor religious herald
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<p>At the 30th Annual Gun Rights Policy Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, last weekend, the president of the <a href="https://www.saf.org/" type="external">Second Amendment Foundation</a> issued a plea to help ensure the survival of his group and others like it: Court minorities or else.</p>
<p>“There’s some facts we have to come to grips with,” Joseph Tartaro <a href="https://youtu.be/v0vljo27yLE?t=1h9m10s" type="external">said</a> at the second session of the three-day conference co-sponsored by the <a href="http://www.ccrkba.org/?page_id=2898" type="external">Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms</a>. “Within the next 20 to 30 years, the U.S. white population will no longer be the majority.”</p>
<p>The day’s topic was “The Gun Rights Battle,” and the&#160;84-year-old had set out to tackle the waning influence of the “visible face” of the pro-gun community, which “seems to be&#160;predominantly white and Republican.”&#160;The only way to withstand political challenges to the Second Amendment in the future, he argued, is to empower&#160;pro-gun African-Americans&#160;and Hispanics to educate their own communities on gun rights. His hope is to&#160;spark an&#160;electoral groundswell that will start in cities and influence national politics.&#160;Politicians and pastors are a good entry point, he said, “since all of them are sort of grappling with the serious national crime and drug problem.”</p>
<p>“I know pro-gun white people can meet with urban Democrat politicians at the local, state and federal level for useful conversations when the way has been paved by pro-gun members of the minority communities,” Tartaro said. “The handful of big cities will able to wag the votes in their states, and a few of those states will be able to dominate the Electoral College.”</p>
<p>“And black witnesses are effective at giving testimony at legislative hearings,” he added.</p>
<p />
<p>Tartaro admitted that his&#160;“urban initiative”&#160;wasn’t ready for prime time — he urged interested audience members&#160;to approach him for more information&#160;— but its tenets include using pro-gun minority community members&#160;to attract inner-city teens and adults to free classes in firearm safety, history, and&#160;marksmanship. The programs are meant to build a “beneficial long-term alliance” between gun-rights groups and urban communities and their leaders.</p>
<p>“I’ve worked with some of them already in several cities, and the audience reception is always favorable from women and men, from people of all ages, mainly because they are interested in self-defense,” he said.</p>
<p>The ultimate goal appears to be the creation of a pro-gun voting bloc to counter the anti-gun sentiments often held by&#160;officials in&#160;big cities.&#160;Latinos and African-Americans, “along with the new legal immigrants from the Pacific Rim and the Middle East, will swell the influence of the predominantly anti-gun urban Democrats,” Tartaro warned.</p>
<p>Tartaro’s remarks were followed by a speech from Rashad Gray, co-director of the Ohio chapter of the <a href="http://www.naaga.co/" type="external">National African American Gun Association</a>, who urged his fellow members of the Second Amendment Foundation “to take this very seriously.”</p>
<p>“Over 80 percent of the U.S. population lives in urban cores,” Gray, a veteran and firearms instructor, said. “We need all the help we can get.”</p>
<p>Gray, the CEO of the Ohio-based company Urban Sports Unlimited, spoke of “a large constituency” of African-American&#160;gun owners in inner cities that few know about because “they never talk about it.”</p>
<p>“A lot of this has to do with the understanding in the community that the laws don’t work for them,” he claimed. “Policy was designed with a history going back through Jim Crow to take away their rights and their firearm ownership.”</p>
<p>Gray, who can trace his family’s gun ownership back&#160;generations, said his uncle, a gunsmith, took him shooting for the first time when he was six years old. “I fired a .22 down a city alleyway with a bunch of kids from the neighborhood,” he recalled. “Those were the days, you know? When they let you fire a gun in the city and not get arrested.” More important than the lesson in marksmanship, Gray said, were the words of wisdom he says&#160;his uncle imparted: “‘Being a black man and being a gun owner, it’s your birthright.’”</p>
<p>Earlier this month, Farah Stockman, a Boston Globe columnist, wondered why the Black Lives Matter movement, which has brought national attention to the deaths of blacks at the hands of white officers, does not include a crackdown on illegal firearms as one of its objectives.&#160;“I don’t understand why gun control is not on their agenda,” <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/09/16/friend-brain-dead-why-isn-gun-control-part-black-lives-matter-platform/e6CYpBTZ5lmCueBKqqwFoO/story.html" type="external">she wrote</a>&#160;after the shooting death of her friend,&#160;Carey Gabay, an aide to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, adding, “It feels like they’re ignoring the obvious: If there were fewer guns on the street, there would be fewer shootings, including by police.” Her column later noted that the leaders of an offshoot of Black Lives Matter have openly speculated that gun restrictions lead to more, not fewer, officer-involved shootings, “particularly of black people.”</p>
<p>With influential Black Lives Matter organizers indicating a willingness to side with expanded gun rights, could a plan like&#160;Tartaro’s be a way that the gun lobby seizes that opening?</p>
<p>Not according to Dante Barry, executive director of the <a href="http://millionhoodies.net/" type="external">Million Hoodies Movement for Justice</a>​.&#160;“Just saying ‘We’re going to give black youth guns’ doesn’t consider the context: What are the conditions these people are living in?” Barry tells The Trace. “This puts more tension out into these communities and makes them more unsafe rather than safer.”&#160;He points to&#160; <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/11/science-of-racism-prejudice" type="external">virtual reality simulations</a>&#160;​in which study subjects have been&#160;more likely to shoot people with dark skin than light skin.&#160;“Offering up this rhetoric — ‘we need to save you from yourselves, we need to save you to protect you’ — without actually providing power and agency over the community itself will ultimately be rejected,” Barry adds.</p>
<p>According to the Children’s Defense Fund, gun violence is <a href="http://www.childrensdefense.org/library/data/2014-gun-report-fact-sheet.pdf" type="external">the leading cause</a> of death for African-American children in the United States. And African-American&#160;adults are killed by guns at a disproportionate rate. In the aftermath of the Charleston church massacre in June, <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/black-americans-are-killed-at-12-times-the-rate-of-people-in-other-developed-countries/" type="external">FiveThirtyEight&#160;analyzed</a> U.S. homicide deaths by racial group&#160;and found that African-Americans&#160;are killed at 12 times the rate of people of all races in other developed countries. In America, African-Americans&#160;are eight times more likely to be homicide victims than whites.</p>
<p>Tartaro alluded to this uncomfortable truth when he expressed his desire to publicize the “beneficial influence of the firearms community as a partner, not an enemy, in urban affairs,” but did not discuss how the spread of legal firearms might affect gun death and injury rates in communities already beset by gun violence.</p>
<p>[Photo: Youtube]</p>
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30th annual gun rights policy conference phoenix arizona last weekend president second amendment foundation issued plea help ensure survival group others like court minorities else theres facts come grips joseph tartaro said second session threeday conference cosponsored citizens committee right keep bear arms within next 20 30 years us white population longer majority days topic gun rights battle the16084yearold set tackle waning influence visible face progun community seems be160predominantly white republican160the way withstand political challenges second amendment future argued empower160progun africanamericans160and hispanics educate communities gun rights hope to160spark an160electoral groundswell start cities influence national politics160politicians pastors good entry point said since sort grappling serious national crime drug problem know progun white people meet urban democrat politicians local state federal level useful conversations way paved progun members minority communities tartaro said handful big cities able wag votes states states able dominate electoral college black witnesses effective giving testimony legislative hearings added tartaro admitted his160urban initiative160wasnt ready prime time urged interested audience members160to approach information160 tenets include using progun minority community members160to attract innercity teens adults free classes firearm safety history and160marksmanship programs meant build beneficial longterm alliance gunrights groups urban communities leaders ive worked already several cities audience reception always favorable women men people ages mainly interested selfdefense said ultimate goal appears creation progun voting bloc counter antigun sentiments often held by160officials in160big cities160latinos africanamericans along new legal immigrants pacific rim middle east swell influence predominantly antigun urban democrats tartaro warned tartaros remarks followed speech rashad gray codirector ohio chapter national african american gun association urged fellow members second amendment foundation take seriously 80 percent us population lives urban cores gray veteran firearms instructor said need help get gray ceo ohiobased company urban sports unlimited spoke large constituency africanamerican160gun owners inner cities know never talk lot understanding community laws dont work claimed policy designed history going back jim crow take away rights firearm ownership gray trace familys gun ownership back160generations said uncle gunsmith took shooting first time six years old fired 22 city alleyway bunch kids neighborhood recalled days know let fire gun city get arrested important lesson marksmanship gray said words wisdom says160his uncle imparted black man gun owner birthright earlier month farah stockman boston globe columnist wondered black lives matter movement brought national attention deaths blacks hands white officers include crackdown illegal firearms one objectives160i dont understand gun control agenda wrote160after shooting death friend160carey gabay aide new york governor andrew cuomo adding feels like theyre ignoring obvious fewer guns street would fewer shootings including police column later noted leaders offshoot black lives matter openly speculated gun restrictions lead fewer officerinvolved shootings particularly black people influential black lives matter organizers indicating willingness side expanded gun rights could plan like160tartaros way gun lobby seizes opening according dante barry executive director million hoodies movement justice160just saying going give black youth guns doesnt consider context conditions people living barry tells trace puts tension communities makes unsafe rather safer160he points to160 virtual reality simulations160in study subjects been160more likely shoot people dark skin light skin160offering rhetoric need save need save protect without actually providing power agency community ultimately rejected barry adds according childrens defense fund gun violence leading cause death africanamerican children united states africanamerican160adults killed guns disproportionate rate aftermath charleston church massacre june fivethirtyeight160analyzed us homicide deaths racial group160and found africanamericans160are killed 12 times rate people races developed countries america africanamericans160are eight times likely homicide victims whites tartaro alluded uncomfortable truth expressed desire publicize beneficial influence firearms community partner enemy urban affairs discuss spread legal firearms might affect gun death injury rates communities already beset gun violence photo youtube
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<p>LISBON, Portugal — While European governments were struggling to agree on the names of a handful of Russians they could blacklist in response to the latest mayhem in Ukraine, one of the continent's preeminent elder statesmen was out partying with his old buddy Vladimir Putin.</p>
<p>The Russian president was a guest at a caviar-and-champagne 70th-birthday bash Monday for former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.</p>
<p>The pair were snapped hugging outside the palatial venue of the late-night soiree, which was hosted by Schroeder's employer, a pipeline operator that pumps gas to Germany for the Russian energy giant Gazprom.</p>
<p>Although the German government was quick to distance itself from the festivities, the party in St. Petersburg symbolizes how an ambivalent approach in much of Europe toward Putin's destabilization of Ukraine is crippling efforts to build a resolute EU response.</p>
<p>"The latest sanctions show that Europe doesn't have the spunk or the solidarity, or the political will and unity to actually take a tough stance against what Russia is doing in Ukraine," says Judy Dempsey, a senior associate at the Carnegie Europe think-tank.</p>
<p>"It says an awful lot about Europe's lack of political courage," Dempsey added in an interview from her base in Berlin.</p>
<p>Foreign Ministers from the 28 European Union nations agreed two weeks ago to extend the list of Russian officials and their Ukrainian friends to be subjected to an asset freeze and ban on travel to the EU.</p>
<p>Then they spent two weeks dithering over the names while armed pro-Moscow gangs ran amok through much of eastern Ukraine, comforted by presence of 40,000 Russian troops deployed just over the border.</p>
<p>The list of 15, finally published Tuesday morning, contains a trio of big names: Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, armed forces Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov and head of military intelligence Igor Sergun.</p>
<p>However, most of those targeted by the EU are smaller fry — local politicians in recently annexed Crimea as well as rabble-rousers in Ukraine's Donbas region.</p>
<p>Unlike the United States, which targeted Putin cronies and their companies in new sanctions announced on Monday, the EU list avoids hitting members of the president's inner circle or their business interests.</p>
<p>EU countries that had lobbied for a stronger line are frustrated, concerned that the limp response is encouraging the Russians to extend their romp in Ukraine.</p>
<p>"I cannot be satisfied," Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told GlobalPost.</p>
<p>"We can see that the situation is not getting better, it's deteriorating. That means the measures we are taking are not enough," he said in a telephone interview. "We need to take these targeted measures against those who are really taking decisions, the inner circle of the leadership."</p>
<p>Some put it less diplomatically.</p>
<p>"Very weak EU sanctions list. Deliberately avoided touching any of Putin's money. Will come back to bite EU in the ass," tweeted Bill Browder, a London-based businessman. Browder has been a vocal Putin critic since his lawyer Sergei Magnitsky died in a Russian jail in 2009.</p>
<p>The Kremlin duly condemned the EU sanctions, ridiculed the Europeans as tools of Washington and threatened dire consequences.</p>
<p>But the measures were less than expected and reflect division among the EU states.</p>
<p>From Spain to Bulgaria, Germany to Cyprus, many EU members are wary of taking strong action against Putin. Some are worried about provoking the Russian leader to even stronger action. Others fear the impact of sanctions on their own economies.</p>
<p>That's a clear source of frustration in countries such as Poland, Estonia and Lithuania, which are lobbying for a stronger EU line even though their economies are among the most exposed to Russian economic pressure.</p>
<p>"Of course we are taking a risk," Linkevicius said. "We are dependent 100 percent on gas supplies from Russia, but if our position is not clear, the other side will see it as a weakness."</p>
<p>Still, many in Western and Southern Europe see the Ukraine crisis as distant. They wonder why they should get into a fight with a belligerent, nuclear-armed wannabe superpower over a faraway country with which they feel little empathy.</p>
<p>Those divisions have also hamstrung NATO's response to the crisis.</p>
<p>Although the alliance has made a symbolic deployment of fighter jets and warships eastward to assure exposed allies that it stands ready to defend them from any spillover from Ukraine’s conflict, the likes of Poland and Estonia want a more permanent basing of allied troops on their territory.</p>
<p>Sources at alliance headquarters in Brussels say military planners are furious that their hands have been tied by politicians in more cautious allied members.</p>
<p>Germany is key. Chancellor Angela Merkel is one of the few Western leaders to whom Putin listens.</p>
<p>But even though three German military officers are among members of an international monitoring mission taken hostage in eastern Ukraine and paraded by a pro-Moscow rebels as NATO spies, Berlin remains among the European capitals most opposed to stronger Western action.</p>
<p>The government in Berlin has criticized Schroeder's St. Petersburg shindig and pointed out that the former chancellor left active politics after his election defeat by Merkel in 2005.</p>
<p>However, German news media reported the event in the ornate Yusupov Palace was also attended by other senior Germans, including Philipp Missfelder, parliamentary foreign affairs spokesman for Merkel's Christian Democratic Union Party. Erwin Sellering, governor of the state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania and a leader of the Social Democratic Party of Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, was also reportedly present.</p>
<p>Sellering has been enthusiastically promoting business ties with Russia throughout the Ukraine crisis.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/140424/ukraine-troops-kill-separatists-russian-troops-border-live-blog" type="external">Latest from Ukraine (LIVE BLOG)</a></p>
<p>Not everyone in Western Europe is happy about that.</p>
<p>As pro-Russian units stormed more government buildings in eastern Ukraine Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius threatened that the EU would introduce wider economic sanctions next week if Moscow does not move to de-escalate the crisis.</p>
<p>But he can expect resistance, and without concerted action, such threats are starting to look empty.</p>
<p>"We are speaking loudly... but carrying no stick," former Czech Defense Minister Alexandr Vondra told a security conference in Washington. "We have to respond with some strength, this is what these guys understand." &#160;</p>
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lisbon portugal european governments struggling agree names handful russians could blacklist response latest mayhem ukraine one continents preeminent elder statesmen partying old buddy vladimir putin russian president guest caviarandchampagne 70thbirthday bash monday former german chancellor gerhard schroeder russian city st petersburg pair snapped hugging outside palatial venue latenight soiree hosted schroeders employer pipeline operator pumps gas germany russian energy giant gazprom although german government quick distance festivities party st petersburg symbolizes ambivalent approach much europe toward putins destabilization ukraine crippling efforts build resolute eu response latest sanctions show europe doesnt spunk solidarity political unity actually take tough stance russia ukraine says judy dempsey senior associate carnegie europe thinktank says awful lot europes lack political courage dempsey added interview base berlin foreign ministers 28 european union nations agreed two weeks ago extend list russian officials ukrainian friends subjected asset freeze ban travel eu spent two weeks dithering names armed promoscow gangs ran amok much eastern ukraine comforted presence 40000 russian troops deployed border list 15 finally published tuesday morning contains trio big names deputy prime minister dmitry kozak armed forces chief staff valery gerasimov head military intelligence igor sergun however targeted eu smaller fry local politicians recently annexed crimea well rabblerousers ukraines donbas region unlike united states targeted putin cronies companies new sanctions announced monday eu list avoids hitting members presidents inner circle business interests eu countries lobbied stronger line frustrated concerned limp response encouraging russians extend romp ukraine satisfied lithuanias foreign minister linas linkevicius told globalpost see situation getting better deteriorating means measures taking enough said telephone interview need take targeted measures really taking decisions inner circle leadership put less diplomatically weak eu sanctions list deliberately avoided touching putins money come back bite eu ass tweeted bill browder londonbased businessman browder vocal putin critic since lawyer sergei magnitsky died russian jail 2009 kremlin duly condemned eu sanctions ridiculed europeans tools washington threatened dire consequences measures less expected reflect division among eu states spain bulgaria germany cyprus many eu members wary taking strong action putin worried provoking russian leader even stronger action others fear impact sanctions economies thats clear source frustration countries poland estonia lithuania lobbying stronger eu line even though economies among exposed russian economic pressure course taking risk linkevicius said dependent 100 percent gas supplies russia position clear side see weakness still many western southern europe see ukraine crisis distant wonder get fight belligerent nucleararmed wannabe superpower faraway country feel little empathy divisions also hamstrung natos response crisis although alliance made symbolic deployment fighter jets warships eastward assure exposed allies stands ready defend spillover ukraines conflict likes poland estonia want permanent basing allied troops territory sources alliance headquarters brussels say military planners furious hands tied politicians cautious allied members germany key chancellor angela merkel one western leaders putin listens even though three german military officers among members international monitoring mission taken hostage eastern ukraine paraded promoscow rebels nato spies berlin remains among european capitals opposed stronger western action government berlin criticized schroeders st petersburg shindig pointed former chancellor left active politics election defeat merkel 2005 however german news media reported event ornate yusupov palace also attended senior germans including philipp missfelder parliamentary foreign affairs spokesman merkels christian democratic union party erwin sellering governor state mecklenburgwest pomerania leader social democratic party foreign minister frankwalter steinmeier also reportedly present sellering enthusiastically promoting business ties russia throughout ukraine crisis globalpost latest ukraine live blog everyone western europe happy prorussian units stormed government buildings eastern ukraine tuesday french foreign minister laurent fabius threatened eu would introduce wider economic sanctions next week moscow move deescalate crisis expect resistance without concerted action threats starting look empty speaking loudly carrying stick former czech defense minister alexandr vondra told security conference washington respond strength guys understand 160
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<p>SHATILA&#160;CAMP, Beirut — Here in the damp, narrow alley ways of the Palestinian refugee camp, where generation after generation has dreamed of returning to their homeland, Mohamed Azzouka sits in a plastic lawn chair and dreams only of escape.</p>
<p>For this 22-year-old inhabitant of a refuge that has become one of the most potent symbols of both the the plight and the resilience of Palestinians displaced by war, the recent Gaza conflict has dimmed any prospects that he might return to historic Palestine.</p>
<p>“I’m going to travel to Dubai,” said Azzouka, who is studying at a technical school in Beirut to become an interior designer. “When I finish my studies, I have to go. What do I have to do here? Just sitting like this and smoking a cigarette.”</p>
<p>Azzouka looks out across muddy alleyways and the cinder-block shelters where some 12,000 Palestinian refugees live in a shantytown built on an area the size of a few football fields.</p>
<p>“It’s a shit situation, especially for Palestinians in this country,” he said. “All the guys my age want to travel and go out, wherever, whatever the work, just go out from this situation. We want to live in peace and get a better life, better than this … camping.”</p>
<p>Azzouka’s situation is indicative of the dilemma facing the estimated 350,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon — and a new generation of some 4.6 million Palestinians who ended up in the squalor of the UN&#160;refugee camps here, as well as in Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Gaza and the West Bank.</p>
<p>Lebanese law bans refugees like Azzouka from employment in more than 70 types of jobs, especially in professional fields. They are prohibited from owning property. Azzouka said he wouldn’t hesitate to take an opportunity to move to North America or Australia.</p>
<p>“Do you know if Canada or Australia are accepting Palestinians?” he asked this reporter.</p>
<p>He was visibly disappointed when I said that Iraqi refugees probably have a better chance at admittance to those countries than do Palestinians.</p>
<p>Although he would gladly accept a second nationality, Azzouka said that by leaving the camp, or Lebanon, he wouldn’t want to give up his right to return to where his father was born. The Palestinian dream of the so-called "right of return" does not die easily.</p>
<p>Azzouka’s father was born in Haifa, in what is now northern Israel, in 1947. His family fled to Lebanon when the state of Israel was created in 1948 — an event known to Palestinians as the Nakba, or the “catastrophe.” His family has lived in the camp since then, and witnessed and suffered some of the most traumatic events in the Palestinians’ history.</p>
<p>In 1983, Lebanese Christian militiamen massacred at least 700 Palestinians here as Israeli forces watched from a nearby hill. From 1985 to 1987, Syrian troops and Lebanese Shiite militiamen fought to eject the Palestine Liberation Organization from Lebanon’s refugee camps, resulting in more death and destruction in Shatila.</p>
<p>But now, the camps are largely peaceful, but tense, dreary and hopeless places. Pictures of the late PLO leader Yasser Arafat, and Hamas’ assassinated spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, look down from pictures plastered on cement block walls, along with dozens of pictures of young men who have died during the camp’s turbulent history. Sunlight doesn’t shine in the damp, narrow alleys, where pools of black sewage water sit stagnant.</p>
<p>The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East provides schooling and other services here. And remittances from Palestinians abroad, who long ago went to work in the Arabian Gulf countries, North America, or Europe, also play a big role to support people in the camps.</p>
<p>Hassan Hussein, 47, runs a small grocery store on the camp’s edge, funded partly with money from his brother and sister, who left Lebanon in the 1980s for Sweden and Germany. He says he didn’t go with them because he considered the camp as his home. But now he says he’s ready to get out.</p>
<p>“I want to leave Lebanon now because of the fights between Palestinians themselves,” he said. “To see a brother fighting a brother makes a person feel sick about the situation. This is why I want to leave the camp and leave Lebanon.”</p>
<p>The same splits that divide the Palestinians between Gaza and the West Bank, and between the secular Fatah movement and the Islamic Hamas, are evident here. Jihad Saleem, 32, said he’s “fed up” with the divisions between Fatah and Hamas. And as those splits become wider, his hope falters.</p>
<p>“If there’s no unity between Palestinians, then no solution,” he said. “Without being united, we won’t go back to Palestine.”</p>
<p>Now disillusioned, Saleem says pledges by other Arab countries to help rebuild Gaza don’t make him optimistic. With the Palestinians in dispute over who is the legitimate authority in the territory, Saudi Arabia’s pledge of $1 billion for Gaza’s reconstruction brings out Saleem and Azzouka’s cynicism.</p>
<p>“Who will they give it to, Hamas or Fatah?” Azzouka scoffed.</p>
<p>Saleem said he would like to get out of the camp, to the U.S. or Europe. But, like Mohamed, he said he would not forfeit his refugee status, and "right of return," which Palestinians claim and the UN prescribes to anyone having left what is now Israel during the conflict between 1946 and 1948. The issue has been one of the thorniest pieces of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process now fully eclipsed by the fighting in Gaza.</p>
<p>“The disastrous situation we are living in Lebanon right now leads us to take the chance to leave Lebanon to another foreign country to get the citizenship, but for sure, we won’t forget Palestine,” he said. “The citizenship is security for me and my children.”</p>
<p>Others in the camp said they are inspired by what they say was a Hamas victory over the Israelis in Gaza. Abu Mussa, the head of the Shatila branch of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine — General Command, said Palestinians are now more dedicated to violent resistance to Israel’s existence.</p>
<p>“After what they’ve seen in Gaza, Palestinians are sure that the peace process is nonsense,” he said, an assault rifle sitting on a chair nearby. “Fighting with the Zionist state is the solution.”</p>
<p>Azzouka, aspiring interior designer, isn’t so sure. He would like to move out and get a job, make money, have a family. And maybe if he had a European or American passport, he could travel to Israel and see what he calls his homeland.</p>
<p>“Any citizen all over the world wants to live in his country in peace,” he said. “But if I’m still here, I won’t do anything, me and other guys, who finish the university. We’ll be selling vegetables in the market.”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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shatila160camp beirut damp narrow alley ways palestinian refugee camp generation generation dreamed returning homeland mohamed azzouka sits plastic lawn chair dreams escape 22yearold inhabitant refuge become one potent symbols plight resilience palestinians displaced war recent gaza conflict dimmed prospects might return historic palestine im going travel dubai said azzouka studying technical school beirut become interior designer finish studies go sitting like smoking cigarette azzouka looks across muddy alleyways cinderblock shelters 12000 palestinian refugees live shantytown built area size football fields shit situation especially palestinians country said guys age want travel go wherever whatever work go situation want live peace get better life better camping azzoukas situation indicative dilemma facing estimated 350000 palestinian refugees lebanon new generation 46 million palestinians ended squalor un160refugee camps well jordan syria egypt gaza west bank lebanese law bans refugees like azzouka employment 70 types jobs especially professional fields prohibited owning property azzouka said wouldnt hesitate take opportunity move north america australia know canada australia accepting palestinians asked reporter visibly disappointed said iraqi refugees probably better chance admittance countries palestinians although would gladly accept second nationality azzouka said leaving camp lebanon wouldnt want give right return father born palestinian dream socalled right return die easily azzoukas father born haifa northern israel 1947 family fled lebanon state israel created 1948 event known palestinians nakba catastrophe family lived camp since witnessed suffered traumatic events palestinians history 1983 lebanese christian militiamen massacred least 700 palestinians israeli forces watched nearby hill 1985 1987 syrian troops lebanese shiite militiamen fought eject palestine liberation organization lebanons refugee camps resulting death destruction shatila camps largely peaceful tense dreary hopeless places pictures late plo leader yasser arafat hamas assassinated spiritual leader sheikh ahmed yassin look pictures plastered cement block walls along dozens pictures young men died camps turbulent history sunlight doesnt shine damp narrow alleys pools black sewage water sit stagnant united nations relief works agency palestine refugees near east provides schooling services remittances palestinians abroad long ago went work arabian gulf countries north america europe also play big role support people camps hassan hussein 47 runs small grocery store camps edge funded partly money brother sister left lebanon 1980s sweden germany says didnt go considered camp home says hes ready get want leave lebanon fights palestinians said see brother fighting brother makes person feel sick situation want leave camp leave lebanon splits divide palestinians gaza west bank secular fatah movement islamic hamas evident jihad saleem 32 said hes fed divisions fatah hamas splits become wider hope falters theres unity palestinians solution said without united wont go back palestine disillusioned saleem says pledges arab countries help rebuild gaza dont make optimistic palestinians dispute legitimate authority territory saudi arabias pledge 1 billion gazas reconstruction brings saleem azzoukas cynicism give hamas fatah azzouka scoffed saleem said would like get camp us europe like mohamed said would forfeit refugee status right return palestinians claim un prescribes anyone left israel conflict 1946 1948 issue one thorniest pieces israelipalestinian peace process fully eclipsed fighting gaza disastrous situation living lebanon right leads us take chance leave lebanon another foreign country get citizenship sure wont forget palestine said citizenship security children others camp said inspired say hamas victory israelis gaza abu mussa head shatila branch popular front liberation palestine general command said palestinians dedicated violent resistance israels existence theyve seen gaza palestinians sure peace process nonsense said assault rifle sitting chair nearby fighting zionist state solution azzouka aspiring interior designer isnt sure would like move get job make money family maybe european american passport could travel israel see calls homeland citizen world wants live country peace said im still wont anything guys finish university well selling vegetables market 160
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<p>Danica Roem canvasses in the Sudley area of Manassas in Prince William County, Va., on June 20. Roem will face state Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince William County) in November. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)</p>
<p>MANASSAS, Va. — Danica Roem was canvassing in the Sudley section of Manassas in Prince William County on Tuesday afternoon when Natalie Fort parked in front of the townhouse in which she lives with her older sister.</p>
<p>Fort told Roem that reducing congestion along Route 28 is among her top issues going into November’s general election. Fort, who is a high school Latin teacher in Fauquier County, also said “protecting our LGBTQ students” is also among “the most important issues.”</p>
<p>“That’s near and dear to my heart because I’m gay myself,” she told Roem.</p>
<p>Roem spoke with Fort a week after she <a href="" type="internal">defeated</a> Brentsville Magisterial District Democratic Committee Chair Mansimran Kahlon, Steven Jansen and Andrew Adams in the Democratic primary for the 13th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. Roem will face off against state Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince William County) in November.</p>
<p>“I expect to win,” Roem told the Washington Blade on Tuesday during an interview at a Manassas restaurant.</p>
<p>Roem was born and raised in the 13th District, which includes Gainesville and Manassas Park. She lives in the Manassas section of Prince William County.</p>
<p>Roem was a reporter for the Gainesville Times from 2006-2015. She has also worked for the Prince William Times, the National Journal and the Montgomery County (Md.) Sentinel.</p>
<p>Roem throughout the interview repeatedly highlighted transportation, economic development and education are her main issues. She said improving Route 28 in order to reduce traffic congestion, extending the Virginia Railway Express commuter trains to Innovation Technology Park as a way to bolster the area’s high-tech industry and increasing teacher salaries in Prince William County would be among her top legislative priorities in the Virginia House of Delegates if she were to defeat Marshall.</p>
<p>“I have proven myself as someone who has a command over facts, a command over public policy, who has a thorough understanding of detail that goes into land use, that goes into transportation, that goes into economic development, that goes into education, that goes into health care,” Roem told the Blade. “When you run for delegate, you have to know a lot about a lot. You can’t just have an inch thick, mile long knowledge.”</p>
<p>Roem is the first openly transgender nominee for public office in Virginia. She would also make history as the first out trans person seated in any state legislature if she were to succeed Marshall.</p>
<p>Roem described herself as “unabashedly pro-equality and anti-discrimination,” noting one of her campaign volunteers is a 14-year-old trans teenager.</p>
<p>Roem has testified in support of <a href="" type="internal">a proposal</a> that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Prince William County School District’s nondiscrimination policy. She has also sharply criticized President Trump’s decision earlier this year to rescind guidance on how public schools should accommodate trans students.</p>
<p>“That’s not okay,” Roem told the Blade.</p>
<p>Roem acknowledged her campaign has gained national attention because people “see someone who can inspire them and someone who champions the things they believe in.” She also noted to the Blade she is not challenging Marshall simply because she is trans.</p>
<p>“My credentials for this office are not based on my gender,” said Roem.</p>
<p>Marshall has represented the 13th District since 1992. He remains among the most vocal opponents of LGBT rights in the Virginia General Assembly.</p>
<p>Marshall co-wrote Virginia’s constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. He also supported the late Prince William County Circuit Clerk Michèle McQuigg, who was a defendant in a federal lawsuit that challenged the same-sex marriage ban.</p>
<p>The U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 6, 2014, announced it had declined to accept the case. Gays and lesbians have been <a href="" type="internal">able to legally marry in Virginia</a> since that day.</p>
<p>Marshall in 2016 introduced <a href="http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=161&amp;typ=bil&amp;val=HB385&amp;submit=GO" type="external">House Bill 385,</a> which would have prevented municipalities from enacting anti-LGBT discrimination measures. Marshall earlier this year introduced House Bill 1612, which would have prohibited trans people from using public bathrooms based on their gender identity.</p>
<p>Members of the Republican-controlled House General Laws Subcommittee <a href="" type="internal">killed HB 1612</a> by a voice vote. HB 385 also failed to get out of committee.</p>
<p>“We deal with the same issues, which makes me wonder why his legislative priorities are more concerned with where I go to the bathroom than improving how his constituents get to work,” Roem told the Blade, noting she lives roughly two miles away from Marshall. “You would figure that someone who lives that close to Route 28 would be focused like a laser on it.”</p>
<p>Equality Virginia’s Political Action Committee, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, the Trans United Fund, EMILY’s List and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee are among the organizations that have endorsed Roem. Lieutenant Gov. Ralph Northam, who is running against former Republican National Committee Chair Ed Gillespie to succeed Gov. Terry McAuliffe, also supports her candidacy.</p>
<p>“Danica’s campaign embodies the values we’d like to see more of in Richmond: Courage, tolerance and equality,” Northam told the Blade on Tuesday. “That’s why her candidacy is resonating so powerfully among voters. She has my full support and I’m looking forward to continue partnering with her to take our majority back in the House.”</p>
<p>Catherine Read, who is a member of the Equality Virginia PAC’s board of directors, described Roem to the Blade as “a young, dynamic, qualified and visionary candidate ready to represent the people of the” 13th District.</p>
<p>“Manassas is her hometown,” said Read. “She understands both the challenges and the opportunities the future holds for her constituents.”</p>
<p>“Danica represents the future of Virginia on many different levels,” she added.</p>
<p>Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund CEO Aisha C. Moodie-Mills on Wednesday described Roem’s victory in last week’s primary as “a rejection of the anti-trans rhetoric and policies we are witnessing in state legislatures all across the country.”</p>
<p>“Both Danica and her constituents are focused on local issues,” Moodie-Mills told the Blade. “She won because she knocked on more doors, connected with voters and ran a smart campaign as an out trans woman.”</p>
<p>“But the symbolism of this race cannot be missed, and our community must rally behind Danica to defeat ‘Bigot Bob’ and ensure she becomes the only out trans state legislator in the country,” she added.</p>
<p>Equality Virginia PAC Executive Director James Parrish, like Moodie-Mills, noted the historic nature of Roem’s candidacy. He also described Roem as a candidate who “provides a viable option for the residents of Prince William County.”</p>
<p>“She not only counters the hateful rhetoric of her opponent but her knowledge of local issues and steadfast devotion to her neighbors prove that Danica is the right choice for District 13,” Parrish told the Blade on Wednesday. “We know that representation matters and believe that Danica is just the beginning; her candidacy will open the doors to electing more transgender individuals in Virginia and beyond.”</p>
<p>Fort told the Blade after she spoke with Roem on Tuesday that Marshall’s anti-LGBT record is “already kind of a strikeout for me.” She added Roem’s gender identity did not factor into her decision to support her.</p>
<p>“I’m not voting exclusively for her for the sake that she is transgender,” said Fort.</p>
<p>Danica Roem, left, speaks with Natalie Fort outside of her home in the Sudley area of Manassas in Prince William County, Va., on June 20, 2017. Roem will face state Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince William County) in November. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">13th District</a> <a href="" type="internal">Aisha C. Moodie-Mills</a> <a href="" type="internal">Andrew Adams</a> <a href="" type="internal">Bob Marshall</a> <a href="" type="internal">Catherine Read</a> <a href="" type="internal">Danica Roem</a> <a href="" type="internal">EMILY's List</a> <a href="" type="internal">Equality Virginia</a> <a href="" type="internal">Equality Virginia Political Action Committee</a> <a href="" type="internal">Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund</a> <a href="" type="internal">James Parrish</a> <a href="" type="internal">Mansimran Kahlon</a> <a href="" type="internal">Progressive Change Campaign Committee</a> <a href="" type="internal">Ralph Northam</a> <a href="" type="internal">Steven Jansen</a> <a href="" type="internal">Trans United Fund</a> <a href="" type="internal">transgender</a> <a href="" type="internal">Virginia</a></p>
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danica roem canvasses sudley area manassas prince william county va june 20 roem face state del bob marshall rprince william county november washington blade photo michael k lavers manassas va danica roem canvassing sudley section manassas prince william county tuesday afternoon natalie fort parked front townhouse lives older sister fort told roem reducing congestion along route 28 among top issues going novembers general election fort high school latin teacher fauquier county also said protecting lgbtq students also among important issues thats near dear heart im gay told roem roem spoke fort week defeated brentsville magisterial district democratic committee chair mansimran kahlon steven jansen andrew adams democratic primary 13th district virginia house delegates roem face state del bob marshall rprince william county november expect win roem told washington blade tuesday interview manassas restaurant roem born raised 13th district includes gainesville manassas park lives manassas section prince william county roem reporter gainesville times 20062015 also worked prince william times national journal montgomery county md sentinel roem throughout interview repeatedly highlighted transportation economic development education main issues said improving route 28 order reduce traffic congestion extending virginia railway express commuter trains innovation technology park way bolster areas hightech industry increasing teacher salaries prince william county would among top legislative priorities virginia house delegates defeat marshall proven someone command facts command public policy thorough understanding detail goes land use goes transportation goes economic development goes education goes health care roem told blade run delegate know lot lot cant inch thick mile long knowledge roem first openly transgender nominee public office virginia would also make history first trans person seated state legislature succeed marshall roem described unabashedly proequality antidiscrimination noting one campaign volunteers 14yearold trans teenager roem testified support proposal would add sexual orientation gender identity prince william county school districts nondiscrimination policy also sharply criticized president trumps decision earlier year rescind guidance public schools accommodate trans students thats okay roem told blade roem acknowledged campaign gained national attention people see someone inspire someone champions things believe also noted blade challenging marshall simply trans credentials office based gender said roem marshall represented 13th district since 1992 remains among vocal opponents lgbt rights virginia general assembly marshall cowrote virginias constitutional amendment defines marriage man woman also supported late prince william county circuit clerk michèle mcquigg defendant federal lawsuit challenged samesex marriage ban us supreme court oct 6 2014 announced declined accept case gays lesbians able legally marry virginia since day marshall 2016 introduced house bill 385 would prevented municipalities enacting antilgbt discrimination measures marshall earlier year introduced house bill 1612 would prohibited trans people using public bathrooms based gender identity members republicancontrolled house general laws subcommittee killed hb 1612 voice vote hb 385 also failed get committee deal issues makes wonder legislative priorities concerned go bathroom improving constituents get work roem told blade noting lives roughly two miles away marshall would figure someone lives close route 28 would focused like laser equality virginias political action committee gay lesbian victory fund trans united fund emilys list progressive change campaign committee among organizations endorsed roem lieutenant gov ralph northam running former republican national committee chair ed gillespie succeed gov terry mcauliffe also supports candidacy danicas campaign embodies values wed like see richmond courage tolerance equality northam told blade tuesday thats candidacy resonating powerfully among voters full support im looking forward continue partnering take majority back house catherine read member equality virginia pacs board directors described roem blade young dynamic qualified visionary candidate ready represent people 13th district manassas hometown said read understands challenges opportunities future holds constituents danica represents future virginia many different levels added gay lesbian victory fund ceo aisha c moodiemills wednesday described roems victory last weeks primary rejection antitrans rhetoric policies witnessing state legislatures across country danica constituents focused local issues moodiemills told blade knocked doors connected voters ran smart campaign trans woman symbolism race missed community must rally behind danica defeat bigot bob ensure becomes trans state legislator country added equality virginia pac executive director james parrish like moodiemills noted historic nature roems candidacy also described roem candidate provides viable option residents prince william county counters hateful rhetoric opponent knowledge local issues steadfast devotion neighbors prove danica right choice district 13 parrish told blade wednesday know representation matters believe danica beginning candidacy open doors electing transgender individuals virginia beyond fort told blade spoke roem tuesday marshalls antilgbt record already kind strikeout added roems gender identity factor decision support im voting exclusively sake transgender said fort danica roem left speaks natalie fort outside home sudley area manassas prince william county va june 20 2017 roem face state del bob marshall rprince william county november washington blade photo michael k lavers 13th district aisha c moodiemills andrew adams bob marshall catherine read danica roem emilys list equality virginia equality virginia political action committee gay lesbian victory fund james parrish mansimran kahlon progressive change campaign committee ralph northam steven jansen trans united fund transgender virginia
| 818 |
<p>div.leadphoto { display:none; }</p>
<p>SEOUL — I arrived too early. Terrified of being late, I had given myself more time on top of the extra time I usually allow and had arrived at the restaurant 20 minutes before my 7:30 p.m. reservation.</p>
<p>Standing outside, I practiced my line: “I’m Jiyeon Lee for the 7:30 reservation,” while incessantly checking the time on my phone to make sure I hadn’t missed the five-minute window during which I was allowed to arrive.</p>
<p>It had to be done just that way. Customers are to enter five minutes — and only five minutes — prior to their reservation time and they are to introduce themselves as soon as they step foot in the door. There were a lot of rules, and the owner, Shin Dong-il, was serious about them. I had no intention of losing my reservation, so I went along.</p>
<p>I opened the restaurant door at 7:25, announced myself and sat down at one of the three tables after being greeted by the owner, who was the only other person present. He was dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt. The interior of the restaurant, like its exterior, lacked adornment save for a large, faded poster of Shin Dong-il. I took it as a sign of the owner’s absolute confidence in the food being served.</p>
<p>My rather nerve-wracking dining experience was inspired by a friend who told me about this famous donkatsu restaurant with an intricate reservation system. Donkatsu, or Japanese-style deep-fried pork cutlet, has become one of the most common and popular dishes in South Korea, known for being relatively cheap yet filling. This particular restaurant, however, boasted a slightly different take on the conventional dish.</p>
<p>Shindongod, short for Shin Dong-il’s donkatsu, quickly drew crowds following its 1999 opening, thanks to its one-of-a-kind dongod menu. Dongod, simply put, is donkatsu minus the heavy sauce with which it is usually served.</p>
<p>The restaurant, located in a busy shopping district in Seoul, wasn’t particularly accessible in the beginning, though, thanks to endless lines that seemed ever-present. But Shindongod was forced to relocate due to redevelopment about five years ago, and that’s when Shin decided to take matters into his own hands. The clearly high standards Shin has set for his food are matched only by what he expects from those who visit him at his new location, which is in a hidden alleyway adjacent to a bustling college neighborhood.</p>
<p>“Do you know why I agreed to the interview?” Shin asked from under the brim of his black cap, after serving the beer I had ordered in advance. “It’s because you followed the rules. You went through all the proper steps to make a reservation.” I had heard about other reporters being kicked out, or being ordered to clean the premises as retribution for a surprise visit.</p>
<p>The rules go as follows: 1) go to the Shindongod website, 2) become a member by paying a nearly $20-fee that is later deducted from your bill, 3) log on and write a note to Shin that must begin with “Hello Mr. Shindongod …” after which you indicate how many people are in your party and, finally, 4) you must explain why you want to visit the restaurant.</p>
<p>All food must be ordered in advance and all payments made prior to arrival. I ordered a beer, a dish called “White Cloud Shindongod” and fried ice cream-balls for dessert. Customers are not to make phone calls, write emails or ask questions about information already available on the website.</p>
<p>Shin is well aware that the complexity of the system may deter some would-be customers. “To run a business strictly based on reservations basically means the owner isn’t interested in making money,” he said. “I only take the customers that I want.”</p>
<p>Shin sees himself as an artist who is constantly out to prove himself, and he wants his customers as serious as he is about his food. His internet-only reservation system is meant to test the committment of his would-be customers. In turn, having fewer customers would put the pressure on Shin to make sure each dish was the best it could be.</p>
<p>“It was going to be the opportunity to see if I’m really a good chef,” he said, admitting to having been terrified the night before he made the transition. The dimly-lit restaurant, punctuated with the occasional plastic flower atop a table, is only open for a handful of hours each day, and Shin is clearly not making the money he used to. But neither is he interested in doing so.</p>
<p>“I’ve done that before,” he said. “There were days in the past when I would be on television in the morning and again at lunch time.” The walls of the restaurant are covered with clips of Shin in the media from his early years of fame.</p>
<p>Shin declined to disclose his age saying he wanted to only be known for his food and nothing else. He put on his glasses after a brief chat and disappeared into the kitchen to soon emerge once again with a dish of grilled vegetables I hadn’t ordered.</p>
<p>Shin’s dishes are nowhere close to cheap. They range from roughly $15 for a single dish to more than $320 for a full course, which Shin puts together at his own discretion — while the typical donkatsu sells for, at most, $10 elsewhere in the country. But the distinctive taste and time spent on each dish justify Shin’s price tag.</p>
<p>The dish, called “Very Frightening Grilled Vegetables,” is said to trigger adrenaline which “accelerates the heart beat and plays a significant role in getting people to reach the highest peak of physical and mental pleasure,” according to Shin’s website. The grilled vegetables came with a special sauce that Shin said took him three excruciatingly painful years to develop.</p>
<p>Following the vegetables was the main dish of dongod, which felt as if the pieces had been fried in water, not oil — that’s the best way I can explain its clean, pleasant taste. The unknown substance, which Shin referred to only as “vegetables," placed inside the fried dongod brought out a richness that more than made up for the absence of a sauce.</p>
<p>“Don’t mix the dressing with the vegetable, just eat from the top,” he cautioned me as I reached for the side salad with “white cloud” dressing – a sweet, fruity and slightly sour substance — that had come with the dongod.</p>
<p>Like most artists, Shin said he draws inspiration from his surroundings, and often enjoys looking at women’s clothes for color and aesthetics. He is aware that many people find him unusual, but said he thinks he was born ahead of his time and in the wrong country, where people lack appreciation for craftsmanship.</p>
<p>“I want to be able to create a masterpiece some day. A work of art that will fill up reservations all year around,” he said.</p>
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divleadphoto displaynone seoul arrived early terrified late given time top extra time usually allow arrived restaurant 20 minutes 730 pm reservation standing outside practiced line im jiyeon lee 730 reservation incessantly checking time phone make sure hadnt missed fiveminute window allowed arrive done way customers enter five minutes five minutes prior reservation time introduce soon step foot door lot rules owner shin dongil serious intention losing reservation went along opened restaurant door 725 announced sat one three tables greeted owner person present dressed jeans white tshirt interior restaurant like exterior lacked adornment save large faded poster shin dongil took sign owners absolute confidence food served rather nervewracking dining experience inspired friend told famous donkatsu restaurant intricate reservation system donkatsu japanesestyle deepfried pork cutlet become one common popular dishes south korea known relatively cheap yet filling particular restaurant however boasted slightly different take conventional dish shindongod short shin dongils donkatsu quickly drew crowds following 1999 opening thanks oneofakind dongod menu dongod simply put donkatsu minus heavy sauce usually served restaurant located busy shopping district seoul wasnt particularly accessible beginning though thanks endless lines seemed everpresent shindongod forced relocate due redevelopment five years ago thats shin decided take matters hands clearly high standards shin set food matched expects visit new location hidden alleyway adjacent bustling college neighborhood know agreed interview shin asked brim black cap serving beer ordered advance followed rules went proper steps make reservation heard reporters kicked ordered clean premises retribution surprise visit rules go follows 1 go shindongod website 2 become member paying nearly 20fee later deducted bill 3 log write note shin must begin hello mr shindongod indicate many people party finally 4 must explain want visit restaurant food must ordered advance payments made prior arrival ordered beer dish called white cloud shindongod fried ice creamballs dessert customers make phone calls write emails ask questions information already available website shin well aware complexity system may deter wouldbe customers run business strictly based reservations basically means owner isnt interested making money said take customers want shin sees artist constantly prove wants customers serious food internetonly reservation system meant test committment wouldbe customers turn fewer customers would put pressure shin make sure dish best could going opportunity see im really good chef said admitting terrified night made transition dimlylit restaurant punctuated occasional plastic flower atop table open handful hours day shin clearly making money used neither interested ive done said days past would television morning lunch time walls restaurant covered clips shin media early years fame shin declined disclose age saying wanted known food nothing else put glasses brief chat disappeared kitchen soon emerge dish grilled vegetables hadnt ordered shins dishes nowhere close cheap range roughly 15 single dish 320 full course shin puts together discretion typical donkatsu sells 10 elsewhere country distinctive taste time spent dish justify shins price tag dish called frightening grilled vegetables said trigger adrenaline accelerates heart beat plays significant role getting people reach highest peak physical mental pleasure according shins website grilled vegetables came special sauce shin said took three excruciatingly painful years develop following vegetables main dish dongod felt pieces fried water oil thats best way explain clean pleasant taste unknown substance shin referred vegetables placed inside fried dongod brought richness made absence sauce dont mix dressing vegetable eat top cautioned reached side salad white cloud dressing sweet fruity slightly sour substance come dongod like artists shin said draws inspiration surroundings often enjoys looking womens clothes color aesthetics aware many people find unusual said thinks born ahead time wrong country people lack appreciation craftsmanship want able create masterpiece day work art fill reservations year around said
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<p>To channel Thomas Frank who famously asked “What’s the matter with Kansas?” — I have the same question for the Sunshine State.</p>
<p>What’s the matter with Florida?</p>
<p>Or, more specifically, what’s the matter with the (almost) entire Florida Congressional Delegation — 26 of 27 members, Democrat and Republican — who recently penned a <a href="http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398411" type="external">letter</a> shilling for the interests of the predatory payday loan industry.</p>
<p>In a April 28 letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Richard Cordray, the Florida Congressional Delegation (minus Rep. Tom Rooney) outlined concerns about the CFPB’s proposed federal regulations to end abusive practices in the 46-billion-dollar payday loan industry.</p>
<p>The independent federal agency is seeking debt trap protection and debt trap prevention for the borrowers of short-term, small-dollar loans. The CFPB’s blueprint of proposed regulations would require payday lenders to ensure borrowers could reasonably be expected to pay off the loan as well as meet other living expenses, such as rent and groceries. The regulations would also force lenders to provide affordable repayment options and grant additional protections, including capping the number of times a borrower can roll over the debt.</p>
<p>Sounds like a laudable goal. Yet, the Florida Congressional Delegation isn’t so sure.</p>
<p>“The payday loan statute in our home state of Florida is among the most progressive and effective in the nation,” they <a href="http://alceehastings.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398411" type="external">wrote</a> to Cordray. “Indeed, it has become a national example of the successful compromise between strong consumer protection and increased access to credit.”</p>
<p>“In light of Florida’s success in this regard…we implore you to include the Florida model as a third method.”</p>
<p>Just one week later, a diverse group of 20 consumer advocacy organizations fired back, rebuffing the claims of the delegation in a <a href="http://flacp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Response-to-4-28-15-ltr-1.pdf" type="external">letter</a> to Cordray.</p>
<p>“We disagree strongly with any perception on your part that the present Florida payday loan regulatory structure should be held out as a model or that Florida’s regulatory structure provides Florida consumers with a loan that protects them from economic harm,” said the consumer groups.</p>
<p>The letter noted that Florida’s purportedly progressive and effective statute to regulate payday loans was passed 14 years ago in an attempt to limit the industry’s preying on low-income consumers.</p>
<p>“At that time, the payday loan industry was willing to agree to what they referred to as ‘best practices’ in order to obtain the holy grail — extremely high fees and costs,” wrote the consumer groups, noting that while Florida’s usury rate is 18 percent, payday lenders in the Sunshine State are allowed to charge 20 times the criminal usury rate — up to 390 percent APR.</p>
<p>“We look to our United States House delegation to seek additional protections for Florida consumers, not settle for the status quo that keeps the low-income borrower in a debt trap,” the groups continued. “Please reconsider your position and support marketplace equality rather than special interests.”</p>
<p>Florida’s payday loan statute comprised of “best practices” are really and truly “well-disguised loopholes” for usurious loans, <a href="http://flacp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/15.05.06-FL-Payday-2-Pager-Final-21.pdf" type="external">according</a> to the Florida Alliance for Consumer Protection. The 2001 statute touted by the delegation limited borrowers to one loan at a time. However, a 2012 study found that 85 percent of payday loans are issued to borrowers trapped in seven or more loans per year.</p>
<p>Additionally, “churned loans” — those renewed within two weeks of a previous loan — make up 76 percent of payday loan volume in Florida, according to a 2009 study. Moreover, from June 2011 to May 2012, low-to-moderate income Floridians paid more than 300 million in fees to payday lenders, and payday lending during the roughly same time period cost the Florida economy, which was still recovering from the Great Recession, more than $76 million in economic activity.</p>
<p>Facts matter.</p>
<p>Yet even Rep. Alan Grayson, a progressive stalwart and Democratic Senate hopeful in 2016, characterized Florida’s payday loan regulations as “a strong state system” in an <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article20038134.html" type="external">interview</a> with the Miami Herald.</p>
<p>The shilling for the payday loan industry from Florida politicians has not stopped. Former Congressman Kendrick Meek, the Democratic nominee who lost the 2010 Senate election to Marco Rubio, asserted in a July 28 <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/28/short-term-loans-providing-solutions-financial-bum/" type="external">column</a> in the Washington Times that Florida’s regulations on payday loans “has effectively provided a happy medium balancing consumer protection with the need for short-term cash”</p>
<p>“Florida’s groundbreaking reform of short-term lending has provided a safe solution for millions of people for a decade and a half, and I believe it can and should serve as an effective model for any national regulations,” Meek concluded.</p>
<p>Note: Meek, who was once a strong proponent of payday loan reform, has in recent years been a <a href="http://loans.org/payday/articles/industry-campaign-contributions" type="external">top recipient</a> of campaign contributions from the payday industry, ranking as the top recipient during the 2010 election cycle.</p>
<p>According to a new <a href="http://www.coas.howard.edu/centeronraceandwealth/reports&amp;publications/1214-the-economic-impact-of-payday-lending-in-economically-vulnerable-communities.pdf" type="external">study</a> from Howard University, payday lenders target and have a disproportionate impact on low-income and minority communities. In 2014, more than 1,000 of Florida’s 1,200-plus payday storefronts were located in low-income communities and approximately 1,200 payday stores were located in areas whose population was more than 30 percent African-American and up to 60 percent Hispanic.</p>
<p>Three hundred million in fees alone. A net loss of over $76 million in economic activity. A 73 percent increase in borrowers of the age of 65 from 2005 to 2011. And staggering harm being caused to vulnerable communities.</p>
<p>That’s surely no nationwide model for effective reform.</p>
<p>We need strong (not weak) federal regulations from the Consumer Federal Protection Bureau to combat predatory payday lending.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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channel thomas frank famously asked whats matter kansas question sunshine state whats matter florida specifically whats matter almost entire florida congressional delegation 26 27 members democrat republican recently penned letter shilling interests predatory payday loan industry april 28 letter consumer financial protection bureau director richard cordray florida congressional delegation minus rep tom rooney outlined concerns cfpbs proposed federal regulations end abusive practices 46billiondollar payday loan industry independent federal agency seeking debt trap protection debt trap prevention borrowers shortterm smalldollar loans cfpbs blueprint proposed regulations would require payday lenders ensure borrowers could reasonably expected pay loan well meet living expenses rent groceries regulations would also force lenders provide affordable repayment options grant additional protections including capping number times borrower roll debt sounds like laudable goal yet florida congressional delegation isnt sure payday loan statute home state florida among progressive effective nation wrote cordray indeed become national example successful compromise strong consumer protection increased access credit light floridas success regardwe implore include florida model third method one week later diverse group 20 consumer advocacy organizations fired back rebuffing claims delegation letter cordray disagree strongly perception part present florida payday loan regulatory structure held model floridas regulatory structure provides florida consumers loan protects economic harm said consumer groups letter noted floridas purportedly progressive effective statute regulate payday loans passed 14 years ago attempt limit industrys preying lowincome consumers time payday loan industry willing agree referred best practices order obtain holy grail extremely high fees costs wrote consumer groups noting floridas usury rate 18 percent payday lenders sunshine state allowed charge 20 times criminal usury rate 390 percent apr look united states house delegation seek additional protections florida consumers settle status quo keeps lowincome borrower debt trap groups continued please reconsider position support marketplace equality rather special interests floridas payday loan statute comprised best practices really truly welldisguised loopholes usurious loans according florida alliance consumer protection 2001 statute touted delegation limited borrowers one loan time however 2012 study found 85 percent payday loans issued borrowers trapped seven loans per year additionally churned loans renewed within two weeks previous loan make 76 percent payday loan volume florida according 2009 study moreover june 2011 may 2012 lowtomoderate income floridians paid 300 million fees payday lenders payday lending roughly time period cost florida economy still recovering great recession 76 million economic activity facts matter yet even rep alan grayson progressive stalwart democratic senate hopeful 2016 characterized floridas payday loan regulations strong state system interview miami herald shilling payday loan industry florida politicians stopped former congressman kendrick meek democratic nominee lost 2010 senate election marco rubio asserted july 28 column washington times floridas regulations payday loans effectively provided happy medium balancing consumer protection need shortterm cash floridas groundbreaking reform shortterm lending provided safe solution millions people decade half believe serve effective model national regulations meek concluded note meek strong proponent payday loan reform recent years top recipient campaign contributions payday industry ranking top recipient 2010 election cycle according new study howard university payday lenders target disproportionate impact lowincome minority communities 2014 1000 floridas 1200plus payday storefronts located lowincome communities approximately 1200 payday stores located areas whose population 30 percent africanamerican 60 percent hispanic three hundred million fees alone net loss 76 million economic activity 73 percent increase borrowers age 65 2005 2011 staggering harm caused vulnerable communities thats surely nationwide model effective reform need strong weak federal regulations consumer federal protection bureau combat predatory payday lending 160
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<p>The National Park Service turns <a href="" type="internal">100 years old this month</a>. Fifty-nine U.S. National Parks cover almost 52 million acres across 27 different states. Last year, they saw a record 305 million visitors. To recognize the centennial of the system protecting these American treasures, NBC News will feature stories from 10 national parks and recreation areas — from California's Yosemite to New York's Gateway.</p>
<p>As a shy child growing up in New York City, Millie Jimenez broke out of her shell by translating for her Spanish-speaking mother. Surrounded by diversity, she learned to make connections by interacting with her loud neighbors and asking strangers for directions.</p>
<p>While still soft-spoken, Jimenez is now the one giving directions, a world away in Wyoming.</p>
<p>The 25-year-old is a ranger for Grand Teton National Park, where she works to introduce Latinos like her younger self to the outdoors. She recently took a handful of middle and high schoolers on a three-day backcountry camping adventure that ended with a “float” down the Snake River, which flows through the park.</p>
<p>Visits to the national parks topped 300 million for the first time in 2015, but fewer than 20 percent of NPS employees are non-white, according to NPS data.</p>
<p>Visitor demographics are thought to generally track with the demographic statistics of the workforce, spokesman Jeremy Barnum said. A 2011 University of Wyoming study commissioned by the NPS found that just <a href="https://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/docs/CompSurvey2008_2009RaceEthnicity.pdf" type="external">20 percent of visitors</a> to a national park in 2008-2009 were minorities, and that only 9 percent were Hispanic.</p>
<p>“We’re the next generation," Jimenez said. "The national park isn’t representing the United States’ population. If we want to continue to be relevant and if we want to get to 200 years, we need to open our arms and embrace everyone."</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Among Both Visitors and Staff, National Park Service Looks to Grow Diversity</a></p>
<p>Jimenez, the daughter of Mexican immigrants who began working at Grand Teton in 2014, grew up in the bustling Little Italy neighborhood of the Bronx. A trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park through the NPS Academy, a joint workforce diversity initiative of the Park Service and Student Conservation Association, was her first trip to a park outside an urban setting.</p>
<p>An internship at Yellowstone National Park “solidified my dream of wanting to become a park ranger,” she said.</p>
<p>Grand Teton, located just north of Jackson, is well-situated for outreach efforts. While the Jackson Hole valley is known as a wealthy resort community, a recent report by the Economic Policy Institute found the Jackson metropolitan area to be the most economically unequal in the U.S. It’s also home to a growing Latino population.</p>
<p>According to 2010 Census data, a little over 27 percent of Jackson's population is Hispanic. More recent Census data showed Latinos comprise 15 percent of the population of Teton County, where Jackson is the seat, though a Wyoming consulting firm's 2015 report said local service providers estimate that number is closer to 25 to 30 percent.</p>
<p>Grand Teton Superintendent David Vela, who is Latino himself, called diversity outreach a priority for the park. Jimenez’s path, he said, has the power to inspire.</p>
<p>“For an urban kid, a Latina, to have her life transformed because of experiences in a national park is exactly what national parks can provide to any American youth,” Vela said. “Millie’s story is what’s in the realm of possibility if you’re exposed to these magnificent places.”</p>
<p>Jimenez is determined to show the local Latino community that the park also belongs to them. She courts kids from Jackson by coaxing their parents, in Spanish, to let her take their sons and daughters kayaking or camping. On trips, she identifies bird and plant species. She becomes something like an older sister, helping apply sunscreen and laughing with her charges when one of them starts to act like a payaso, or clown.</p>
<p>"That’s why I think it’s so important to have rangers that specifically go out into communities and get people excited, because they might not think that this park is for them, but all parks are for everyone. Because they tell the American story. They tell your story and my story. There’s a park for everyone,” Jimenez said.</p>
<p>Her time with the park service has not been without its challenges. Last October, she suffered a devastating fall while hiking Avalanche Canyon in the Teton backcountry with a friend. She plummeted 50 feet and had to be airlifted by helicopter to a hospital, where she learned she had broken her sternum, clavicle, and multiple bones on the right side of her body.</p>
<p>She awoke to the familiar faces of Vela and other colleagues, and their outpouring of love and support reaffirmed her commitment to the park. After nine months of physical therapy, she embarked on the same hike once more, determined to complete it.</p>
<p>On her frequent visits to Jackson to recruit new young people to the park, Jimenez often ditches her ranger uniform for regular clothes. She wants to make sure people know her as “Millie,” not as an intimidating government employee.</p>
<p>But when she is in uniform, the badge she wears identifying her as a Spanish language interpreter often sparks conversations.</p>
<p>"They're not used to seeing rangers that look like me, right?" she said. "So for them it's really cool that they can come up to me and talk to me and we already have some shared understanding of something."</p>
<p>Location: Wyoming</p>
<p>Size: 310,000 acres</p>
<p>Wildlife: Home to more than 60 species of mammals, including bison, moose, elk, grizzly and black bears, and river otters</p>
<p>Noteworthy Features: Snake River, 1,056 miles long, flows through the park. Home to Grand Teton, Wyoming's second highest peak at 13,770 feet, and Jackson Hole Airport, the only commercial airport in the U.S. located inside a national park.</p>
<p>National Parks at 100:</p>
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national park service turns 100 years old month fiftynine us national parks cover almost 52 million acres across 27 different states last year saw record 305 million visitors recognize centennial system protecting american treasures nbc news feature stories 10 national parks recreation areas californias yosemite new yorks gateway shy child growing new york city millie jimenez broke shell translating spanishspeaking mother surrounded diversity learned make connections interacting loud neighbors asking strangers directions still softspoken jimenez one giving directions world away wyoming 25yearold ranger grand teton national park works introduce latinos like younger self outdoors recently took handful middle high schoolers threeday backcountry camping adventure ended float snake river flows park visits national parks topped 300 million first time 2015 fewer 20 percent nps employees nonwhite according nps data visitor demographics thought generally track demographic statistics workforce spokesman jeremy barnum said 2011 university wyoming study commissioned nps found 20 percent visitors national park 20082009 minorities 9 percent hispanic next generation jimenez said national park isnt representing united states population want continue relevant want get 200 years need open arms embrace everyone related among visitors staff national park service looks grow diversity jimenez daughter mexican immigrants began working grand teton 2014 grew bustling little italy neighborhood bronx trip great smoky mountains national park nps academy joint workforce diversity initiative park service student conservation association first trip park outside urban setting internship yellowstone national park solidified dream wanting become park ranger said grand teton located north jackson wellsituated outreach efforts jackson hole valley known wealthy resort community recent report economic policy institute found jackson metropolitan area economically unequal us also home growing latino population according 2010 census data little 27 percent jacksons population hispanic recent census data showed latinos comprise 15 percent population teton county jackson seat though wyoming consulting firms 2015 report said local service providers estimate number closer 25 30 percent grand teton superintendent david vela latino called diversity outreach priority park jimenezs path said power inspire urban kid latina life transformed experiences national park exactly national parks provide american youth vela said millies story whats realm possibility youre exposed magnificent places jimenez determined show local latino community park also belongs courts kids jackson coaxing parents spanish let take sons daughters kayaking camping trips identifies bird plant species becomes something like older sister helping apply sunscreen laughing charges one starts act like payaso clown thats think important rangers specifically go communities get people excited might think park parks everyone tell american story tell story story theres park everyone jimenez said time park service without challenges last october suffered devastating fall hiking avalanche canyon teton backcountry friend plummeted 50 feet airlifted helicopter hospital learned broken sternum clavicle multiple bones right side body awoke familiar faces vela colleagues outpouring love support reaffirmed commitment park nine months physical therapy embarked hike determined complete frequent visits jackson recruit new young people park jimenez often ditches ranger uniform regular clothes wants make sure people know millie intimidating government employee uniform badge wears identifying spanish language interpreter often sparks conversations theyre used seeing rangers look like right said really cool come talk already shared understanding something location wyoming size 310000 acres wildlife home 60 species mammals including bison moose elk grizzly black bears river otters noteworthy features snake river 1056 miles long flows park home grand teton wyomings second highest peak 13770 feet jackson hole airport commercial airport us located inside national park national parks 100
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<p>Residents southwest of Peru's capital have&#160; <a href="http://larepublica.pe/sociedad/737965-manchay-vecinos-bloquean-avenida-y-protestan-contra-el-corredor-javier-prado" type="external">blocked access roads</a> to their neighborhood to protest&#160;the Integrated Transport System of Lima's <a href="http://larepublica.pe/sociedad/737051-desde-este-jueves-entro-en-operacion-la-primera-ruta-alimentadora-de-corredor-javier-prado" type="external">new shuttle buses</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://peru21.pe/actualidad/manchay-vecinos-bloquean-avenida-desacuerdo-corredor-javier-prado-2237965" type="external">The residents say</a> the new shuttle buses are accompanied by a hike in&#160;fares. The fares of the privately owned vehicles — combis, a type of privately owned mini bus, and microbuses — that served as public transport in the absence of government-run options were about 15 cents. The official new shuttle buses, which service the same routes, however, will charge 35 cents.&#160;</p>
<p>"Residents block access to Manchay in protest against the ‘Blue Routes’"</p>
<p>"Manchay residents block Avenida Victor Malásquez in protest against the ‘Blue Routes’. @RPPNoticias"</p>
<p>The protest in the Manchay neighborhood escalated;&#160;at least 40 people were injuredi&#160;on February 1. The volume of patients at the area's medical clinic was such that&#160;people had to be sent elsewhere.</p>
<p>"#Urgent People in the hills waiting for police's arrival, still blocking access to Manchay."</p>
<p>"Police in helicopters drop tear gas bombs on Solidarity Way to disperse protesters in Manchay."</p>
<p>The protests continued the following day, even <a href="http://elcomercio.pe/lima/sucesos/manchay-miles-causan-destrozos-segundo-dia-protestas-noticia-1875765" type="external">increasing in volume</a>, as Manchay&#160;residents returned to block access roads. A group of them even tried to attack the council building, resulting in the predictable police response. Clashes between protesters and police trying to open the blocked roads and avoid damage to council premises resulted in <a href="http://larepublica.pe/sociedad/738291-al-menos-7-heridos-deja-enfrentamientos-entre-manifestantes-y-policias-en-manchay" type="external">various injuries</a> and <a href="http://larepublica.pe/sociedad/738412-pobladores-de-manchay-piden-liberacion-de-detenidos-en-enfrentamientos" type="external">arrests</a>.</p>
<p>"#WasapEC | #Manchay: Víctor Malasquez Avenue remains blocked by residents protesting against #CorredorAzul"</p>
<p>"Protests continue in Manchay"</p>
<p>Despite the violent protests and police repression, representatives of Lima Council and the protesters <a href="http://larepublica.pe/impresa/sociedad/738142-manchay-se-movilizo-contra-el-corredor-azul" type="external">agreed&#160;</a>on a return of the combis and a <a href="http://rpp.pe/lima/actualidad/corredor-azul-protransporte-suspendeoperacion-de-ruta-alimentadora-en-manchay-noticia-934657" type="external">suspension</a> of the official public transport service.</p>
<p>"#Manchay socked it to Protransporte [the division of the Municipality of Lima that handles public transport for the city] and commands respect for la china [a nickname for a 50 cents coin, the cost of the ride] to travel in the area"</p>
<p>La "china" no murio Manchay la resucito. La protesta del pueblo dio sus frutos <a href="https://t.co/YFvTCxKZoi" type="external">https://t.co/YFvTCxKZoi</a></p>
<p>— josecito ortiz (@vladym1) <a href="https://twitter.com/vladym1/status/694572675243642880" type="external">February 2, 2016</a></p>
<p>"The china is not dead; Manchay has resuscitated it. The neighbourhood's protest has brought results."</p>
<p>"The people of Manchay refute modernity and want to continue using informal transport forever: The Municipality of Lima pays attention."</p>
<p>Facebook user <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AndreaLia/posts/10153948412753750" type="external">Lia Valderrama commented</a> on the thoughtlessness of introducing a reform in the transport system without previous consultation with the population that would supposedly benefit:</p>
<p>"How are you going to increase the fare by more than 100 percent, and at the same time take away the source of economy, in a sector that survives on transport. I understand that reforms are not easy but we cannot continue committing the ineptitude of (ex-mayor) Susana Villarán […] no-one has the right to introduce reforms that have not first been consulted with the public, on top of this regretful situation they have the audacity to send helicopters to attack a protesting population from the skies."</p>
<p>On the other hand, <a href="http://elcomercio.pe/lima/ciudad/y-alcalde-donde-esta-pedro-ortiz-bisso-noticia-1876280" type="external">journalist Pedro Ortíz Bisso commented</a> in the newspaper El Comercio that while&#160;residents had a right to protest, the quick give-in to their demands by officials&#160;“may end any chance of future public transport reform” in Lima. A subject which, he added, appears to be of little importance to the current city government..</p>
<p>The tough&#160;life in Manchay</p>
<p>What is it about life in Manchay that makes the residents protest so energetically against a fare rise that would to others seem negligible?</p>
<p><a href="http://hosjena.org/manchay.htm" type="external">Manchay</a> remains a marginal area in Lima, nestled between mountains and desert and, as its absence from the map bears witness. Many who live there&#160;are originally inhabitants of the Andean areas displaced by the violence perpetuated by the militant communist group Shining Path in the 1980s</p>
<p><a href="http://ojo.pe/la-central/manchay-sufre-por-extrema-pobreza-15370/" type="external">The poverty rate is high</a>, yet these residents are forced to spend more on basic services such as transport or water than the residents of far more central areas of Lima. The cumulative effect of this apparently small rise in the cost of transport, over the length of the working week, represents a serious weakening to their purchasing power.</p>
<p>But the problems of Manchay are not limited to transport, <a href="http://gestionpublica.org.pe/plantilla/rxv5t4/1029474941/enl4ce/2010/seti/revges_1074.pdf" type="external">water</a> or <a href="http://www.andina.com.pe/agencia/noticia-poblacion-extrema-pobreza-manchay-recibe-viveres-como-donacion-381315.aspx" type="external">extreme poverty</a>. <a href="http://peru21.pe/actualidad/capturan-sanguinarios-pachacamac-2130279" type="external">Social delinquency</a> is rife and teenagers become gang members as a way to survive. Furthermore, a great number of residents do not own the <a href="http://www2.congreso.gob.pe/Sicr/Prensa/heraldo.nsf/CNtitulares2/A5CB67F81855AEED05257D72006864AD/?OpenDocument" type="external">deeds to their properties</a>. To top it all off, Manchay is geologically the area of Lima <a href="http://elcomercio.pe/lima/seguridad/manchay-seria-zona-mas-vulnerable-lima-si-hay-terremoto-noticia-1765981" type="external">most vulnerable</a> to a high magnitude earthquake.</p>
<p>The following video from YouTub user Cristian suelto en la B shows, in his own words, “the best of Manchay — because if we showed the worst, we would be showing simply the worst place to live and one of the poorest places in Lima. You would think that there had been an earthquake, ladies and gentlemen, but not at all, that's just the way Manchay is.”</p>
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<p>A few years ago, the blog Cuestiones Sociales (Social Issues) studied the quality of life in some of these areas of Lima, including Manchay, and <a href="https://cuestionessociales.wordpress.com/2013/06/09/calidad-de-vida-en-los-asentamientos-humanos/" type="external">observed</a>:</p>
<p>"We are talking about a squat on the outskirts of Lima, where the people lead a very precarious life. Most of the population live on (about $1.50)&#160;a day and lack access to services as basic as drinking water. They live in homes built from unstable material, often a long way from things we take for granted, such as paved roads. The problem is that the government shows such indifference, there is very little support, the council does not spend the annual budget assigned to the area, there is a poor public administration and the population becomes poorer and poorer."</p>
<p>Discussion of shantytowns like these usually swings between two perspectives. First, that no one is forcing these people to live there, in unurbanized sites with the minimum conditions of a dignified life, and as such, they are responsible for their poverty and suffering. Second, that it was a lack of security or opportunity — in effect, the absence of the state — that led residents to first settle there seeking a better life, and so it is the state's responsibility to look after them.</p>
<p>The video below, uploaded to YouTube by Efraín M. Díaz-Horna, was made by a foreign&#160;visitor to Lima and depicts a Chocolatada, an activity (generally around Christmas) where organizers give to and&#160;prepare&#160;hot chocolate for guests — usually children and their mothers.</p>
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<p>‘How many hours do people spend on public transport'?</p>
<p>Although calm has now returned to Manchay, as have the combis, it's unknown how long that will last. It has <a href="http://diariocorreo.pe/ciudad/vandalos-de-manchay-seran-juzgados-por-flagrancia-651307/" type="external">been announced</a> that the protesters who were detained in the confrontations with police will be tried for crimes of disturbance and obstruction of channels of communication under the new <a href="http://www.americatv.com.pe/sos-america/reportajes/ley-flagrancia-definicion-proceso-legal-noticia-38729" type="external">law of blatancy</a>, which allows very quick trials (sometimes just a number of days).</p>
<p>On the other hand, the residents of Manchay have set a precedent, causing people in other areas of Lima who also feel aggrieved by reforms in public transport to <a href="http://elcomercio.pe/lima/sucesos/corredor-javier-prado-violencia-manchay-podria-trasladarse-al-callao-noticia-1876271" type="external">threaten to protest</a> and block access roads as a way of demanding a return to informal collective transport. Some of these unhappy residents are, obviously, the owners and associations of combis and microbuses.</p>
<p>Transport reform in Lima was pioneered by ex-Mayor Susana Villarán to reduce the number of accidents, many of them&#160;arising from competition between combis and microbus drivers.</p>
<p>A taxi in a suburb of Lima</p>
<p>Luis Cordova/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0</p>
<p>"How many hours do people spend on public transport, going to and from their place of work or study?" asked economist Patricia Teullet in the Peru21 newspaper. "In many cases, two hours each way, probably on foot, and worsened by the heat of the summer. And how much does each person that has to take two or three vehicles spend on doing so?</p>
<p>"What time does this women who cleans the street in the dark, pulling an enormous rubbish bin, have to get up n the middle of the night? Or the family man with a casual job who depends on the luck of being in the right place at the right time? Without excusing their behavior, which ranges from irresponsible to savage, how much pressure do the micro-bus drivers face as they compete to pick up passengers? And the taxi drivers circling up and down for hours, in search of a fare? We are all, at some point, both victims and perpetrators of the accidents that occur every day."</p>
<p>This post was <a href="http://arellanojuan.com/conozca-manchay-la-zona-de-lima-adonde-sus-habitantes-no-quieren-que-llegue-el-transporte-municipal/" type="external">originally published</a> on Juan Arellano's blog ‘Globalizado’ and is republished here with permission. It is <a href="https://globalvoices.org/2016/02/18/welcome-to-manchay-the-neighbourhood-in-lima-resisting-the-arrival-of-public-transport/" type="external">crossposted</a> from <a href="https://globalvoices.org/" type="external">Global Voices Online.</a></p>
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residents southwest perus capital have160 blocked access roads neighborhood protest160the integrated transport system limas new shuttle buses residents say new shuttle buses accompanied hike in160fares fares privately owned vehicles combis type privately owned mini bus microbuses served public transport absence governmentrun options 15 cents official new shuttle buses service routes however charge 35 cents160 residents block access manchay protest blue routes manchay residents block avenida victor malásquez protest blue routes rppnoticias protest manchay neighborhood escalated160at least 40 people injuredi160on february 1 volume patients areas medical clinic that160people sent elsewhere urgent people hills waiting polices arrival still blocking access manchay police helicopters drop tear gas bombs solidarity way disperse protesters manchay protests continued following day even increasing volume manchay160residents returned block access roads group even tried attack council building resulting predictable police response clashes protesters police trying open blocked roads avoid damage council premises resulted various injuries arrests wasapec manchay víctor malasquez avenue remains blocked residents protesting corredorazul protests continue manchay despite violent protests police repression representatives lima council protesters agreed160on return combis suspension official public transport service manchay socked protransporte division municipality lima handles public transport city commands respect la china nickname 50 cents coin cost ride travel area la china murio manchay la resucito la protesta del pueblo dio sus frutos httpstcoyfvtcxkzoi josecito ortiz vladym1 february 2 2016 china dead manchay resuscitated neighbourhoods protest brought results people manchay refute modernity want continue using informal transport forever municipality lima pays attention facebook user lia valderrama commented thoughtlessness introducing reform transport system without previous consultation population would supposedly benefit going increase fare 100 percent time take away source economy sector survives transport understand reforms easy continue committing ineptitude exmayor susana villarán noone right introduce reforms first consulted public top regretful situation audacity send helicopters attack protesting population skies hand journalist pedro ortíz bisso commented newspaper el comercio while160residents right protest quick givein demands officials160may end chance future public transport reform lima subject added appears little importance current city government tough160life manchay life manchay makes residents protest energetically fare rise would others seem negligible manchay remains marginal area lima nestled mountains desert absence map bears witness many live there160are originally inhabitants andean areas displaced violence perpetuated militant communist group shining path 1980s poverty rate high yet residents forced spend basic services transport water residents far central areas lima cumulative effect apparently small rise cost transport length working week represents serious weakening purchasing power problems manchay limited transport water extreme poverty social delinquency rife teenagers become gang members way survive furthermore great number residents deeds properties top manchay geologically area lima vulnerable high magnitude earthquake following video youtub user cristian suelto en la b shows words best manchay showed worst would showing simply worst place live one poorest places lima would think earthquake ladies gentlemen thats way manchay years ago blog cuestiones sociales social issues studied quality life areas lima including manchay observed talking squat outskirts lima people lead precarious life population live 150160a day lack access services basic drinking water live homes built unstable material often long way things take granted paved roads problem government shows indifference little support council spend annual budget assigned area poor public administration population becomes poorer poorer discussion shantytowns like usually swings two perspectives first one forcing people live unurbanized sites minimum conditions dignified life responsible poverty suffering second lack security opportunity effect absence state led residents first settle seeking better life states responsibility look video uploaded youtube efraín díazhorna made foreign160visitor lima depicts chocolatada activity generally around christmas organizers give and160prepare160hot chocolate guests usually children mothers many hours people spend public transport although calm returned manchay combis unknown long last announced protesters detained confrontations police tried crimes disturbance obstruction channels communication new law blatancy allows quick trials sometimes number days hand residents manchay set precedent causing people areas lima also feel aggrieved reforms public transport threaten protest block access roads way demanding return informal collective transport unhappy residents obviously owners associations combis microbuses transport reform lima pioneered exmayor susana villarán reduce number accidents many them160arising competition combis microbus drivers taxi suburb lima luis cordovacc byncnd 20 many hours people spend public transport going place work study asked economist patricia teullet peru21 newspaper many cases two hours way probably foot worsened heat summer much person take two three vehicles spend time women cleans street dark pulling enormous rubbish bin get n middle night family man casual job depends luck right place right time without excusing behavior ranges irresponsible savage much pressure microbus drivers face compete pick passengers taxi drivers circling hours search fare point victims perpetrators accidents occur every day post originally published juan arellanos blog globalizado republished permission crossposted global voices online
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<p>Need some quick calories? We have an edible Geo Quiz for you.</p>
<p>Many countries have their own signature cheeses.</p>
<p>For example: there's an Armenian string cheese called Chechil that's a little like Mozarella.</p>
<p>The Swiss love their hard yellow, sweet but salty Gruyere cheese.</p>
<p>Mongolians make a slightly sour cheese called Byaslag from yak milk.</p>
<p>But we want you to name an unusual cheese that's made in Spain.</p>
<p>It's a hard, sheep's milk cheese that's been made for centuries in the medieval Castilian village of Guzman.</p>
<p>That's in the northern province of Burgos.</p>
<p>This cheese is traditionally aged in the local caves there where legend has it– it takes on magical qualities.</p>
<p>It's rare to find in gourmet shops–but if you do find it–it goes for about $22 a pound.</p>
<p>Michael Paterniti wanted this cheese badly enough that he sought out the tiny village of Guzman–and describes what he found as the "world's greatest piece of cheese."</p>
<p>He's the author of the new book, "The Telling Room: A Tale of Love, Betrayal, Revenge, and the World's greatest Piece of Cheese."</p>
<p>The cheese is called: Paramo de Guzman.</p>
<p>But there are plenty of other great cheese out there in the world. Here's a sampling of recommendations from our Geo Quiz listeners / Geo Text game players:</p>
<p>"Tintern cheese from the country of Wales. Named after the monks who grew the shallots that were put into the cheese." Ericin Tacoma, WA</p>
<p>"Gaperon, a garlic and pepper dappled delight consumed in embarrassingly large quantities in France." Vincent in Pasadena, CA</p>
<p>"Welsh smoked applewood cheddar–yum!" Anchorage, AK</p>
<p>"'Mountain cheese' from Frutigen, Switzerland." Hannah in Chugwater, WY</p>
<p>"Yak cheese from Nepal." Joseph in Camp Pendleton, CA</p>
<p>"I love Oaxaca cheese when it comes in a big stringy ball. Have never found good Oaxaca cheese outside of Oaxaca and Puebla, MX. Guess it doesn't travel well." Walpole, MA</p>
<p>"Coolea cheese, from the Muskerry Gaeltacht (Irish language district) of County Cork, Ireland." Kevin in Baltimore, MD</p>
<p>"Gjetost from Scandinavia – buttery, caramelly, unusually creamy." Eric in Acworth, GA</p>
<p>"Cheese with loroco. Loroco is the flower of the fernaldia pandurata plant native of El Salvador and Guatemala." Miguel in Country Lakes, FL</p>
<p>"Cypress grove humboldt fog. From right here in humboldt county ca. I drive by the goats every day." Jonathan in McKinleyville, CA</p>
<p>"Norwegian gjetost- slightly and oddly fishy taste, oily, generally unpleasant to non-Norwegians, may be a nationally acquired taste like marmite and retsina." Teri in Cambridge, MA</p>
<p>"I ordered a cheese omelet while in Vietnam. When it came I opened up the omelet and inside was 2 cold triangles of laughing cow cheese. They don't have cows." Melissa in Vancouver, WA</p>
<p>"Asiago…extremely dry in Bologna, Italy with aged, spicy Italian salami." Fred, Bend, OR</p>
<p>"Cave cheese from France literally taste like the stale stagnant air that fills a cave. Interesting concept but not a cheese I plan on eating again!" Jewlee in Longmont, CO</p>
<p>"Queso fresco from San Juan Comalapa, Guatemala! Salty and soft and wrapped in a banana leaf! Delicious!" Rebecca in Portland, OR</p>
<p>"A triple cream goats cheese from France." Jayne in Oldsmar, FL</p>
<p>"Sherpa milk Feta on the Island of Lesvos, Greece." Bettyin Austin, TX</p>
<p>"Long tendrils of twisted, brown, salty smoked cheese at a roadside market in Semirechye Kazakhstan, somewhere on the steppe between Almaty and Taldy Korg." Julia in Tampa, FL</p>
<p>"In Salvador, Bahia Brasil. The little kids selling/yelling 'Queijo' on the cobblestreets while swinging red hot coal canisters to grill the cheese on." Jonelle in Miami, FL</p>
<p>"Halloumi from the island of Cyprus… delicious!" Jack in Bellingham, WA</p>
<p>"Snofrisk, a soft goat and cow cheese from Norway, made by Tine." Tanayle in Seattle, WA</p>
<p>"White American, from the Subway in my building at work." Zuhair in Riverside,CA</p>
<p>"My all-time favorite is Stilton, from England. Not sure if it's from a particular region, though." Jill in San Jose, CA</p>
<p>"Brunost A brown cheese from Norway." Kristen in Greenwood, WA</p>
<p>"I love Asiago cheese, not sure but I think it comes from Italy." Elizabeth in Millvale, PA</p>
<p>"On a drive from Toledo to Alicante in Spain we stopped for gas at a truck stop outside of Albacete. The cashier convinced me to buy a round of Monchego." Tom in Flagstaff, AZ</p>
<p>"Gjetost from Norway!" Kirsten in Kennewick, WA</p>
<p>"Drunken Goat from the Mercia region of Spain. Delicious!" Joanna in Tucson, AZ</p>
<p>"Cotijo from Mexico." Naz in Gilbert, AZ</p>
<p>"Wensleydale with cranberries. From Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, England." Wesley in Dallas, TX</p>
<p>"Manchego from La Mancha,Spain." anonymous from Marysville, CA</p>
<p>"Argentinian Beaver Cheese." Aaron in Allendale, MI</p>
<p>"I don't remember the name. It was a French cheese similar to Brie and smelled like feet, but tasted delicious and creamy. We've nicknamed it foot cheese." Leigh in Artesia, CA</p>
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need quick calories edible geo quiz many countries signature cheeses example theres armenian string cheese called chechil thats little like mozarella swiss love hard yellow sweet salty gruyere cheese mongolians make slightly sour cheese called byaslag yak milk want name unusual cheese thats made spain hard sheeps milk cheese thats made centuries medieval castilian village guzman thats northern province burgos cheese traditionally aged local caves legend takes magical qualities rare find gourmet shopsbut find itit goes 22 pound michael paterniti wanted cheese badly enough sought tiny village guzmanand describes found worlds greatest piece cheese hes author new book telling room tale love betrayal revenge worlds greatest piece cheese cheese called paramo de guzman plenty great cheese world heres sampling recommendations geo quiz listeners geo text game players tintern cheese country wales named monks grew shallots put cheese ericin tacoma wa gaperon garlic pepper dappled delight consumed embarrassingly large quantities france vincent pasadena ca welsh smoked applewood cheddaryum anchorage ak mountain cheese frutigen switzerland hannah chugwater wy yak cheese nepal joseph camp pendleton ca love oaxaca cheese comes big stringy ball never found good oaxaca cheese outside oaxaca puebla mx guess doesnt travel well walpole coolea cheese muskerry gaeltacht irish language district county cork ireland kevin baltimore md gjetost scandinavia buttery caramelly unusually creamy eric acworth ga cheese loroco loroco flower fernaldia pandurata plant native el salvador guatemala miguel country lakes fl cypress grove humboldt fog right humboldt county ca drive goats every day jonathan mckinleyville ca norwegian gjetost slightly oddly fishy taste oily generally unpleasant nonnorwegians may nationally acquired taste like marmite retsina teri cambridge ordered cheese omelet vietnam came opened omelet inside 2 cold triangles laughing cow cheese dont cows melissa vancouver wa asiagoextremely dry bologna italy aged spicy italian salami fred bend cave cheese france literally taste like stale stagnant air fills cave interesting concept cheese plan eating jewlee longmont co queso fresco san juan comalapa guatemala salty soft wrapped banana leaf delicious rebecca portland triple cream goats cheese france jayne oldsmar fl sherpa milk feta island lesvos greece bettyin austin tx long tendrils twisted brown salty smoked cheese roadside market semirechye kazakhstan somewhere steppe almaty taldy korg julia tampa fl salvador bahia brasil little kids sellingyelling queijo cobblestreets swinging red hot coal canisters grill cheese jonelle miami fl halloumi island cyprus delicious jack bellingham wa snofrisk soft goat cow cheese norway made tine tanayle seattle wa white american subway building work zuhair riversideca alltime favorite stilton england sure particular region though jill san jose ca brunost brown cheese norway kristen greenwood wa love asiago cheese sure think comes italy elizabeth millvale pa drive toledo alicante spain stopped gas truck stop outside albacete cashier convinced buy round monchego tom flagstaff az gjetost norway kirsten kennewick wa drunken goat mercia region spain delicious joanna tucson az cotijo mexico naz gilbert az wensleydale cranberries wensleydale north yorkshire england wesley dallas tx manchego la manchaspain anonymous marysville ca argentinian beaver cheese aaron allendale mi dont remember name french cheese similar brie smelled like feet tasted delicious creamy weve nicknamed foot cheese leigh artesia ca
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<p>Along with making speeches and hiring more police, Mayor Rahm Emanuel needs to pay attention to what research tells us about the causes of and possible solutions to the problem of gun violence.</p>
<p>As a city we are falling short in some of the most important areas.</p>
<p><a href="https://crimelab.uchicago.edu/page/report" type="external">In a 2009 report on gun violence among school-age youth in Chicago</a>, the University of Chicago Crime Lab points out that “most low-income males growing up in Chicago’s most disadvantaged and dangerous neighborhoods never become involved with gun violence.”</p>
<p>What distinguishes those who do?&#160; The report identifies three major factors: alcohol abuse (which is generally associated with gun violence), mental health issues and problems in school. Gun availability is particularly important in combination with these three factors.</p>
<p>Along the way, the authors touch on some of the mayor’s primary strategies.&#160; “Promoting positive youth development is not as simple as just launching a new program,” they write, particularly because the most at-risk youth “do not fully avail themselves of social and educational resources.”</p>
<p>And “swifter, less severe penalties” for infractions like gun possession, such as community service, may be better deterrents, without the negative repercussions of incarceration, they suggest.</p>
<p>“Improving the schooling engagement and outcomes for at-risk youth seems like a particularly important component of an antiviolence strategy,” according to the report, which adds that early intervention is crucial. There’s solid evidence that early childhood education is key to improving school readiness and life outcomes.</p>
<p>Emanuel has made a frequent talking point of his claims of expanding access to early childhood education, but those claims don’t measure up.&#160; Full-day early childhood programs have grown to 17,000 slots since 2011. (Emanuel counts federal and state-funded slots along with the small number funded by the city.) But that growth has been accomplished by reducing half-day slots, resulting in no increase of children served, according to Emma Tai of SEIU Healthcare, part of the Bright Futures Chicago Coalition, which advocates for universal early childhood education.</p>
<p>Overall, enrollment in CPS early education programs actually declined by nearly 2,000 kids between 2012 and the 2015 school year, Tai said.&#160; The 17,000 full-day slots leave out three-fourths of the city’s 3- and 4-year olds, and there are an estimated 150,000 children 4 and younger, including many from working poor families, without access to full-day, publicly funded programs, she said.</p>
<p>A “key transition period” for youth, according to the Crime Lab, is around eighth and ninth grade, and CPS has made progress here by focusing on keeping students on track.&#160;&#160; But there’s still far to go – graduation rates for black students are up slightly, but <a href="" type="internal">the gap between black and white graduation rates is still among the highest among comparable school districts</a>, the Chicago Reporter&#160;recently reported.</p>
<p>“What that says is that there are not enough supports being targeted toward African-American males,” one expert tells the Reporter.</p>
<p>That progress is being threatened by deep budget cuts, especially at neighborhood high schools that serve many at-risk youth.&#160; Neighborhood high schools with predominantly black student bodies have lost an average of $1.9 million each over the past three years.</p>
<p>The Crime Lab reported that “a majority of youth involved with the criminal justice system had at least one psychiatric disorder.”&#160; Rates of depression and severe depression, anxiety and substance abuse were 2 to 9 times higher among juvenile detainees in Cook County than among African-American youth generally.&#160; We have to “do a better job of identifying and treating mental health problems among young people before these disorders lead to violence,” according to the report.</p>
<p>But according to researchers at the Chicago Teachers Union, the number of social workers in CPS is down 18 percent since 2013, with the average school social worker serving nearly 1,000 students.&#160; The district has lost 130 counselors in that period, a 14 percent reduction, with most remaining counselors now doing double duty as special education case managers.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the city’s six remaining mental health clinics are operating far below capacity, according to the Mental Health Movement.&#160; According to advocates at a recent mental health town hall, the clinics are located in areas with the fewest mental health services – and the highest mental health-related 911 calls.</p>
<p>The city could increase clinic services significantly simply by joining managed care networks that would allow it to seek reimbursement from Medicaid.&#160; The Mental Health Movement estimates that could bring in $2 million a year.</p>
<p>Since 2013, activists have called on Emanuel to direct the public health department to join the networks – charging that the city was <a href="" type="internal">“sabotaging remaining services”</a> by failing to do so.&#160; For one thing, inadequate staffing has meant that psychiatrist hours at city clinics have dropped by more than half in the past two years.</p>
<p>Expanding early childhood education, ending budget cuts at neighborhood schools, adding school social workers and counselors – all these are worthy investments, but they will take money.&#160; They will require Emanuel to loosen the strings on tax increment financing surpluses and push at the state level for more revenue.&#160; The need for this is urgent if we are to address the crisis of gun violence effectively.</p>
<p>But joining managed care networks in order to improve mental health services – that will bring in millions of dollars.&#160; We could do it tomorrow. It would be a good place to start.</p>
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along making speeches hiring police mayor rahm emanuel needs pay attention research tells us causes possible solutions problem gun violence city falling short important areas 2009 report gun violence among schoolage youth chicago university chicago crime lab points lowincome males growing chicagos disadvantaged dangerous neighborhoods never become involved gun violence distinguishes do160 report identifies three major factors alcohol abuse generally associated gun violence mental health issues problems school gun availability particularly important combination three factors along way authors touch mayors primary strategies160 promoting positive youth development simple launching new program write particularly atrisk youth fully avail social educational resources swifter less severe penalties infractions like gun possession community service may better deterrents without negative repercussions incarceration suggest improving schooling engagement outcomes atrisk youth seems like particularly important component antiviolence strategy according report adds early intervention crucial theres solid evidence early childhood education key improving school readiness life outcomes emanuel made frequent talking point claims expanding access early childhood education claims dont measure up160 fullday early childhood programs grown 17000 slots since 2011 emanuel counts federal statefunded slots along small number funded city growth accomplished reducing halfday slots resulting increase children served according emma tai seiu healthcare part bright futures chicago coalition advocates universal early childhood education overall enrollment cps early education programs actually declined nearly 2000 kids 2012 2015 school year tai said160 17000 fullday slots leave threefourths citys 3 4year olds estimated 150000 children 4 younger including many working poor families without access fullday publicly funded programs said key transition period youth according crime lab around eighth ninth grade cps made progress focusing keeping students track160160 theres still far go graduation rates black students slightly gap black white graduation rates still among highest among comparable school districts chicago reporter160recently reported says enough supports targeted toward africanamerican males one expert tells reporter progress threatened deep budget cuts especially neighborhood high schools serve many atrisk youth160 neighborhood high schools predominantly black student bodies lost average 19 million past three years crime lab reported majority youth involved criminal justice system least one psychiatric disorder160 rates depression severe depression anxiety substance abuse 2 9 times higher among juvenile detainees cook county among africanamerican youth generally160 better job identifying treating mental health problems among young people disorders lead violence according report according researchers chicago teachers union number social workers cps 18 percent since 2013 average school social worker serving nearly 1000 students160 district lost 130 counselors period 14 percent reduction remaining counselors double duty special education case managers meanwhile citys six remaining mental health clinics operating far capacity according mental health movement160 according advocates recent mental health town hall clinics located areas fewest mental health services highest mental healthrelated 911 calls city could increase clinic services significantly simply joining managed care networks would allow seek reimbursement medicaid160 mental health movement estimates could bring 2 million year since 2013 activists called emanuel direct public health department join networks charging city sabotaging remaining services failing so160 one thing inadequate staffing meant psychiatrist hours city clinics dropped half past two years expanding early childhood education ending budget cuts neighborhood schools adding school social workers counselors worthy investments take money160 require emanuel loosen strings tax increment financing surpluses push state level revenue160 need urgent address crisis gun violence effectively joining managed care networks order improve mental health services bring millions dollars160 could tomorrow would good place start
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<p>GLOBALPOST LIVE BLOG: UKRAINE UNREST</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/7/14 4:05 PM ET</p>
<p>Signing off</p>
<p>This live blog is now closed.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/7/14 3:53 PM ET</p>
<p>More images showing the aftermath of the weekend attack in Slavyansk</p>
<p>Kyiv Post editor Christopher Miller shares the latest:</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/7/14 2:04 PM ET</p>
<p>The town of Slavyansk, which was retaken by Ukrainian forces, in shambles</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/7/14 12:38 PM ET</p>
<p>Retreating rebels dig in around Ukrainian coal hub</p>
<p>Agence France-Presse — Retreating pro-Russian insurgents dug in on Monday in Ukraine's sprawling industrial hub of Donetsk after government forces scored a string of morale-boosting victories in the bloody battle for the future of the ex-Soviet state.&#160;</p>
<p>The eastern home of one million mostly Russian speakers has been flooded with convoys carrying hundreds of fighters and scores of anti-aircraft guns from five smaller surrounding cities where Ukrainian flags were flying for the first time in three months.</p>
<p>The rebels erected checkpoints along the main roads leading into Donetsk while the center of the riverbank city itself saw several restaurants and shops shutter their doors. And two rail bridges were blown up just north and east of the city — adding to another link damaged on Friday as part of a seeming campaign to help barricade Donetsk.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/7/14 11:22 AM ET</p>
<p>The emergence of an organized, battle-ready Ukrainian army&#160;</p>
<p>The New York Times has an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/07/world/europe/ukraine-military-finds-its-footing-against-pro-russian-rebels.html?ref=world&amp;smid=tw-nytimesworld&amp;_r=0" type="external">insightful story on the transformation of the Ukrainian armed force</a>&#160;from "a ragtag lot of poorly equipped and understaffed military and police units" to an organized entity — which took control of key rebel-occupied cities in the eastern part of the country over the weekend.</p>
<p>The story outlines several reasons for the change, including a psychological shift among soldiers.</p>
<p>"They have overcome that psychological barrier in which the military were afraid to shoot living people," Mykola Sungurovskyi, the director of military programs at the Razumkov Center, was <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/07/world/europe/ukraine-military-finds-its-footing-against-pro-russian-rebels.html?ref=world&amp;smid=tw-nytimesworld&amp;_r=0" type="external">quoted as saying in the story</a>. "They had this barrier after Maidan, after the death of that hundred — not simply to shoot living people, but their own people. After the forces were restructured a bit, and it became clear who were our people, who were foes, the operations became more effective."</p>
<p>This is an interesting development considering the dire state of Ukrainian forces just a few months ago.&#160;</p>
<p>In March, GlobalPost's Senior Correspondent Paul Ames reported that Ukraine's army was "scrambling to pull together an instant army, drawing on whoever is available — students, computer geeks, restaurateurs, aging veterans."</p>
<p>Here's the full story:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/140315/ukraine-preparing-the-worst-fears-russian-invasion-grow" type="external">Ukraine cobbles together an army as fears of a Russian invasion grow</a></p>
<p>And remember this photo of pro-Russian rebels cruising down the street on a Ukrainian&#160;armored personnel carrier?</p>
<p>Some context from <a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/04/16/ukraine-crisis-idINKBN0D20QJ20140416" type="external">Reuters</a>:</p>
<p>"Separatists flew the Russian flag on armored vehicles taken from the Ukrainian army on Wednesday, humiliating a Kyiv government operation to recapture eastern towns controlled by pro-Moscow partisans.</p>
<p>Six armored personnel carriers were driven into the rebel-held town of Slavyansk to waves and shouts of "Russia! Russia!"</p>
<p>It was not immediately clear whether they had been captured by rebels or handed over to them by Ukrainian deserters. Another 15 armored troop carriers full of paratroops were surrounded and halted by a pro-Russian crowd at a town near an airbase.</p>
<p>They were allowed to retreat only after the soldiers had handed over the firing pins from their rifles to a rebel commander. The military setback leaves Kyiv looking weak on the eve of a peace conference on Thursday, when its foreign minister will meet his Russian, US and European Union counterparts in Geneva."</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/7/14 10:48 AM ET</p>
<p>Ukrainian forces are preparing for attack</p>
<p>"Despite their recent losses, the rebels still hold the regional capitals of Donetsk and Luhansk, where they have regrouped following a series of defeats elsewhere," the <a href="http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/army-prepares-to-liberate-donetsk-and-luhansk-as-mlitary-offensive-gathers-pace-354990.html" type="external">Kyiv Post reports</a>. "Thousands have reportedly fled in recent days and weeks from Donetsk, a city with an official population of 1 million people, fearing its transformation into the next flashpoint in the three month-long military conflict."</p>
<p>Read <a href="http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/army-prepares-to-liberate-donetsk-and-luhansk-as-mlitary-offensive-gathers-pace-354990.html" type="external">the full story on the Kyiv Post</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/7/14 10:03 AM ET</p>
<p>Here's what's happening near Donetsk&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_UKRAINE?SITE=AP&amp;SECTION=HOME&amp;" type="external">The Associated Press reports</a>:</p>
<p>"Three bridges on key roads leading into the Ukrainian city of Donetsk were blown up Monday — an apparent attempt to slow down any possible assault by government forces on the rebel-held stronghold. ...&#160;It was not exactly clear who blew up the highway and train bridges Monday, but their destruction would most benefit the rebels."</p>
<p>And <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-07/ukraine-seeks-liquidation-of-rebel-bases-in-battle-torn-east.html" type="external">more from Bloomberg</a>:</p>
<p>“Government troops are blocking roads to Donetsk and Luhansk to prevent rebels’ reinforcement and weapons delivery,” a Defense Ministry spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, told reporters in Kyiv today.&#160;</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/7/14 9:35 AM ET</p>
<p>Stark scenes after weekend fighting in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/7/14 9:08 AM ET</p>
<p>Russia accuses Ukraine of turning a 'deaf ear' to calls for saving lives</p>
<p>Reuters — Russia's Foreign Ministry called on Monday for an "adequate response" from the European Union to the deaths of civilians during heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine.&#160;</p>
<p>"It makes no sense to again and again demand a halt to the shelling of civilian sites by Kyiv," the ministry said in a statement.</p>
<p>"Kyiv turns a deaf ear to calls to save people's lives."</p>
<p>"We hope in this regard for an adequate response by European Union member states to denounce the criminal policy of the Kyiv authorities," it said.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 7/7/14 8:35 AM ET</p>
<p>'Donetsk must not be bombed,' Ukrainian tycoon pleads</p>
<p>Reuters — Ukraine's richest man pleaded with the government on Monday not to bomb Donetsk, a city of a million people where hundreds of heavily armed pro-Russian rebels have vowed to make a stand after losing control of their bastion in the town of Slavyansk.</p>
<p>The Kyiv government has said it will act quickly to seize back more territory from rebels after re-taking Slavyansk in what President Petro Poroshenko called a turning point in the three-month conflict against pro-Russian fighters in the east.</p>
<p>Rebels retreating from Slavyansk, some driving armored vehicles flying Russian flags, poured into Donetsk, 110 km (65 miles) to the north over the weekend. About 1,000 of them held a bellicose rally in the central square on Sunday.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Ukrainian forces stand guard in the center of the Ukrainian city of Slavyansk on July 6, 2014.</p>
<p>Their commander, a Muscovite using the name Igor Strelkov, was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying his men would fight for the city, which was "much easier to defend than little Slavyansk." Businesses have closed down and thousands of residents are believed to have fled Donetsk.</p>
<p>The city is the headquarters for Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine's wealthiest man by far, whose fortune, founded on coal and steel, is put at more than $11 billion by Forbes. He said government forces should show restraint in Donetsk and the surrounding Donbass region.</p>
<p>"Donetsk must not be bombed. Donbass must not be bombed. Cities, towns and infrastructure must not be destroyed," he told Ukraina television.</p>
<p>"We must avoid suffering and deaths of peaceful people."</p>
<p>The government said it had carried out an air strike against rebel fighters who had attacked the airport in Luhansk, another eastern city, on Sunday. It accused separatists in the area of opening fire in populated areas under the guise of being government forces.</p>
<p>#color { border-color:#bbbbbb; border-style:solid; border-width:1px; background-color:#F8F8F8; float:center; margin-left: 5px; , , , margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 30px; line-height:14px display:block; padding: 15px; }</p>
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globalpost live blog ukraine unrest update 7714 405 pm et signing live blog closed update 7714 353 pm et images showing aftermath weekend attack slavyansk kyiv post editor christopher miller shares latest update 7714 204 pm et town slavyansk retaken ukrainian forces shambles update 7714 1238 pm et retreating rebels dig around ukrainian coal hub agence francepresse retreating prorussian insurgents dug monday ukraines sprawling industrial hub donetsk government forces scored string moraleboosting victories bloody battle future exsoviet state160 eastern home one million mostly russian speakers flooded convoys carrying hundreds fighters scores antiaircraft guns five smaller surrounding cities ukrainian flags flying first time three months rebels erected checkpoints along main roads leading donetsk center riverbank city saw several restaurants shops shutter doors two rail bridges blown north east city adding another link damaged friday part seeming campaign help barricade donetsk update 7714 1122 et emergence organized battleready ukrainian army160 new york times insightful story transformation ukrainian armed force160from ragtag lot poorly equipped understaffed military police units organized entity took control key rebeloccupied cities eastern part country weekend story outlines several reasons change including psychological shift among soldiers overcome psychological barrier military afraid shoot living people mykola sungurovskyi director military programs razumkov center quoted saying story barrier maidan death hundred simply shoot living people people forces restructured bit became clear people foes operations became effective interesting development considering dire state ukrainian forces months ago160 march globalposts senior correspondent paul ames reported ukraines army scrambling pull together instant army drawing whoever available students computer geeks restaurateurs aging veterans heres full story160 ukraine cobbles together army fears russian invasion grow remember photo prorussian rebels cruising street ukrainian160armored personnel carrier context reuters separatists flew russian flag armored vehicles taken ukrainian army wednesday humiliating kyiv government operation recapture eastern towns controlled promoscow partisans six armored personnel carriers driven rebelheld town slavyansk waves shouts russia russia immediately clear whether captured rebels handed ukrainian deserters another 15 armored troop carriers full paratroops surrounded halted prorussian crowd town near airbase allowed retreat soldiers handed firing pins rifles rebel commander military setback leaves kyiv looking weak eve peace conference thursday foreign minister meet russian us european union counterparts geneva 160 update 7714 1048 et ukrainian forces preparing attack despite recent losses rebels still hold regional capitals donetsk luhansk regrouped following series defeats elsewhere kyiv post reports thousands reportedly fled recent days weeks donetsk city official population 1 million people fearing transformation next flashpoint three monthlong military conflict read full story kyiv post160 update 7714 1003 et heres whats happening near donetsk160 associated press reports three bridges key roads leading ukrainian city donetsk blown monday apparent attempt slow possible assault government forces rebelheld stronghold 160it exactly clear blew highway train bridges monday destruction would benefit rebels bloomberg government troops blocking roads donetsk luhansk prevent rebels reinforcement weapons delivery defense ministry spokesman andriy lysenko told reporters kyiv today160 update 7714 935 et stark scenes weekend fighting eastern ukrainian city kramatorsk update 7714 908 et russia accuses ukraine turning deaf ear calls saving lives reuters russias foreign ministry called monday adequate response european union deaths civilians heavy fighting eastern ukraine160 makes sense demand halt shelling civilian sites kyiv ministry said statement kyiv turns deaf ear calls save peoples lives hope regard adequate response european union member states denounce criminal policy kyiv authorities said update 7714 835 et donetsk must bombed ukrainian tycoon pleads reuters ukraines richest man pleaded government monday bomb donetsk city million people hundreds heavily armed prorussian rebels vowed make stand losing control bastion town slavyansk kyiv government said act quickly seize back territory rebels retaking slavyansk president petro poroshenko called turning point threemonth conflict prorussian fighters east rebels retreating slavyansk driving armored vehicles flying russian flags poured donetsk 110 km 65 miles north weekend 1000 held bellicose rally central square sunday 160 ukrainian forces stand guard center ukrainian city slavyansk july 6 2014 commander muscovite using name igor strelkov quoted interfax news agency saying men would fight city much easier defend little slavyansk businesses closed thousands residents believed fled donetsk city headquarters rinat akhmetov ukraines wealthiest man far whose fortune founded coal steel put 11 billion forbes said government forces show restraint donetsk surrounding donbass region donetsk must bombed donbass must bombed cities towns infrastructure must destroyed told ukraina television must avoid suffering deaths peaceful people government said carried air strike rebel fighters attacked airport luhansk another eastern city sunday accused separatists area opening fire populated areas guise government forces color bordercolorbbbbbb borderstylesolid borderwidth1px backgroundcolorf8f8f8 floatcenter marginleft 5px marginright 15px marginbottom 30px lineheight14px displayblock padding 15px
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<p>The indictment and arrest of some of the world's top soccer&#160;offficials and the resignation of longtime FIFA chief Sepp Blatter have reignited festering conversations about how Qatar&#160;obtained the rights to host the World Cup in 2022.</p>
<p>Specifically:</p>
<p>1. Did Qatar use bribes or otherwise behave improperly in winning the right to host the event?</p>
<p>2. Is something lost by moving the World Cup into the winter, outside of the traditional window for the games, because of the host nation's excessive summer heat?</p>
<p>3. What about all those migrant workers who will be used — and some would say abused — in building all of the facilities Qatar needs to host the games?</p>
<p>That last question is probably the most serious — even though the US Department of Justice is reported to be looking into the first. The migrant workers, many from Nepal, endure scorching temperatures and cramped living conditions as they build stadiums and other infrastructure projects. They're essentially forced to stay in the country, unless their employer gives them permission to leave.</p>
<p>Vani Saraswathi, a journalist who has lived in Qatar for 15 years&#160;and is a contributor to Doha-based nonprofit <a href="http://www.migrant-rights.org/" type="external">MigrantRights.org</a>, points to the numbers of Nepalese workers who die of sudden heart attacks (67 last year, according to the&#160; <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/23/qatar-nepal-workers-world-cup-2022-death-toll-doha" type="external">Guardian</a>) as a disturbing sign of the harsh conditions workers face. Yet she is&#160; <a href="http://www.migrant-rights.org/2015/05/careless-media-reporting-on-qatar-leaves-migrant-workers-more-vulnerable/#.VWhs1hAn7qo.twitter" type="external">critical</a>&#160;of how US and European media outlets have covered the issue.</p>
<p>“If you just focused on facts, you’d still have strong reports of exploitation in Qatar," she says. "But by blowing these statistics out of proportion, you’ve given Qatar a way to say it’s not as bad, people are making up stories.”</p>
<p>While independent political activism is illegal in Qatar&#160;(though elections have been promised for next year), there are Qataris, many of them young, college-educated, and reform-minded, who would like see improved working conditions for migrant workers. They say reports that lack content or context may end up doing more harm than good — and give the regime cover to escape real change.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/05/27/a-body-count-in-qatar-illustrates-the-consequences-of-fifa-corruption/" type="external">A recent Washington Post infographic</a> sought to compare worker deaths related to other major international sports tournaments with the number of deaths of Qatari workers. The image of rows and rows of red figures, representing 1,200 deaths, listed under Qatar, compared to solitary figures representing one death each for previous Olympics in&#160;London and Vancouver, for example. The graphic went viral, but the blog post containing it&#160;later was corrected to show figures included all migrant worker deaths in Qatar, not just those related to World Cup construction.</p>
<p>Make no mistake: Migrant workers often live and work in unfair, dangerous conditions. Qatar's migrant workers are regulated under the “kafala system,” which means they must has a local sponsor to stay in the country.&#160;The sponsor can prevent workers from seeking other jobs, and will often confiscate their passports and IDs. Human rights organizations have documented widespread abuse,&#160;including forced labor, late wages and harsh working conditions.</p>
<p>But in comparing&#160;all worker deaths from one country and only deaths attributable to sports projects from others, activists say it become unfair — and they say it gave&#160;the regime an easy rebuttal to their effort to improve migrant&#160;conditions for migrant workers.&#160;Qatari officials&#160; <a href="http://www.qna.org.qa/en-us/News/15060218340056/Qatar%27s_Government_Communication_Office_Denies_Washington_Post_Article_about_Worker_Conditions_in_Qatar" type="external">demanded the graphic's retraction</a>&#160;— and the criticism extends to some&#160;young, progressive Qataris.&#160;</p>
<p>Alanood&#160;Al-Thani, a 21-year-old journalism student at Northwestern University’s Qatar campus, has progressive bona fides: a pro-democratic student vocal about social justice. And Al-Thani — who shares a last name with the country’s ruling family but is only distantly related — &#160;has been critical of&#160;the World Cup and FIFA on Twitter.&#160;</p>
<p>Yet, she says:&#160;“When you see all of these news articles that are coming out, I agree with most of them, but when you look at most of them, there is not one single Qatari perspective in it."</p>
<p>Her sentiment is common&#160;among Qataris who use social media in English. Mohammed Al-Jufairi, a 29-year-old civil and contract engineer who works for a gas company, wants better rights for migrants, but adds:&#160;“The coverage is very unfair. ...&#160;They are screwing with facts and messing up numbers so that they will get the world’s sympathy and get the World Cup taken away from Qatar.”</p>
<p>Ibrahim Al Hashmi, a 21-year-old recent graduate of Northwestern University in Qatar, belives the kafala system must be overhauled, but has grown tired of the way foreign media covers it.“There is no question about it — what’s happening is inhumane and the labor system obviously needs to be fixed,” he says. “But at the same time, this has been biased media coverage. It’s always ‘attack Qatar,’ no matter what.”</p>
<p>Part of the problem, says Saraswathi, is the way the Qatari government deals with reporters. A BBC crew invited to the country to film the conditions of migrant workers was&#160; <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32775563" type="external">arrested</a>, detained and deported when they strayed from the planned itinerary and attempted to do independent reporting. The crew was interrogated for hours. One of the officers told them, “This is not Disneyland" and &#160;"You can't stick your camera anywhere."</p>
<p>“The lack of nuanced reporting is Qatar’s problem, too. The media is not free,” Saraswathi says. “They haven’t allowed journalists to write about it, talk about it freely in the print media. Only Doha News has covered the issues consistently, but it’s only in English.”</p>
<p>Al-Thani is worried about what will happen next, and it’s not because she’s a soccer fan. When Qatar won the bid, she was hopeful that the World Cup would be a boon for the causes she supports. While progress has been slow, there have been small changes — the government has announced small changes to labor laws, though it has been&#160; <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/articles/news/2015/05/mounting-risk-of-world-cup-built-on-abuse-as-qatar-fails-to-deliver-reforms/" type="external">slow to implement them</a>. But she would see her country losing the World Cup as a dramatic setback.</p>
<p>“The World Cup has brought a lot of pressure from the outside and within our country itself,” she says. “I don’t think a lot of people realize that there is pressure locally for reform, and the World Cup gives the government more incentive to change. If you take away the World Cup, we’re just going to go back to the slow pace of reform and progress we had before.”</p>
<p>Jens Sejer Anderson, who directs the Danish Institute for Sports Studies says, agrees.&#160;“I don’t think the Nepalese guest workers would appreciate that all the focus that is now on Qatar from the global media will disappear if Qatar should lose&#160;the right to host the World Cup.“</p>
<p>Sejer, however, says the widespread Qatari reaction to criticism is similar to that from previous World Cup host nations.&#160;"These countries that want to host the big events&#160;and enjoy the global limelight,'' he says, "must also get used to the fact that the world will also look at the more shadowy sides.“</p>
<p>David Leveille of PRI's The World contributed to this report. PRI's The World is a co-production of&#160; <a href="http://www.wgbh.org/" type="external">WGBH&#160;</a>and the&#160; <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news" type="external">BBC World Service</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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indictment arrest worlds top soccer160offficials resignation longtime fifa chief sepp blatter reignited festering conversations qatar160obtained rights host world cup 2022 specifically 1 qatar use bribes otherwise behave improperly winning right host event 2 something lost moving world cup winter outside traditional window games host nations excessive summer heat 3 migrant workers used would say abused building facilities qatar needs host games last question probably serious even though us department justice reported looking first migrant workers many nepal endure scorching temperatures cramped living conditions build stadiums infrastructure projects theyre essentially forced stay country unless employer gives permission leave vani saraswathi journalist lived qatar 15 years160and contributor dohabased nonprofit migrantrightsorg points numbers nepalese workers die sudden heart attacks 67 last year according the160 guardian disturbing sign harsh conditions workers face yet is160 critical160of us european media outlets covered issue focused facts youd still strong reports exploitation qatar says blowing statistics proportion youve given qatar way say bad people making stories independent political activism illegal qatar160though elections promised next year qataris many young collegeeducated reformminded would like see improved working conditions migrant workers say reports lack content context may end harm good give regime cover escape real change recent washington post infographic sought compare worker deaths related major international sports tournaments number deaths qatari workers image rows rows red figures representing 1200 deaths listed qatar compared solitary figures representing one death previous olympics in160london vancouver example graphic went viral blog post containing it160later corrected show figures included migrant worker deaths qatar related world cup construction make mistake migrant workers often live work unfair dangerous conditions qatars migrant workers regulated kafala system means must local sponsor stay country160the sponsor prevent workers seeking jobs often confiscate passports ids human rights organizations documented widespread abuse160including forced labor late wages harsh working conditions comparing160all worker deaths one country deaths attributable sports projects others activists say become unfair say gave160the regime easy rebuttal effort improve migrant160conditions migrant workers160qatari officials160 demanded graphics retraction160 criticism extends some160young progressive qataris160 alanood160althani 21yearold journalism student northwestern universitys qatar campus progressive bona fides prodemocratic student vocal social justice althani shares last name countrys ruling family distantly related 160has critical of160the world cup fifa twitter160 yet says160when see news articles coming agree look one single qatari perspective sentiment common160among qataris use social media english mohammed aljufairi 29yearold civil contract engineer works gas company wants better rights migrants adds160the coverage unfair 160they screwing facts messing numbers get worlds sympathy get world cup taken away qatar ibrahim al hashmi 21yearold recent graduate northwestern university qatar belives kafala system must overhauled grown tired way foreign media covers itthere question whats happening inhumane labor system obviously needs fixed says time biased media coverage always attack qatar matter part problem says saraswathi way qatari government deals reporters bbc crew invited country film conditions migrant workers was160 arrested detained deported strayed planned itinerary attempted independent reporting crew interrogated hours one officers told disneyland 160you cant stick camera anywhere lack nuanced reporting qatars problem media free saraswathi says havent allowed journalists write talk freely print media doha news covered issues consistently english althani worried happen next shes soccer fan qatar bid hopeful world cup would boon causes supports progress slow small changes government announced small changes labor laws though been160 slow implement would see country losing world cup dramatic setback world cup brought lot pressure outside within country says dont think lot people realize pressure locally reform world cup gives government incentive change take away world cup going go back slow pace reform progress jens sejer anderson directs danish institute sports studies says agrees160i dont think nepalese guest workers would appreciate focus qatar global media disappear qatar lose160the right host world cup sejer however says widespread qatari reaction criticism similar previous world cup host nations160these countries want host big events160and enjoy global limelight says must also get used fact world also look shadowy sides david leveille pris world contributed report pris world coproduction of160 wgbh160and the160 bbc world service 160
| 659 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" />Nov. 22, 2012</p>
<p>By Mark Cabaniss</p>
<p>Democracy, it has been said, is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.</p>
<p>Yes, the sheep gets to vote.&#160; And yes, in theory he could appeal to one of the wolves to break rank and vote with him instead of the other wolf.&#160; But in reality, the sheep loses.&#160; Every time.</p>
<p>The only way that the sheep could win, in a closed system, or zero-sum game, would be for him to convince one of the wolves that the other wolf would make a tastier meal than would the sheep himself.&#160; Alternatively, he could try to convince one or both of the wolves that they are not, in fact, in a zero-sum game.&#160; Historically, the sheep has had a difficult time doing this.</p>
<p>We can construct a simple model with only three voting blocs, each of which considers only its own economic interests when voting, each represented by one of the animals:</p>
<p>1. People who don’t pay taxes (Transfer Wolf);</p>
<p>2. Public employees (Public Wolf);</p>
<p>3. Private sector employees (Sheep).</p>
<p>At dinner time — oh, excuse me —&#160;voting time, there are two propositions on the ballot:</p>
<p>A. Shall we raise (or decrease) taxes and use the money to raise (or decrease) spending on Public Wolf?</p>
<p>B. Shall we raise (or decrease) taxes and use the money to raise (or decrease) spending on Transfer Wolf?</p>
<p>The voting goes like this:&#160; On Proposition A, Public Wolf votes to raise taxes and raise his own pay.&#160; Sheep votes to lower taxes and to lower Public Wolf’s pay.&#160; Public Wolf and Sheep are at a stalemate.</p>
<p>Transfer Wolf sits this vote out.&#160; Since he doesn’t pay taxes, he doesn’t care what tax rates are.&#160; Nor does he care how much Public Wolf is paid, unless — unless he is paid to care.</p>
<p>On Proposition B, Transfer Wolf votes to raise his own benefits and to raise taxes to pay for them.&#160; Both Public Wolf and Sheep vote against him.</p>
<p>Transfer Wolf has a problem. He has been outvoted. &#160;But luckily for him, Public Wolf also has a problem: He is in a stalemate with Sheep.&#160; The two wolves realize that they need each others’ votes, so they agree to work together, against Sheep.&#160; Each will support the other’s position, and Sheep will be outvoted on both propositions.</p>
<p>In actual practice, the evidence suggests this is exactly what is happening — transfer payment recipients and government workers have formed a successful political coalition.&#160; According to a <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444914904577619671931313542.html" type="external">recent article</a> by demographer Nicholas Eberstadt, since 1960 total United States transfer payments have grown from $24 billion to just short of $2.2 trillion in 2010, nearly a 100-fold increase in the last half century.</p>
<p>Simultaneously, total government spending, federal and state and local, has gone from <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshbarro/2012/04/16/lessons-from-the-decades-long-upward-march-of-government-spending/" type="external">about 24 percent of GDP in 1960 to about 36 percent in 2010</a>, growth of 50 percent.</p>
<p>A Nash equilibrium, as popularized in the book and movie “ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Beautiful_Mind_(film)" type="external">A Beautiful Mind</a>” about mathematician John Nash, posits a game stalemate dependent on two conditions: first, each player knows every other player’s strategy; second, despite knowing everything, each player is nonetheless unable to adjust his own strategy to make it more advantageous.</p>
<p>In politics, there are no secret strategies, since elections involve trying to gain adherents to your strategy over the other side’s.&#160; But in our simple Fairy Tale, even though the first condition for Nash equilibrium is there — everyone knows everyone else’s position — there is nonetheless no equilibrium.</p>
<p>Public Wolf and Transfer Wolf will continue to vote in tandem, and thereby grow; Sheep will continue to be outvoted, and shrink.&#160; If we graphed Sheep’s life expectancy, it would be a curve breaking straight down, inversely proportional to the growth of his two compatriots.</p>
<p>But when we consider the second condition necessary for a Nash Equilibrium, we see how Sheep can get out of his predicament: He simply has to change strategy and start competing with Public Wolf by directly bidding for Transfer Wolf’s vote.</p>
<p>Why hasn’t Sheep already thought of that?&#160; He could, after all, promise to cut Public Wolf’s pay and then split the savings with Transfer Wolf, much as Public Wolf promises to raise taxes and split it with Transfer Wolf.</p>
<p>The reason for this is history, and the simple inability to think past it.</p>
<p>Sheep has always been opposed to raising taxes, whether it is to increase the size and pay of Public Wolf or whether it is to increase the size and pay of Transfer Wolf.</p>
<p>But, just because Sheep has always been opposed to these ideas in the past does not mean that he has to stay opposed to them in the future.&#160; If Sheep could let go of his historical antipathy to Public Wolf and Transfer Wolf, he could seek to make a deal with one against the other.</p>
<p>Of course, there is yet one more way out for Sheep. He could potentially try to convince one or both of the wolves that their dinner choice is not a zero-sum game; that they could, in fact, join forces and go foraging in the woods together for something that all three animal friends could eat.</p>
<p>Historically, this approach has been a loser for Sheep.&#160; At dinner time, both of the wolves are usually too hungry to listen to reasoned pleas about thinking outside the zero-sum model.</p>
<p>So the only bet for Sheep may be to undergo a paradigm shift, overcome his qualms, and make a deal with one of the wolves to dismember and eat the other.</p>
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nov 22 2012 mark cabaniss democracy said two wolves sheep voting dinner yes sheep gets vote160 yes theory could appeal one wolves break rank vote instead wolf160 reality sheep loses160 every time way sheep could win closed system zerosum game would convince one wolves wolf would make tastier meal would sheep himself160 alternatively could try convince one wolves fact zerosum game160 historically sheep difficult time construct simple model three voting blocs considers economic interests voting represented one animals 1 people dont pay taxes transfer wolf 2 public employees public wolf 3 private sector employees sheep dinner time oh excuse 160voting time two propositions ballot shall raise decrease taxes use money raise decrease spending public wolf b shall raise decrease taxes use money raise decrease spending transfer wolf voting goes like this160 proposition public wolf votes raise taxes raise pay160 sheep votes lower taxes lower public wolfs pay160 public wolf sheep stalemate transfer wolf sits vote out160 since doesnt pay taxes doesnt care tax rates are160 care much public wolf paid unless unless paid care proposition b transfer wolf votes raise benefits raise taxes pay them160 public wolf sheep vote transfer wolf problem outvoted 160but luckily public wolf also problem stalemate sheep160 two wolves realize need others votes agree work together sheep160 support others position sheep outvoted propositions actual practice evidence suggests exactly happening transfer payment recipients government workers formed successful political coalition160 according recent article demographer nicholas eberstadt since 1960 total united states transfer payments grown 24 billion short 22 trillion 2010 nearly 100fold increase last half century simultaneously total government spending federal state local gone 24 percent gdp 1960 36 percent 2010 growth 50 percent nash equilibrium popularized book movie beautiful mind mathematician john nash posits game stalemate dependent two conditions first player knows every players strategy second despite knowing everything player nonetheless unable adjust strategy make advantageous politics secret strategies since elections involve trying gain adherents strategy sides160 simple fairy tale even though first condition nash equilibrium everyone knows everyone elses position nonetheless equilibrium public wolf transfer wolf continue vote tandem thereby grow sheep continue outvoted shrink160 graphed sheeps life expectancy would curve breaking straight inversely proportional growth two compatriots consider second condition necessary nash equilibrium see sheep get predicament simply change strategy start competing public wolf directly bidding transfer wolfs vote hasnt sheep already thought that160 could promise cut public wolfs pay split savings transfer wolf much public wolf promises raise taxes split transfer wolf reason history simple inability think past sheep always opposed raising taxes whether increase size pay public wolf whether increase size pay transfer wolf sheep always opposed ideas past mean stay opposed future160 sheep could let go historical antipathy public wolf transfer wolf could seek make deal one course yet one way sheep could potentially try convince one wolves dinner choice zerosum game could fact join forces go foraging woods together something three animal friends could eat historically approach loser sheep160 dinner time wolves usually hungry listen reasoned pleas thinking outside zerosum model bet sheep may undergo paradigm shift overcome qualms make deal one wolves dismember eat
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<p>Former Vice President Joe Biden&lt;/strong&gt; has created advisory councils for women and LGBT rights.(Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>Former Vice President Joseph Biden, among the potential Democratic candidates for the 2020 presidential election, announced on Monday the creation of two new advisory councils for his foundation: One to advance LGBT rights, the other to end violence against women.</p>
<p>Members of both councils are made up of prominent advocates on women’s and LGBT issues, many of whom are supporters of the Democratic Party.</p>
<p>Individuals named to the LGBTQ Equality Advisory Council include singer Cyndi Lauper, former NBA player Jason Collins, transgender activist Sarah McBride, Judy Shepard, marriage equality advocate Evan Wolfson and former U.S. ambassador to Romania Michael Guest.</p>
<p>Biden said in a statement members of the councils “have devoted their lives to that creed, and we’re lucky to have them lend their expertise to this mission.”</p>
<p>“By working together, we can do more to protect the rights of all people, expand access to opportunity and give every American a chance at a middle-class life,” Biden said. “I am eager for what we will accomplish together.”</p>
<p>According to a statement from the Biden Foundation, the advisory councils will recognize the power of public-private initiatives, serve as ambassadors for the Biden Foundation and guide strategic partnerships to create societal change.</p>
<p>Louisa Terrell, executive director of the Biden Foundation, said in a statement each council member “has made it their life’s work to protect and advance the rights of the most vulnerable.”</p>
<p>“We’re honored to have them volunteer their knowledge to the Foundation as we work together to build a more just society,” Terrell added.</p>
<p>Biden has a record of highlighting the issue of violence against women. As a U.S. senator, he was author of the Violence Against Women Act, a law that was reauthorized in 2013 when he was vice president to include LGBT-specific protections.</p>
<p>On LGBT issues, Biden was also at the forefront. The vice president famously came out for same-sex marriage days before former President Obama and called transgender issues the “civil rights issue of our time” and was active in championing international LGBT human rights.</p>
<p>Lauper, co-founder of the True Colors Fund, highlighted the issue of LGBT youth homelessness in a statement on her membership of the LGBT council.</p>
<p>“In America, up to 1.6 million youth experience homelessness each year. 40 percent of them identify as LGBTQ, compared to the seven percent of the general youth population that is LGBTQ. The True Colors Fund is working hard to change that,” Lauper said. “As a lifelong ally and advocate, Vice President Biden gets it — and today, I’m proud to join the Biden Foundation as we work to make equality a reality.”</p>
<p>The full roster of both advisory councils follows.</p>
<p>LGBTQ Equality Advisory Council Cyndi Lauper, Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Activist; Founder, True Colors Fund Sara Ramírez, Tony Award–winning Actress and Activist Jason Collins, Professional Basketball Player (retired), National Basketball Association Sarah McBride, National Press Secretary, Human Rights Campaign Phillip Picardi, Chief Content Officer, Them and Teen Vogue Judy Shepard, President, Matthew Shepard Foundation Evan Wolfson, Founder and Former President, Freedom to Marry Marsha Aizumi, Author, Speaker, Educator, Advocate Member, PFLAG National Board of Directors Dr. Eliza Byard, Executive Director, Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network Ambassador Michael Guest, Former U.S. Ambassador to Romania Mara Keisling, Founder and Executive director, National Center for Transgender Equality Dr. Caitlin Ryan, Director and Co-Founder, Family Acceptance Project Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Founding Executive Director, Campaign for Southern Equality; Minister, United Church of Christ Jacob Tobia, Writer, Producer, Author Amit Paley, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Trevor Project Precious Davis, Activist, Educator, Public Speaker</p>
<p>Ending Violence Against Women Advisory Council Justin Baldoni, Actor, filmmaker and activist Karma Cottman, Founder, Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Black Women; Executive Director, DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence Jess Davidson, Managing Director, End Rape on Campus Venkayla Haynes, Regional Advisor, It’s On Us Rosie Hidalgo, Senior Director of Policy, Casa de Esperanza; Senior Advisor, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence Olivia Hinerfeld, Activist Vivian Huelgo, Chief Counsel, Task Force on Human Trafficking and Commission on Domestic &amp; Sexual Violence of the American Bar Association Neil Irvin, Executive Director, Men Can Stop Rape Demetra Lambros, Appellate attorney, U.S. Department of Justice Zerlina Maxwell, Director of Progressive Programming, SiriusXM Victoria Nourse, Professor, Georgetown Law School Nancy Schwartzman, Director, Producer, Mobile App Developer; CEO, Tech 4 Good Patti Seger, Executive Director, End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin Susan Sorenson, Professor, University of Pennsylvania Andrew Sta. Ana, Director of Legal Services, Day One Ebony Tucker, Advocacy Director, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Biden Foundation</a> <a href="" type="internal">domestic violence</a> <a href="" type="internal">Election 2020</a> <a href="" type="internal">Joseph Biden</a> <a href="" type="internal">Louisa Terrell</a> <a href="" type="internal">Violence Against Women Act</a></p>
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former vice president joe bidenltstronggt created advisory councils women lgbt rightswashington blade file photo michael key former vice president joseph biden among potential democratic candidates 2020 presidential election announced monday creation two new advisory councils foundation one advance lgbt rights end violence women members councils made prominent advocates womens lgbt issues many supporters democratic party individuals named lgbtq equality advisory council include singer cyndi lauper former nba player jason collins transgender activist sarah mcbride judy shepard marriage equality advocate evan wolfson former us ambassador romania michael guest biden said statement members councils devoted lives creed lucky lend expertise mission working together protect rights people expand access opportunity give every american chance middleclass life biden said eager accomplish together according statement biden foundation advisory councils recognize power publicprivate initiatives serve ambassadors biden foundation guide strategic partnerships create societal change louisa terrell executive director biden foundation said statement council member made lifes work protect advance rights vulnerable honored volunteer knowledge foundation work together build society terrell added biden record highlighting issue violence women us senator author violence women act law reauthorized 2013 vice president include lgbtspecific protections lgbt issues biden also forefront vice president famously came samesex marriage days former president obama called transgender issues civil rights issue time active championing international lgbt human rights lauper cofounder true colors fund highlighted issue lgbt youth homelessness statement membership lgbt council america 16 million youth experience homelessness year 40 percent identify lgbtq compared seven percent general youth population lgbtq true colors fund working hard change lauper said lifelong ally advocate vice president biden gets today im proud join biden foundation work make equality reality full roster advisory councils follows lgbtq equality advisory council cyndi lauper singer songwriter actress activist founder true colors fund sara ramírez tony awardwinning actress activist jason collins professional basketball player retired national basketball association sarah mcbride national press secretary human rights campaign phillip picardi chief content officer teen vogue judy shepard president matthew shepard foundation evan wolfson founder former president freedom marry marsha aizumi author speaker educator advocate member pflag national board directors dr eliza byard executive director gay lesbian straight education network ambassador michael guest former us ambassador romania mara keisling founder executive director national center transgender equality dr caitlin ryan director cofounder family acceptance project rev jasmine beachferrara founding executive director campaign southern equality minister united church christ jacob tobia writer producer author amit paley chief executive officer executive director trevor project precious davis activist educator public speaker ending violence women advisory council justin baldoni actor filmmaker activist karma cottman founder ujima national center violence black women executive director dc coalition domestic violence jess davidson managing director end rape campus venkayla haynes regional advisor us rosie hidalgo senior director policy casa de esperanza senior advisor national resource center domestic violence olivia hinerfeld activist vivian huelgo chief counsel task force human trafficking commission domestic amp sexual violence american bar association neil irvin executive director men stop rape demetra lambros appellate attorney us department justice zerlina maxwell director progressive programming siriusxm victoria nourse professor georgetown law school nancy schwartzman director producer mobile app developer ceo tech 4 good patti seger executive director end domestic abuse wisconsin susan sorenson professor university pennsylvania andrew sta ana director legal services day one ebony tucker advocacy director national alliance end sexual violence biden foundation domestic violence election 2020 joseph biden louisa terrell violence women act
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<p>Although there’s no indication so far that Russia is doing what Western countries fear most by intervening with force in Ukraine, Moscow is showing no sign it’s willing to accept the new reality there.</p>
<p>After briefly pausing to recover from the shock of seeing the downfall of its ally, Victor Yanukovych, the Kremlin is resuming its old tactics by undermining the interim authorities.</p>
<p>The Russian authorities will almost certainly have to adopt a more pragmatic approach by dealing with Ukraine’s new leaders — something it’s currently refusing to do — but Western countries shouldn’t assume the weekend’s victory means the country has irrevocably turned a corner.</p>
<p>The Kremlin knows that time will work in its favor, just like after Ukraine's Orange Revolution in 2004, and that pro-Western politicians have a short time to enact institutional reforms to help resuscitate a failing economy and generate sustained public support.</p>
<p>For a regime that professes state sovereignty and territorial integrity to be inviolable, you’d think Russia’s would be more contrite. Since Ukraine’s political crisis began last fall, Moscow has issued dire warnings to Western countries to abstain from meddling in Ukrainian affairs while busying itself doing what it could to shore up former President Yanukovych, including urging him to use force to crack down against civilians.</p>
<p>The death of more than 80 people at the hands of riot police last week had the opposite effect by leading directly to Yanukovych’s ouster, but that hasn’t stopped Moscow from trying to undercut the interim leadership.</p>
<p>After Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel last weekend, Berlin quoted him as saying he wants Ukraine to remain in one piece — nevermind that the Kremlin initially helped push the country toward civil war by issuing bribes and threats aimed at pressuring Yakunovych to abandon a deal with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Moscow.</p>
<p>But some have hinted otherwise.</p>
<p>Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev said Monday that Ukraine’s new leaders had carried out an “armed mutiny.”</p>
<p>“The legitimacy of a whole number of official agencies there raises great doubts,” he said, although “some of our Western partners think otherwise.”</p>
<p>Sour grapes, perhaps, but his statements are dangerous because they may fuel the hopes of those Ukrainians in the Russia-looking east and southern Crimea that the country will split just at a moment the authorities in Kyiv are at their weakest.</p>
<p>A Ukraine tearing apart at the seams is surely not in the interests of Russia and its people, but it is in Putin’s. His overriding goal is for Ukraine to join a so-called Eurasian Union, an organization whose main purpose would be to oppose Western alliances. That would shore up his personal power as Russian leader.</p>
<p>He believes turmoil in Ukraine would show the world the country can’t function without Russia’s help.</p>
<p>Even if Moscow’s line becomes more pragmatic by beginning dialogue with the new leaders, that won’t mean the Kremlin’s attempts to undermine them will end.</p>
<p>Now Moscow is suddenly concerned about the wellbeing of dissenters in Ukraine — these ones in the mainly Russian-speaking eastern regions whom the Russian Foreign Ministry says are facing suppression. That’s a pattern repeated across the former Soviet Union in those newly independent countries whose leaders displease the Kremlin with their independence.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, Putin has displayed more pragmatic behavior in the past. In 2001, the Kremlin supported Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic until the last moment before his arrest by the authorities. Confronted by the new political landscape, Putin, then in his first term, quickly muted Moscow’s protestations.</p>
<p>Even after Yanukovych was sent packing the first time during Ukraine’s Orange Revolution after winning a fixed presidential election in 2003, Putin eventually found common language with Yanukovych’s great rival, Orange Revolution heroine and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.</p>
<p>The two managed to sign a natural gas deal in 2009 that looked set to finally begin setting Ukraine free from Russian influence exerted through its wrangling over gas prices.</p>
<p>After he eventually won the presidency in 2010, Yanukovych immediately set about undoing the deal by agreeing to new Russian subsidies in exchange for extending Moscow a long lease on the port of Sevastopol, where the Russian Black Sea Fleet is based.</p>
<p>He also arrested Tymoshenko on charges she overstepped her authority by signing the deal.</p>
<p>Now his departure has dealt a death blow to the Kremlin’s hopes Ukraine will soon join a Moscow-led customs union that would precede the Eurasian Union.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/taxonomy/term/22645/140224/its-easy-be-part-revolution-the-question-what-happens-next-video" type="external">What happens next in Ukraine?</a></p>
<p>But Putin is playing a long game. He’s shown in the past that he can lie low and rely on energy deals and propaganda to try to influence events. Surely that will continue in Ukraine, which will remain Russia’s southern neighbor, an important trading partner where many people speak the Russian language and have relatives and other close ties to the old Soviet master.</p>
<p>For Western countries, extending immediate financial aid and political support to Ukraine’s new leaders won’t be enough.</p>
<p>The past several months should be a lesson about Putin’s motives and his capabilities. Keeping Ukraine on a path toward democracy and integration with the West will require a total, ongoing commitment from Washington and Brussels.&#160;</p>
<p>Gregory Feifer is GlobalPost's Europe editor and the author of the recently released " <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/russia/140217/globalpost-europe-editor-gregory-feifer-russians-people-power" type="external">Russians: The People Behind the Power</a>."</p>
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although theres indication far russia western countries fear intervening force ukraine moscow showing sign willing accept new reality briefly pausing recover shock seeing downfall ally victor yanukovych kremlin resuming old tactics undermining interim authorities russian authorities almost certainly adopt pragmatic approach dealing ukraines new leaders something currently refusing western countries shouldnt assume weekends victory means country irrevocably turned corner kremlin knows time work favor like ukraines orange revolution 2004 prowestern politicians short time enact institutional reforms help resuscitate failing economy generate sustained public support regime professes state sovereignty territorial integrity inviolable youd think russias would contrite since ukraines political crisis began last fall moscow issued dire warnings western countries abstain meddling ukrainian affairs busying could shore former president yanukovych including urging use force crack civilians death 80 people hands riot police last week opposite effect leading directly yanukovychs ouster hasnt stopped moscow trying undercut interim leadership russian president vladimir putin spoke german chancellor angela merkel last weekend berlin quoted saying wants ukraine remain one piece nevermind kremlin initially helped push country toward civil war issuing bribes threats aimed pressuring yakunovych abandon deal european union favor closer ties moscow hinted otherwise russian prime minister dmitri medvedev said monday ukraines new leaders carried armed mutiny legitimacy whole number official agencies raises great doubts said although western partners think otherwise sour grapes perhaps statements dangerous may fuel hopes ukrainians russialooking east southern crimea country split moment authorities kyiv weakest ukraine tearing apart seams surely interests russia people putins overriding goal ukraine join socalled eurasian union organization whose main purpose would oppose western alliances would shore personal power russian leader believes turmoil ukraine would show world country cant function without russias help even moscows line becomes pragmatic beginning dialogue new leaders wont mean kremlins attempts undermine end moscow suddenly concerned wellbeing dissenters ukraine ones mainly russianspeaking eastern regions russian foreign ministry says facing suppression thats pattern repeated across former soviet union newly independent countries whose leaders displease kremlin independence nevertheless putin displayed pragmatic behavior past 2001 kremlin supported serbian president slobodan milosevic last moment arrest authorities confronted new political landscape putin first term quickly muted moscows protestations even yanukovych sent packing first time ukraines orange revolution winning fixed presidential election 2003 putin eventually found common language yanukovychs great rival orange revolution heroine former prime minister yulia tymoshenko two managed sign natural gas deal 2009 looked set finally begin setting ukraine free russian influence exerted wrangling gas prices eventually presidency 2010 yanukovych immediately set undoing deal agreeing new russian subsidies exchange extending moscow long lease port sevastopol russian black sea fleet based also arrested tymoshenko charges overstepped authority signing deal departure dealt death blow kremlins hopes ukraine soon join moscowled customs union would precede eurasian union globalpost happens next ukraine putin playing long game hes shown past lie low rely energy deals propaganda try influence events surely continue ukraine remain russias southern neighbor important trading partner many people speak russian language relatives close ties old soviet master western countries extending immediate financial aid political support ukraines new leaders wont enough past several months lesson putins motives capabilities keeping ukraine path toward democracy integration west require total ongoing commitment washington brussels160 gregory feifer globalposts europe editor author recently released russians people behind power
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<p>A group of 35 pastors trekked to Boston in November for peer-to-peer conversations about challenges of leading congregations in today’s polarized political climate in an inaugural “Conversations That Matter” event sponsored by Baptist News Global.</p>
<p>Moderate and progressive Baptist pastors from diverse backgrounds and at various stages of their careers engaged in guided conversations around a theme of “Pastoral Leadership in a Politicized and Polarized America” Nov. 14-16 on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. Nathan Kirkpatrick, managing director of Leadership Education at Duke Divinity School, served as facilitator for the discussions.</p>
<p>Pastors of different race, gender and sexual orientation engaged with one another on topics including how to lead faith communities in difficult conversations, balancing prophetic preaching with pastoral care and guiding congregations through intentional change while maintaining harmony.</p>
<p>According to David Wilkinson, executive director and publisher of Baptist News Global, structured conversations and “immersion experiences” at area ministries centered on issues of economic justice, racial justice and sanctuary congregations/immigration concerns, but no subject was out of bounds.</p>
<p>“BNG’s role,” he said, “was to provide a forum for honest, peer-to-peer dialogue around some of the most difficult and often divisive issues in American religion. The objective was to facilitate the dialogue and then to listen carefully.”</p>
<p>“Conversations That Matter” is the brand promise of Baptist News Global, a reader-supported, online news organization formed with the January 2014 merger of the Religious Herald, a Virginia-based Baptist newspaper founded in 1828, and Associated Baptist Press, an independent news service formed in 1990.</p>
<p>The pilot learning event aimed to build networks, reinforce BNG’s role as a provider of relevant news and commentary, improve its content and generate ideas for fund-raising.</p>
<p>In the past both BNG and its predecessors have organized public gatherings such as award presentations and dinners at annual meetings of ministry partners including the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, but the Cambridge event was invitation-only.</p>
<p>Participants were nominated, required to apply and selected by an advisory team. Most of the costs for the event were underwritten by a grant from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation of San Antonio, Texas. Additional funds were provided by sponsors who offset travel costs for the participants.</p>
<p>Participants: Matthew Tennant, Brent Bowden, Jonathan Brooks, Lauren Efird, LaTonya Penny, Jake Hall, Michelle Nickens, Alex Pickens, Maria Swearingen, Erica Whitaker, Griff Martin, Timothy Peoples, Chris Aho, Anne Scalfaro, Garin Hill, Daniel Glaze, Erica Van Brakle, Barrett Owen, Garrett Vickrey, Justin Joplin, Scott Dickison, Kathy Pickett, Stephanie Swanson, Racquel Gill, Stephen Cook, Jeremy Battle, Dray Bland, Corey Fields, Brent Newberry, Cody Sanders. Leaders and chaplains: Natalie Aho, David Wilkinson, Nathan Kirkpatrick, Kyle Reese, Mitch Randall, Dorisanne Cooper, Laura Everett</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Most of the pastors are in their 30s, and the oldest is 57. They minister in rural, city, suburban and urban settings in the South, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Midwest, Mountains and Southwest regions of the U.S. as well as Canada in churches ranging in average Sunday attendance from 30 to 1,200.</p>
<p>Some studied at CBF-related theology programs at Duke, Wake Forest, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Mercer’s McAfee, Baylor’s Truett and Central, while others earned master of divinity degrees from schools such as Harvard and Yale.</p>
<p>Kyle Reese, pastor of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., and current chair of the BNG board of directors, joined two other mid-career pastors as “chaplains” to offer support to individual participants navigating the discussions.</p>
<p>Chaplain Mitch Randall, a longtime pastor of churches in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma, said the final day of the conference alone was worth the trip.</p>
<p>“I have made connections I would have never made otherwise,” said Randall, now executive director-elect of the Baptist Center for Ethics. “We experienced both honesty and genuineness in a safe environment.”</p>
<p>The third chaplain, Dorisanne Cooper, is senior minister of Watts Street Baptist Church in Durham, N.C. She previously served 12 years at Lake Shore Baptist Church in Waco, Texas.</p>
<p>Participants also gave the event high marks.</p>
<p><a href="https://1648o73kablq2rveyn64glm1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/IMG_2419.jpg" type="external" />“Some of the information and opportunities to decompress and dialogue was very helpful and fruitful,” participant Racquel Gill, pastoral resident at St. Paul Community Baptist Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., said in a feedback forum after the event. “I also walked away with some new language to name some very complex issues that I see at work within my own congregation.”</p>
<p>Garin Hill, pastor of First Baptist Church in Forest City, N.C., said he benefitted from hearing from peers with different cultural perspectives.</p>
<p>“I am often only with white folks (largely) from the South,” said Hill, a Virginia native who studied for the ministry at Baylor’s Truett Theological Seminary in Texas. “This was valuable.”</p>
<p>Erica Whitaker, senior pastor at Buechel Park Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., said she would have appreciated greater diversity among participants and presenters.</p>
<p>“My clergy black brothers and sisters found themselves once again in white space as the minority,” Whitaker said. “This is discouraging to see, but I was encouraged to hear this underlining racial current rise to the surface in helpful and insightful conversation on the last day of seminars.”</p>
<p>“We met for holy conversation seeking together solutions to the large problems of our day,” Whitaker said. “Sitting at the table with black and white brothers and sisters who are in the trenches with me has given me hope in the midst of despair. I despair, for there is much work to be done, but I hope because I am not alone in this quest.”</p>
<p>Brent Bowden, pastor of First Baptist Church of Rochester, N.Y., said being a “captive audience” allowed participants to speak freely without fear of cutting off the conversation. “It was the kind of painfully redemptive conversation that is happening scarcely anywhere these days,” Bowden reflected in a thank-you email after returning home</p>
<p>“I hope we keep doing this hard work in ways that invite our intention and our relationship-building,” Maria Swearingen, senior co-pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, added in feedback to the meeting planners. “It was blessed time that no doubt involved deep, challenging work on your part.”</p>
<p>Event planner Natalie Aho, BNG interactive communication specialist, described the event as “everything it should have been — messy, challenging, brave and Kingdom space.”</p>
<p>Aho said three days was barely enough time to scratch the surface, but she came away convinced there is a need for such conversations among Baptist clergy.</p>
<p>“If we can’t have honest, hard, unsolvable conversations with clergy, how do we expect our society to be less polarizing and politicized?” she asked.</p>
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group 35 pastors trekked boston november peertopeer conversations challenges leading congregations todays polarized political climate inaugural conversations matter event sponsored baptist news global moderate progressive baptist pastors diverse backgrounds various stages careers engaged guided conversations around theme pastoral leadership politicized polarized america nov 1416 campus harvard university cambridge mass nathan kirkpatrick managing director leadership education duke divinity school served facilitator discussions pastors different race gender sexual orientation engaged one another topics including lead faith communities difficult conversations balancing prophetic preaching pastoral care guiding congregations intentional change maintaining harmony according david wilkinson executive director publisher baptist news global structured conversations immersion experiences area ministries centered issues economic justice racial justice sanctuary congregationsimmigration concerns subject bounds bngs role said provide forum honest peertopeer dialogue around difficult often divisive issues american religion objective facilitate dialogue listen carefully conversations matter brand promise baptist news global readersupported online news organization formed january 2014 merger religious herald virginiabased baptist newspaper founded 1828 associated baptist press independent news service formed 1990 pilot learning event aimed build networks reinforce bngs role provider relevant news commentary improve content generate ideas fundraising past bng predecessors organized public gatherings award presentations dinners annual meetings ministry partners including cooperative baptist fellowship cambridge event invitationonly participants nominated required apply selected advisory team costs event underwritten grant eula mae john baugh foundation san antonio texas additional funds provided sponsors offset travel costs participants participants matthew tennant brent bowden jonathan brooks lauren efird latonya penny jake hall michelle nickens alex pickens maria swearingen erica whitaker griff martin timothy peoples chris aho anne scalfaro garin hill daniel glaze erica van brakle barrett owen garrett vickrey justin joplin scott dickison kathy pickett stephanie swanson racquel gill stephen cook jeremy battle dray bland corey fields brent newberry cody sanders leaders chaplains natalie aho david wilkinson nathan kirkpatrick kyle reese mitch randall dorisanne cooper laura everett 160 pastors 30s oldest 57 minister rural city suburban urban settings south midatlantic northeast midwest mountains southwest regions us well canada churches ranging average sunday attendance 30 1200 studied cbfrelated theology programs duke wake forest baptist theological seminary richmond mercers mcafee baylors truett central others earned master divinity degrees schools harvard yale kyle reese pastor hendricks avenue baptist church jacksonville fla current chair bng board directors joined two midcareer pastors chaplains offer support individual participants navigating discussions chaplain mitch randall longtime pastor churches texas kansas oklahoma said final day conference alone worth trip made connections would never made otherwise said randall executive directorelect baptist center ethics experienced honesty genuineness safe environment third chaplain dorisanne cooper senior minister watts street baptist church durham nc previously served 12 years lake shore baptist church waco texas participants also gave event high marks information opportunities decompress dialogue helpful fruitful participant racquel gill pastoral resident st paul community baptist church brooklyn ny said feedback forum event also walked away new language name complex issues see work within congregation garin hill pastor first baptist church forest city nc said benefitted hearing peers different cultural perspectives often white folks largely south said hill virginia native studied ministry baylors truett theological seminary texas valuable erica whitaker senior pastor buechel park baptist church louisville ky said would appreciated greater diversity among participants presenters clergy black brothers sisters found white space minority whitaker said discouraging see encouraged hear underlining racial current rise surface helpful insightful conversation last day seminars met holy conversation seeking together solutions large problems day whitaker said sitting table black white brothers sisters trenches given hope midst despair despair much work done hope alone quest brent bowden pastor first baptist church rochester ny said captive audience allowed participants speak freely without fear cutting conversation kind painfully redemptive conversation happening scarcely anywhere days bowden reflected thankyou email returning home hope keep hard work ways invite intention relationshipbuilding maria swearingen senior copastor calvary baptist church washington added feedback meeting planners blessed time doubt involved deep challenging work part event planner natalie aho bng interactive communication specialist described event everything messy challenging brave kingdom space aho said three days barely enough time scratch surface came away convinced need conversations among baptist clergy cant honest hard unsolvable conversations clergy expect society less polarizing politicized asked
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<p>As a last-ditch effort to salvage peace talks in the Middle East, the U.S. is considering a move that has been flatly rejected by numerous administrations over the past 30 years: paroling convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard.</p>
<p>Pollard, 59, a Jewish American who worked as a civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy, was arrested by FBI agents in 1985 for giving reams and reams of secret documents to Israel. He was sentenced to life in prison, beginning a decades-long sticking point between the U.S. and its ally, Israel.</p>
<p>Now Secretary of State John Kerry is considering releasing Pollard. Here's what's in it for the U.S., what's in it for Israel, and the basics of what put Pollard behind bars in the first place.</p>
<p>Pollard had been working as a research analyst in the Threat Analysis Division of the Navy's Field Operations Intelligence Office, in the office's Anti-Terrorist Alert Center, when he was recruited by an Israeli intelligence officer in 1984.</p>
<p>Pollard had access to the most up-to-date intelligence in the U.S. government, and he leaked documents to Israel over the course of 18 months.</p>
<p>"I know of no other spy in the history of the United States that stole so many secrets, so highly classified, and such a quantity, over a short period of 18 months," said former Naval investigator Ron Olive, who interrogated Pollard in the 1980s.</p>
<p>"He stole literally — not like it is today with Snowden where he can pull a chip off and have a million documents — Pollard literally stole a million paper documents. When you add that up, it would fill a room six foot wide, six foot high, and ten foot deep."</p>
<p>The top secret material that Pollard passed to his Israeli handlers ranged from information on Iraqi chemical warfare productions capabilities to Soviet arms shipments to Syria. He was paid about $50,000 for the leaks and reportedly <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/19/us/damage-in-pollard-spy-case-termed-serious-blow-to-us.html" type="external">expected to eventually earn half a million dollars for them</a>.</p>
<p>"There have been deep concerns that perhaps that material didn't stay 100 percent with Israel. Intelligence agencies like to trade material," former ambassador to Israel and the U.N. Thomas Pickering said Tuesday on MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports."</p>
<p>Pollard pleaded guilty to passing classified information to Israel and was sentenced to life in prison for one count of espionage.</p>
<p>Pollard sought executive clemency from Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, but was repeatedly denied. Many people in the U.S. intelligence community strongly oppose his release: Former CIA Director George Tenet even threatened to resign in 1998 when a Pollard-freeing deal with Israel was being considered.</p>
<p>So why would the Obama administration consider freeing Pollard now, 29 years into the saga?</p>
<p>It's a last resort for the U.S.-brokered peace talks in the Middle East, said Robert Danin, senior fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.</p>
<p>"Secretary Kerry is extremely keen to bring about a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, and at this point just ensure that the negotiations continue," Danin said. "He's pulling out all the stops to try to find ways to keep the parties going. This being something that's of importance to Israel, it's something that's trying to be used as an incentive to try to get the Israelis to make other concessions."</p>
<p>Under terms of the proposed deal, if the U.S. did release Pollard, Israel would make a number of concessions to Palestinians, including releasing more than two dozen Palestinian prisoners.</p>
<p>Pollard first became eligible for parole in 1995, but he never applied for it, according to officials. (Even if no deal is brokered, a federal law that provides that a person sentenced to life "shall be released on parole" after serving 30 years of a life sentence means Pollard, if he chooses to seek parole, <a href="" type="internal">would be eligible on Nov. 21, 2015 — 30 years to the day after he was arrested outside the Israeli embassy in Washington.</a>)</p>
<p>He has been serving his sentence at a federal facility in Butner, N.C.</p>
<p>Kerry and the Obama administration may also be swayed to parole Pollard because of reports in recent years that his health is ailing, and because several former senior officials have changed their tune on keeping Pollard imprisoned. Most recently, James Woolsey, head of the CIA during the Clinton administration, announced last May <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/03/20/174867727/calls-to-free-spy-jonathan-pollard-grow-louder" type="external">he now supports clemenc</a> <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/03/20/174867727/calls-to-free-spy-jonathan-pollard-grow-louder" type="external">y after years of</a> <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/03/20/174867727/calls-to-free-spy-jonathan-pollard-grow-louder" type="external">opposing Pollard's release</a>.</p>
<p>"There's a sense that the price of him being released is going down, that he's probably served his time — at least this is the argument that some are putting forward," Danin said.</p>
<p>Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres, backed by Israeli citizens, have publicly voiced support for Pollard, putting pressure on Obama to release him.</p>
<p>"They believe he (Pollard) was unjustly convicted," said Olive, the former Naval investigator. "All other spies that I am aware of that stole got lighter sentences."</p>
<p>When the spying allegations first came to light in the 1980s, Israel denied playing any part in Pollard's actions — something they no longer do, said Danin.</p>
<p>Their mentality now is, "Israelis had a spy and we were responsible to him and for him. We owe it to him to try to get him back, even though there was acknowledgement that he was spying on Israel's best friend in the world," he said.</p>
<p>That, coupled with the sentiment within Israel that Pollard has been incarcerated beyond what is commensurate with his crime, has resulted in a large Israeli fan base for him.</p>
<p>Danin cations that nobody outside of the intelligence community can be certain that they're fully aware of how much Pollard may have threatened U.S. security by sharing documents.</p>
<p>"We don't know precisely how serious and damaging it was," he said.</p>
<p><a href="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/NEWS/PollarddamageassessCIA.pdf" type="external">Click here to read the CIA's damage assessment on the Jonathan Pollard case (.pdf)</a></p>
<p>NBC News' Pete Williams and Robert Windrem contributed to this report.</p>
| false | 3 |
lastditch effort salvage peace talks middle east us considering move flatly rejected numerous administrations past 30 years paroling convicted israeli spy jonathan pollard pollard 59 jewish american worked civilian intelligence analyst us navy arrested fbi agents 1985 giving reams reams secret documents israel sentenced life prison beginning decadeslong sticking point us ally israel secretary state john kerry considering releasing pollard heres whats us whats israel basics put pollard behind bars first place pollard working research analyst threat analysis division navys field operations intelligence office offices antiterrorist alert center recruited israeli intelligence officer 1984 pollard access uptodate intelligence us government leaked documents israel course 18 months know spy history united states stole many secrets highly classified quantity short period 18 months said former naval investigator ron olive interrogated pollard 1980s stole literally like today snowden pull chip million documents pollard literally stole million paper documents add would fill room six foot wide six foot high ten foot deep top secret material pollard passed israeli handlers ranged information iraqi chemical warfare productions capabilities soviet arms shipments syria paid 50000 leaks reportedly expected eventually earn half million dollars deep concerns perhaps material didnt stay 100 percent israel intelligence agencies like trade material former ambassador israel un thomas pickering said tuesday msnbcs andrea mitchell reports pollard pleaded guilty passing classified information israel sentenced life prison one count espionage pollard sought executive clemency presidents bill clinton george w bush repeatedly denied many people us intelligence community strongly oppose release former cia director george tenet even threatened resign 1998 pollardfreeing deal israel considered would obama administration consider freeing pollard 29 years saga last resort usbrokered peace talks middle east said robert danin senior fellow middle east africa studies council foreign relations secretary kerry extremely keen bring peace deal israel palestinians point ensure negotiations continue danin said hes pulling stops try find ways keep parties going something thats importance israel something thats trying used incentive try get israelis make concessions terms proposed deal us release pollard israel would make number concessions palestinians including releasing two dozen palestinian prisoners pollard first became eligible parole 1995 never applied according officials even deal brokered federal law provides person sentenced life shall released parole serving 30 years life sentence means pollard chooses seek parole would eligible nov 21 2015 30 years day arrested outside israeli embassy washington serving sentence federal facility butner nc kerry obama administration may also swayed parole pollard reports recent years health ailing several former senior officials changed tune keeping pollard imprisoned recently james woolsey head cia clinton administration announced last may supports clemenc years opposing pollards release theres sense price released going hes probably served time least argument putting forward danin said israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu president shimon peres backed israeli citizens publicly voiced support pollard putting pressure obama release believe pollard unjustly convicted said olive former naval investigator spies aware stole got lighter sentences spying allegations first came light 1980s israel denied playing part pollards actions something longer said danin mentality israelis spy responsible owe try get back even though acknowledgement spying israels best friend world said coupled sentiment within israel pollard incarcerated beyond commensurate crime resulted large israeli fan base danin cations nobody outside intelligence community certain theyre fully aware much pollard may threatened us security sharing documents dont know precisely serious damaging said click read cias damage assessment jonathan pollard case pdf nbc news pete williams robert windrem contributed report
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<p>Early childhood education piqued Jaqueline Espinal’s interest when her daughter started preschool at Darwin Elementary in Logan Square. She first pitched in as a volunteer, then became a parent mentor and eventually got a part-time job supervising recess at Darwin, where her daughter is in 6th grade.</p>
<p>But going back to school to earn a credential or degree seemed out of reach. Espinal gave birth to her daughter when she was in high school, and she didn’t think she could manage college with a young child.</p>
<p>Now 27, Espinal decided she was ready to try after learning about a program of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) that sends students in groups to take child development courses together.</p>
<p>The goal of the program is to advance and train early childhood educators who, like Espinal, speak both Spanish and English and want to work in the community where they live.</p>
<p>So now on Tuesdays, Espinal spends 60 to 90 minutes on a City Colleges of Chicago shuttle bus that takes her to and from Truman College in Uptown for classes. Meanwhile, her mother cares for Espinal’s daughter.</p>
<p>LSNA lobbied hard to get a professor to come to City Colleges’ Humboldt Park Vocational Education Center, which is closer. However, City Colleges is in the midst of consolidating classes in given areas at given campuses, and administrators nixed the idea.</p>
<p>Truman will house the system’s early childhood courses.</p>
<p>Banking that program quality will trump location</p>
<p>After this semester, Espinal will have 13 credit hours under her belt, with another 49 to go for an associate’s degree. She wishes classes were closer to home but hopes she can make it work and ultimately become a teacher’s assistant or teacher in a child care center.</p>
<p>“Since we’re going part-time, it does seem like a long time, but I just know I can’t stop,” she says. “I don’t want to go into the classroom empty-handed.”</p>
<p>City Colleges are banking that students like Espinal who want careers in preschools, child care centers or daycares, will not be deterred by the travel.</p>
<p>By next fall, City Colleges plans to stop offering child development courses at five locations: Olive-Harvey and Kennedy-King on the South Side, Malcolm X on the Near West Side, Daley on the Southwest Side and Harold Washington in the Loop. (Two entry-level courses will be offered at two colleges besides Truman because they are needed by students with other majors.)</p>
<p>The move is part of City Colleges’ reinvention plan aimed at <a href="http://www.bettergov.org/more_city_colleges_campuses_to_specialize/" type="external">turning each college into a specialized hub</a>, with Truman focusing on education and human and natural sciences.</p>
<p>Jaqueline Espinal (left) walks into Truman College with her classmates Beatriz Morales (center) and Marivel Rivera.</p>
<p>Linking colleges to careers</p>
<p>According to a <a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/next-america/workforce/chicago-building-bridge-college?e=None&amp;c=None&amp;t=&amp;a=&amp;q=%27Janie+Boschma%27&amp;s=None" type="external">recent article in the National Journal</a>, Mayor Rahm Emanuel helped come up with the idea to link each campus to a growing local industry and to bring in employers to design new programs, with the hope of making the community college system relevant to students’ careers and Chicago’s economy.</p>
<p>In late 2011, the <a href="http://www.ccc.edu/menu/Pages/Reinvention.aspx" type="external">reinvention plan</a>&#160;— which included hiring more college advisors and increasing dual-credit enrollment for CPS juniors and seniors —&#160;was launched by Chancellor Cheryl Hyman. Since then, City Colleges administrators have worked to “unify its campuses, which had operated largely as independent fiefdoms and often duplicated courses and programs,” the author of the National Journal article noted.</p>
<p>That included a big push to put nearly all City Colleges students on specific pathways to careers, so they know which courses they need to take and in what order, and which credits will transfer as they move on for more schooling.</p>
<p>But City Colleges faculty and educators who work with City Colleges say they fear the early childhood consolidation will trip up South and West Side residents who want to further their education — just as the city is trying to diversify its early childhood educator pipeline with more bilingual teachers and teachers of color who are familiar with their community’s needs.</p>
<p>About 2,200 students took child development coursework at City Colleges from the 2011-12 school year to 2013-14, mostly at sections offered at Harold Washington, Olive-Harvey and Daley.</p>
<p>While some students work toward associate’s or bachelor’s degrees, others already in the field are taking child development classes to earn credentials so they can keep their jobs and earn a higher-quality rating for their employer.</p>
<p>“We’re all concerned,” says Toni Potenza, associate dean at Roosevelt University’s College of Education, who’s been working through a federal grant on a City Colleges credit-transfer agreement. “Early childhood programs generally serve people who are living and working in the community around that community college. To say to someone who spent all day working in a child care center to travel up to Truman is an undue hardship.”</p>
<p>Jennifer Asimow, an associate professor in Harold Washington’s child development program, says it’s the equivalent of creating “educational deserts.”</p>
<p>“Our big argument about all of this has been about access,” she says. “When you take people out of their community to go to school, they end up not serving in their community… For a lot of people who thought ‘Maybe I’ll become a teacher,’ they’ll think of something else.”</p>
<p>A ‘concentrated investment’</p>
<p>Child development faculty at City Colleges found out about the changes by phone at the end of July. A <a href="http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150729/uptown/city-colleges-consolidating-child-development-program-sparks-petition" type="external">petition to stop the consolidation</a> circulated, and faculty sent letters asking the administration to reconsider.</p>
<p>But the City Colleges chancellor told faculty in late September that the decision to bring the programs together “will not be reversed” and asked them to “focus on a way forward.”</p>
<p>“We know that students do travel to our colleges when they know doing so will give them access to a high-quality program that holds economic value to them,” she wrote in a letter. “Each of our colleges draws students from literally every corner of the city, and Truman College is no exception…”</p>
<p>As a precedent, she cited Truman’s cosmetology program: “Nearly three quarters of that program’s students come from the south and west sides,” she wrote.</p>
<p>During a speech to the City Club on Tuesday, Hyman said the “excuse” that students won’t travel to attend college outside their neighborhood “troubles me on several levels, because it reflects condescending and insulting assumptions about our students.” It suggests, she said, that students aren’t committed enough to go after what they want and are incapable of going outside their comfort zones.</p>
<p>She held up her own example as proof: she graduated from Olive-Harvey before traveling long distances from home or work to get higher degrees at three institutions across the Chicago area.</p>
<p>“A related excuse I hear too often is that consolidating programs in one location will disenfranchise the poor,” she said. “Well, my response: Lower-quality education, however close to your home, won’t break the cycle of poverty. The only way we will break the cycle of poverty is to choose quality over proximity.”</p>
<p>It’s up to students to “make it work,” and do their part to take advantage of opportunities, she said, adding: “The world is not coming to any of our doorsteps to give us anything.”</p>
<p>But Jennifer Alexander, a child development instructor at Daley, reports that when she asked students who expressed concerns about transferring whether they’d be willing to try at least one class at Truman, especially if they already knew the professor, none said they would.</p>
<p>“Many of them like to stay close to their familiar community,” she says. “Some are intimidated by going to Uptown… I’m so worried that we’re going to lose all of them.”</p>
<p>Some research backs up her concerns. In 2014, a team of California researchers <a href="http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v16n1/sakai.html" type="external">released the results</a> of part of a five-year longitudinal study that interviewed 73 early childhood educators, most of whom were educators of color over the age of 40, who were going back to school for their bachelor’s degrees in early education. Nearly all ranked convenient class locations, as well as flexible times and financial aid, as critically important to their success.</p>
<p>In her letter to faculty, Hyman said the lack of a single, citywide program made it harder to form partnerships with employers and four-year schools.</p>
<p>By making a “concentrated investment” at one facility instead of splitting capital dollars among multiple sites, City Colleges hopes to improve its child development program. Administrators intend to revamp facilities at Truman to accommodate additional child development students.</p>
<p>Concern about South and Southwest sides</p>
<p>Katheryn Hayes, a City Colleges spokesperson, told Catalyst in an emailed statement that City Colleges expects child development enrollment “to be on par with current program enrollment in the first year as students are attracted to Truman College education programs.” A quarter of Truman students already come from the South and West Sides, she noted.</p>
<p>But an internal City Colleges document shared with Catalyst shows administrators had previously identified as a “key challenge” the fact that the “largest concentrations of Child Development students are on the South and Southwest sides” where St. Augustine College, a “major local competitor” that enrolls large numbers of bilingual and Hispanic students, has locations.</p>
<p>Asked about the document, Hayes said it “was a draft and does not accurately reflect City Colleges research.”</p>
<p>The document also expressed concern that residents on the South and Southwest sides will attend a City College closer to home — one without an early childhood program — and, in the process, fuel a “shortage of qualified child care providers” in those communities.</p>
<p>To address that challenge, it’s been proposed that City Colleges offer child development courses online, as well as allow students to complete field work at sites across the city.</p>
<p>But Alexander at Daley College points out that programs combining online and in-class work have yet to be developed, and not all faculty are credentialed to teach online. She says to develop curriculum that would meet statewide and national credentialing standards would take significantly more than a year’s time.</p>
<p>Transferring credits</p>
<p>Educators say they worry the consolidation effort could undo some work done over the last two years to improve transfer agreements and advising systems between City Colleges and four-year universities. The work was <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2015/09/colleges-team-up-to-help-early-childhood-workers-get-degrees/" type="external">funded by a federal Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant</a>. Illinois set aside just over $1 million for the statewide effort.</p>
<p>Faculty at several City Colleges — Harold Washington, Daley, Malcolm X, Truman and the district office — have been working with five Chicago universities.</p>
<p>For example, Alexander at Daley College worked on a cross-advising system so that students looking to transfer to nearby St. Xavier University would have a knowledgeable point of contact at the university who made them feel welcome. The two schools — along with another community college in the suburbs — also worked on grouping students together for several weeks as they prepare to take a skills test that must be passed before students can enter a teaching program.</p>
<p>Asimow at Harold Washington worked on finding ways to transfer a full associate’s degree heavy on child development coursework into a bachelor’s program at Roosevelt, something that wasn’t possible in the past.</p>
<p>But the grants — given to four-year universities that pledged to work with nearby community colleges — were awarded before City Colleges announced the consolidation of its child development program. Faculty who worked out transfer agreements between their university and an individual City College now have to go back and create an “uber agreement,” as Marie Donovan, an associate professor of education at DePaul University, put it.</p>
<p>Christi Chadwick, who helped oversee the grant effort for the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development, says that while the grant partnerships “may not completely continue as they were originally envisioned,” she believes they will still have long-term impacts.</p>
<p>Anne Brennan, who oversees City Colleges’ transfer office, wrote in an emailed statement that the transfer agreements between City Colleges and four-year universities “will apply to the whole system” to allow City Colleges “to have the flexibility of relocating or starting new programs, while not disrupting articulation agreements.”</p>
<p>Brennan added that the grant-funded training and supports given to teachers “will carry over and continue to support our students” in the child development program when it moves to Truman.</p>
| false | 3 |
early childhood education piqued jaqueline espinals interest daughter started preschool darwin elementary logan square first pitched volunteer became parent mentor eventually got parttime job supervising recess darwin daughter 6th grade going back school earn credential degree seemed reach espinal gave birth daughter high school didnt think could manage college young child 27 espinal decided ready try learning program logan square neighborhood association lsna sends students groups take child development courses together goal program advance train early childhood educators like espinal speak spanish english want work community live tuesdays espinal spends 60 90 minutes city colleges chicago shuttle bus takes truman college uptown classes meanwhile mother cares espinals daughter lsna lobbied hard get professor come city colleges humboldt park vocational education center closer however city colleges midst consolidating classes given areas given campuses administrators nixed idea truman house systems early childhood courses banking program quality trump location semester espinal 13 credit hours belt another 49 go associates degree wishes classes closer home hopes make work ultimately become teachers assistant teacher child care center since going parttime seem like long time know cant stop says dont want go classroom emptyhanded city colleges banking students like espinal want careers preschools child care centers daycares deterred travel next fall city colleges plans stop offering child development courses five locations oliveharvey kennedyking south side malcolm x near west side daley southwest side harold washington loop two entrylevel courses offered two colleges besides truman needed students majors move part city colleges reinvention plan aimed turning college specialized hub truman focusing education human natural sciences jaqueline espinal left walks truman college classmates beatriz morales center marivel rivera linking colleges careers according recent article national journal mayor rahm emanuel helped come idea link campus growing local industry bring employers design new programs hope making community college system relevant students careers chicagos economy late 2011 reinvention plan160 included hiring college advisors increasing dualcredit enrollment cps juniors seniors 160was launched chancellor cheryl hyman since city colleges administrators worked unify campuses operated largely independent fiefdoms often duplicated courses programs author national journal article noted included big push put nearly city colleges students specific pathways careers know courses need take order credits transfer move schooling city colleges faculty educators work city colleges say fear early childhood consolidation trip south west side residents want education city trying diversify early childhood educator pipeline bilingual teachers teachers color familiar communitys needs 2200 students took child development coursework city colleges 201112 school year 201314 mostly sections offered harold washington oliveharvey daley students work toward associates bachelors degrees others already field taking child development classes earn credentials keep jobs earn higherquality rating employer concerned says toni potenza associate dean roosevelt universitys college education whos working federal grant city colleges credittransfer agreement early childhood programs generally serve people living working community around community college say someone spent day working child care center travel truman undue hardship jennifer asimow associate professor harold washingtons child development program says equivalent creating educational deserts big argument access says take people community go school end serving community lot people thought maybe ill become teacher theyll think something else concentrated investment child development faculty city colleges found changes phone end july petition stop consolidation circulated faculty sent letters asking administration reconsider city colleges chancellor told faculty late september decision bring programs together reversed asked focus way forward know students travel colleges know give access highquality program holds economic value wrote letter colleges draws students literally every corner city truman college exception precedent cited trumans cosmetology program nearly three quarters programs students come south west sides wrote speech city club tuesday hyman said excuse students wont travel attend college outside neighborhood troubles several levels reflects condescending insulting assumptions students suggests said students arent committed enough go want incapable going outside comfort zones held example proof graduated oliveharvey traveling long distances home work get higher degrees three institutions across chicago area related excuse hear often consolidating programs one location disenfranchise poor said well response lowerquality education however close home wont break cycle poverty way break cycle poverty choose quality proximity students make work part take advantage opportunities said adding world coming doorsteps give us anything jennifer alexander child development instructor daley reports asked students expressed concerns transferring whether theyd willing try least one class truman especially already knew professor none said would many like stay close familiar community says intimidated going uptown im worried going lose research backs concerns 2014 team california researchers released results part fiveyear longitudinal study interviewed 73 early childhood educators educators color age 40 going back school bachelors degrees early education nearly ranked convenient class locations well flexible times financial aid critically important success letter faculty hyman said lack single citywide program made harder form partnerships employers fouryear schools making concentrated investment one facility instead splitting capital dollars among multiple sites city colleges hopes improve child development program administrators intend revamp facilities truman accommodate additional child development students concern south southwest sides katheryn hayes city colleges spokesperson told catalyst emailed statement city colleges expects child development enrollment par current program enrollment first year students attracted truman college education programs quarter truman students already come south west sides noted internal city colleges document shared catalyst shows administrators previously identified key challenge fact largest concentrations child development students south southwest sides st augustine college major local competitor enrolls large numbers bilingual hispanic students locations asked document hayes said draft accurately reflect city colleges research document also expressed concern residents south southwest sides attend city college closer home one without early childhood program process fuel shortage qualified child care providers communities address challenge proposed city colleges offer child development courses online well allow students complete field work sites across city alexander daley college points programs combining online inclass work yet developed faculty credentialed teach online says develop curriculum would meet statewide national credentialing standards would take significantly years time transferring credits educators say worry consolidation effort could undo work done last two years improve transfer agreements advising systems city colleges fouryear universities work funded federal race top early learning challenge grant illinois set aside 1 million statewide effort faculty several city colleges harold washington daley malcolm x truman district office working five chicago universities example alexander daley college worked crossadvising system students looking transfer nearby st xavier university would knowledgeable point contact university made feel welcome two schools along another community college suburbs also worked grouping students together several weeks prepare take skills test must passed students enter teaching program asimow harold washington worked finding ways transfer full associates degree heavy child development coursework bachelors program roosevelt something wasnt possible past grants given fouryear universities pledged work nearby community colleges awarded city colleges announced consolidation child development program faculty worked transfer agreements university individual city college go back create uber agreement marie donovan associate professor education depaul university put christi chadwick helped oversee grant effort governors office early childhood development says grant partnerships may completely continue originally envisioned believes still longterm impacts anne brennan oversees city colleges transfer office wrote emailed statement transfer agreements city colleges fouryear universities apply whole system allow city colleges flexibility relocating starting new programs disrupting articulation agreements brennan added grantfunded training supports given teachers carry continue support students child development program moves truman
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<p>On the eve of the GOP convention, Hillary Clinton maintains a five-point national lead over Donald Trump even after a period of negative news for the presumptive Democratic nominee, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.</p>
<p>Clinton leads the presumptive GOP nominee 46 percent to 41 percent in a poll that finds both candidates facing sizable disadvantages and challenges ahead of the party conventions which kick off Monday for the GOP in Cleveland and a week later for Democrats in Philadelphia.</p>
<p>Those numbers are unchanged from <a href="" type="internal">one month ago</a> with the poll conducted after FBI Director James Comey strongly rebuked Clinton over her email practices even though he determined that she had not committed a crime. The poll was also conducted before Trump selected Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his vice-presidential running mate.</p>
<p>Clinton has the advantage among African Americans (84 to 7 percent), voters ages 18-29 (55 to 32 percent) and women (52 to 37 percent). The margin among Latinos will be released later on Sunday.</p>
<p>Trump, meanwhile, is ahead among whites (50 to 37 percent) and men (46 to 39 percent), and the two candidates are tied among independents (36 percent each).</p>
<p>In a four-way ballot test – including Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson and the Green Party’s Jill Stein – Clinton gets 41 percent, Trump 35 percent, Johnson 11 percent, and Stein 6 percent.</p>
<p>“The more things change, the more they stay the same,” says Democratic pollster Peter Hart, whose firm helped conduct this poll with Republican pollster Bill McInturff. “Things haven’t changed an awful lot.”</p>
<p>McInturff agrees. “Our overall ballot is very stable, and the contours of this election are becoming stable.”</p>
<p>Trump’s Disadvantages Heading into Cleveland</p>
<p>Trump heads into the Republican convention with a 27 percent positive/60 percent negative score (-33) – remaining the most unpopular presumptive presidential nominee in the history of the NBC/WSJ poll.</p>
<p>But he’s followed closely by Clinton’s 34 percent positive/56 percent negative score (-22).</p>
<p>“Let me summarize the poll into four little words: ‘They hate them both,’” says Democratic pollster Fred Yang of Hart Research Associates.</p>
<p>Trump also leads a fractured Republican Party: Only 38 percent of GOP voters in the poll are satisfied with Trump as their nominee, versus 54 percent of Democrats who are satisfied with Clinton.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Trump Reminds Voters He's No. 1 While Introducing His No. 2</a></p>
<p>What’s more, a combined 85 percent of all voters – including 78 percent of Republicans – say the GOP is not that unified or only somewhat unified. That’s compared with 48 percent of all voters (and 40 percent of Democrats) who say that about the Democratic Party.</p>
<p>Overall, the GOP has a 27 percent positive/51percent negative score (-24) in the poll, while the Democratic Party is at 39 percent positive/41 percent negative (-2). It’s the first time in the history of the NBC/WSJ poll that both parties have been underwater going into the conventions.</p>
<p>Clinton's Disadvantages Heading Into Philadelphia</p>
<p>As for Clinton and her own convention in Philadelphia that begins a week from Monday, the poll shows that the email controversy has taken a toll on her candidacy.</p>
<p>Fifty-five percent of all voters say her use of a private email server is important to their vote – up from 42 percent who said this in late Oct. 2015 after her testimony before the House Benghazi Committee.</p>
<p>In addition, half of voters – 50 percent – say she doesn’t have the right judgment to make a good president based upon what they know about the FBI investigation into her email practices, versus 33 percent who say she has the right judgment.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">View The NBC News Battleground Map</a></p>
<p>“The questions about Mrs. Clinton’s character and honesty are important obstacles, and the decision by the FBI so far hasn’t ended the issue for the public,” adds Yang, the Democratic pollster.</p>
<p>Still, more voters say that Clinton has the right judgment to be president (37 percent) than Trump does (25 percent), although a third (33 percent) say neither has the right judgment.</p>
<p>Also, a plurality of voters (43 percent) believe the FBI investigation was unfair and too partisan, versus 37 percent who say it was fair and impartial.</p>
<p>Another weakness Clinton has heading into her convention is the country’s desire for change.</p>
<p>In the poll, 56 percent of voters prefer a presidential candidate who will bring major changes to the government, even if they’re unpredictable. By contrast, 41 percent want a steady approach, even if it means fewer changes.</p>
<p>Clinton's Big Asset Over Trump: Obama</p>
<p>Yet Clinton has one major advantage Trump doesn’t – a popular president who’s willing and eager to campaign for her.</p>
<p>President Obama’s job-approval rating in the poll is at 51 percent – the third-straight NBC/WSJ poll in which his approval has been above 50 percent.</p>
<p>Additionally, 49 percent believe the economy has improved during Obama’s presidency and they give him credit for it, while another 15 percent acknowledge that it’s improved but don’t give the president credit.</p>
<p>Just 36 percent of votes say the economy hasn’t improved during Obama’s presidency.</p>
<p>“President Obama remains the most important person over the next 115 days,” says Hart, the Democratic pollster.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/318518107/NBC-News-Wall-Street-Journal-July-National-Poll" type="external">The NBC/WSJ poll</a> was conducted July 9-13 of 1,000 registered voters, including 450 cell phone-only respondents and another 44 who were reached on a cell phone but also have a landline. The overall margin of error is plus-minus 3.1 percentage points.</p>
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eve gop convention hillary clinton maintains fivepoint national lead donald trump even period negative news presumptive democratic nominee according new nbc newswall street journal poll clinton leads presumptive gop nominee 46 percent 41 percent poll finds candidates facing sizable disadvantages challenges ahead party conventions kick monday gop cleveland week later democrats philadelphia numbers unchanged one month ago poll conducted fbi director james comey strongly rebuked clinton email practices even though determined committed crime poll also conducted trump selected indiana gov mike pence vicepresidential running mate clinton advantage among african americans 84 7 percent voters ages 1829 55 32 percent women 52 37 percent margin among latinos released later sunday trump meanwhile ahead among whites 50 37 percent men 46 39 percent two candidates tied among independents 36 percent fourway ballot test including libertarian nominee gary johnson green partys jill stein clinton gets 41 percent trump 35 percent johnson 11 percent stein 6 percent things change stay says democratic pollster peter hart whose firm helped conduct poll republican pollster bill mcinturff things havent changed awful lot mcinturff agrees overall ballot stable contours election becoming stable trumps disadvantages heading cleveland trump heads republican convention 27 percent positive60 percent negative score 33 remaining unpopular presumptive presidential nominee history nbcwsj poll hes followed closely clintons 34 percent positive56 percent negative score 22 let summarize poll four little words hate says democratic pollster fred yang hart research associates trump also leads fractured republican party 38 percent gop voters poll satisfied trump nominee versus 54 percent democrats satisfied clinton related trump reminds voters hes 1 introducing 2 whats combined 85 percent voters including 78 percent republicans say gop unified somewhat unified thats compared 48 percent voters 40 percent democrats say democratic party overall gop 27 percent positive51percent negative score 24 poll democratic party 39 percent positive41 percent negative 2 first time history nbcwsj poll parties underwater going conventions clintons disadvantages heading philadelphia clinton convention philadelphia begins week monday poll shows email controversy taken toll candidacy fiftyfive percent voters say use private email server important vote 42 percent said late oct 2015 testimony house benghazi committee addition half voters 50 percent say doesnt right judgment make good president based upon know fbi investigation email practices versus 33 percent say right judgment related view nbc news battleground map questions mrs clintons character honesty important obstacles decision fbi far hasnt ended issue public adds yang democratic pollster still voters say clinton right judgment president 37 percent trump 25 percent although third 33 percent say neither right judgment also plurality voters 43 percent believe fbi investigation unfair partisan versus 37 percent say fair impartial another weakness clinton heading convention countrys desire change poll 56 percent voters prefer presidential candidate bring major changes government even theyre unpredictable contrast 41 percent want steady approach even means fewer changes clintons big asset trump obama yet clinton one major advantage trump doesnt popular president whos willing eager campaign president obamas jobapproval rating poll 51 percent thirdstraight nbcwsj poll approval 50 percent additionally 49 percent believe economy improved obamas presidency give credit another 15 percent acknowledge improved dont give president credit 36 percent votes say economy hasnt improved obamas presidency president obama remains important person next 115 days says hart democratic pollster nbcwsj poll conducted july 913 1000 registered voters including 450 cell phoneonly respondents another 44 reached cell phone also landline overall margin error plusminus 31 percentage points
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<p>When you think of The Rolling Stones, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" is probably among the first songs you think of.&#160;</p>
<p>Other songs are equally iconic — but it's not always clear why they say what they do. But we're here to help.</p>
<p>John Schaefer, host of <a href="http://soundcheck.wnyc.org/" type="external">Soundcheck</a> and <a href="http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newsounds/" type="external">New Sounds</a> at WNYC, helps piece together the strange and surprising origins for some of the world’s greatest songs.</p>
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<p>This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones’ hit song "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." But the song almost never happened — it was by sheer chance that Keith Richards recorded the song's classic guitar riff during a booze and drug fueled bender.</p>
<p>When he woke up with a hangover, he actually didn't even remember recording anything. Luckily his humble cassette recorder captured the beginnings of one of the greatest rock songs of all times.</p>
<p>“The amazing thing about the Keith Richards story is that, somehow, the next morning it still sounded as good as it did the previous night — that rarely happens,” says Schaefer.</p>
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<p>Released in 1968, “In a Gadda Da Vida” is Iron Butterfly’s one and only hit. And this 17-minute song was recorded when the singer was not completely sober.</p>
<p>“[The words] ‘in a gadda da vida’ occur at the beginning and the end — in the middle it’s mostly instrumental,” says Schaefer. “That’s a good thing because apparently the singer was drunk or high or both, and slurred the words ‘in the garden of eden.’ What you’re hearing, in fact, wasn’t supposed to be recorded — this was a soundcheck. The producer hadn’t arrived and the band was just kind of vamping in the studio, but the engineer was rolling tape. At the end of it he decided it was actually pretty good, whatever ‘in a gadda da vida’ is.”</p>
<p>The accidental hit and the true meaning of its groggy lyrics has undoubtedly sparked a number of debates at bars and clubs throughout the years. Now we can finally put it to bed.</p>
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<p>Recorded in 1962, “Green Onions” is perhaps the most famous piece of music by Booker T and The MGs.</p>
<p>“This was, again, a case where the band was in the studio — in fact they were waiting for a singer,” Schaefer says of the instrumental hit. “A rockabilly singer was supposed to come in and do a jingle. They were in the Stax Records studio in Memphis; the singer was late so they were just kind of riffing on stuff in the studio. Booker T had been playing this piano piece, tries it out on the organ, and once again, the engineer was rolling tape.”</p>
<p>Back in the early ‘60s, tape was expensive — luckily for Booker T and The MGs, the engineer was also the owner of the studio and could afford to roll on the jam session.</p>
<p>“The result is a classic,” Schafer adds. “The postscript is that it was released as a <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=b-side&amp;defid=1629854" type="external">B side</a>.”</p>
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<p>Talking Heads lead singer and guitarist David Byrne often created songs with a “mumble track,” as he called it. And the 1984 hit “Burning Down The House” was no exception.</p>
<p>“He would just kind of mumble syllables, words — whatever kind of fit the line of the melody. It wasn’t necessarily to make sense,” says Schaefer. “In the case of ‘Burning Down The House,’ the mumble track worked so well with lines like ‘Three hundred sixty five degrees. Burning down the house,’ that they just kept it.”</p>
<p>If you listen back to the early music of David Byrne, Schaefer says you'll hear a lot of wooing and ahhing.</p>
<p>“I asked him once if he could still write that way now and he said no — that it’s a completely different kind of technique of songwriting,” Schaefer adds.</p>
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<p>The Beatles were often very deliberate and considerate about the music that they made. But there’s at least one exception: The 1967 song “A Day in the Life” was actually two songs that wound up coming together as one.</p>
<p>“It was a case of Lennon and McCartney each having half of a song and not knowing how to finish it,” says Schaefer. “They kind of stitched it together in the studio. The stitching, the stuff it weaves together — John’s tale ripped from the headlines and Paul’s tale of nostalgia for his commute to school — is the orchestra. But that’s not what it originally was. They didn’t know how they were going to weave these things together.”</p>
<p>McCartney and Lennon had their studio assistants count out the bars and set an alarm clock to signal that it was time to transition from John to Paul.</p>
<p>“All of that was supposed to come out — but the alarm clock stayed in because they couldn’t edit it out,” says Schaefer. “And of course it’s the perfect lead in to Paul’s line, ‘Woke up, fell out of bed…'”</p>
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<p>In January 1980, “Rapper’s Delight” cracked the US&#160;top 40 list — a move that finally delivered rap into the mainstream. And Schaefer says that before this song, there was no Sugarhill Gang,&#160;at least not as we know it today.</p>
<p>“This was producer Sylvia Robinson's,&#160;who had a previous hit with ‘ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DDaOyKzriA" type="external">Pillow Talk</a>,’ a kind of schlocky, early ‘70s light-rock number,” says Schaefer. “She had heard about this hip-hop thing and had these musicians who were playing the riff to ' <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTusMLs9SJE" type="external">Good Times</a>.' She wanted people to do this ‘rap thing’ over it. But she couldn’t convince any rappers to come into the studio — it was a live art form that was done in the clubs.”</p>
<p>Luckily for Robinson, her son found a man in a local pizza parlor and convinced him to come into the studio.</p>
<p>“That guy turned out to be the late Big Bank Hank, who actually had to borrow lyrics from another early hip-hop artist, Grandmaster Caz, and that’s what you hear in ‘Rapper’s Delight,’” says Schaefer. “The song was done in one take — it was 14 minutes long and then they edited it down for a radio version.”</p>
<p>This <a href="http://www.thetakeaway.org/story/how-pop-songs-got-their-swagger/" type="external">story</a> first aired as an interview on PRI's <a href="http://www.thetakeaway.org/" type="external">The Takeaway</a>, a public radio program that invites you to be part of the American conversation.</p>
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think rolling stones cant get satisfaction probably among first songs think of160 songs equally iconic always clear say help john schaefer host soundcheck new sounds wnyc helps piece together strange surprising origins worlds greatest songs weekend marks 50th anniversary rolling stones hit song cant get satisfaction song almost never happened sheer chance keith richards recorded songs classic guitar riff booze drug fueled bender woke hangover actually didnt even remember recording anything luckily humble cassette recorder captured beginnings one greatest rock songs times amazing thing keith richards story somehow next morning still sounded good previous night rarely happens says schaefer released 1968 gadda da vida iron butterflys one hit 17minute song recorded singer completely sober words gadda da vida occur beginning end middle mostly instrumental says schaefer thats good thing apparently singer drunk high slurred words garden eden youre hearing fact wasnt supposed recorded soundcheck producer hadnt arrived band kind vamping studio engineer rolling tape end decided actually pretty good whatever gadda da vida accidental hit true meaning groggy lyrics undoubtedly sparked number debates bars clubs throughout years finally put bed recorded 1962 green onions perhaps famous piece music booker mgs case band studio fact waiting singer schaefer says instrumental hit rockabilly singer supposed come jingle stax records studio memphis singer late kind riffing stuff studio booker playing piano piece tries organ engineer rolling tape back early 60s tape expensive luckily booker mgs engineer also owner studio could afford roll jam session result classic schafer adds postscript released b side talking heads lead singer guitarist david byrne often created songs mumble track called 1984 hit burning house exception would kind mumble syllables words whatever kind fit line melody wasnt necessarily make sense says schaefer case burning house mumble track worked well lines like three hundred sixty five degrees burning house kept listen back early music david byrne schaefer says youll hear lot wooing ahhing asked could still write way said completely different kind technique songwriting schaefer adds beatles often deliberate considerate music made theres least one exception 1967 song day life actually two songs wound coming together one case lennon mccartney half song knowing finish says schaefer kind stitched together studio stitching stuff weaves together johns tale ripped headlines pauls tale nostalgia commute school orchestra thats originally didnt know going weave things together mccartney lennon studio assistants count bars set alarm clock signal time transition john paul supposed come alarm clock stayed couldnt edit says schaefer course perfect lead pauls line woke fell bed january 1980 rappers delight cracked us160top 40 list move finally delivered rap mainstream schaefer says song sugarhill gang160at least know today producer sylvia robinsons160who previous hit pillow talk kind schlocky early 70s lightrock number says schaefer heard hiphop thing musicians playing riff good times wanted people rap thing couldnt convince rappers come studio live art form done clubs luckily robinson son found man local pizza parlor convinced come studio guy turned late big bank hank actually borrow lyrics another early hiphop artist grandmaster caz thats hear rappers delight says schaefer song done one take 14 minutes long edited radio version story first aired interview pris takeaway public radio program invites part american conversation
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<p>Criminals don’t register their guns with authorities. Despite this indisputable fact, the California Legislature recently passed 14 gun control bills, taking aim at citizens who legally own guns.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>California lawmakers are ignoring the&#160;historic <a href="" type="internal">recall last week</a>of two Colorado state legislators who backed new gun restrictions. And they are ignoring the Bill of Rights.</p>
<p>“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed,” says the <a href="http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html" type="external">Second Amendment</a> within the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution.</p>
<p>The gun control debate waged during the last eight months in the California Legislature has been an attack on the <a href="http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html" type="external">Second Amendment</a>.</p>
<p>Democratic lawmakers claim the legislation is needed to address acts of gun violence. But who are they trying to control?</p>
<p>Never letting a good crisis go to waste, California’s Democratic lawmakers reacted en masse to the Dec. 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., where a gunman killed 20 children and six adults. By January 2013, the Legislature introduced 40 gun control bills.</p>
<p>But <a href="" type="internal">as I wrote</a>in “ <a href="" type="internal">Gun control laws would not make us safer</a>,” the worst deadly massacre at a school in American history was not the Newtown shootings, or the Columbine shootings.</p>
<p>The worst school massacre took place before there was even a television in every home — in Michigan in 1927 when a&#160;school board official, enraged at a tax increase to fund school construction, planted explosives in Bath Township Elementary school, then blew the school up. &#160;When crowds rushed in to rescue the children, he drove up his shrapnel-filled car and detonated it, killing more people, including himself.</p>
<p>While the media and politicians respond purely emotionally and opportunistically, they have ignored that these incidents are not new, and are certainly not indigenous to America.</p>
<p>Despite media claims that these types of mass killings are on the rise,&#160;criminologist <a href="http://boston.com/community/blogs/crime_punishment/" type="external">James Allen Fox</a>, of Boston Northeastern University, who has been studying the subject since the 1980s, said “the random mass shootings that get the most media attention are the rarest,” Fox said. “Most people who die of bullet wounds knew the identity of their killer.”</p>
<p>Experts who study mass shootings say they are not becoming more common or on the rise.</p>
<p>In April, the U.S. Senate killed measures to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and require&#160; <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/background+checks/" type="external">background checks</a> during the purchase of guns at <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/gun+shows/" type="external">gun shows</a> or on the Internet.</p>
<p>Study after study has shown that between 6 percent and 10 percent or criminals are responsible for up to 70 percent of all crimes committed.</p>
<p>Interpretation of the second amendment varies between those who believe it protects citizens’ rights to own guns, and those who do not.</p>
<p>In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in <a href="http://billofrightsinstitute.org/resources/educator-resources/lessons-plans/landmark-cases-and-the-constitution/district-of-columbia-v-heller-2008/" type="external">District of Columbia v. Heller</a> that the Second Amendment protected the individual right to keep suitable firearms at home for self-defense. This case overturned Washington D.C.’s ban on handguns.</p>
<p>Listed are the lawmakers who authored the gun control bills — all Democrats:</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB48" type="external">AB 48</a> by Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, bans ammunition and gun parts. Skinner infamously said, “bullets are the very thing making guns deadly.”</p>
<p>Also by Skinner, <a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB1131" type="external">AB 1131</a>, increases prohibition periods after credible threat of violence from 6 months to 5 years.</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB170" type="external">AB 170</a> by Assemblyman Steven Bradford, D-Gardena, prohibits anyone who owns a business from getting assault weapon permits.</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB374" type="external">SB 374</a> by Sen. Pres. Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, bans detachable magazines in rifles.</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB567" type="external">SB 567</a>by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, redefines a shotguns to delete the requirement that it be fired from the shoulder.</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB755" type="external">SB 755</a> by Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, expands list of crimes resulting in ban from owning firearms.</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB180" type="external">AB 180</a> by Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Alameda, allows the city of Oakland to pass gun control regulations.</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB500" type="external">AB 500</a> by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, allows the Department of Justice additional time to run background checks on gun purchasers.</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB299" type="external">SB 299</a> by Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, requires gun owners to report all lost or stolen firearms.</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB683" type="external">SB 683</a>by Sen. Marty Block, D-San Diego, requires gun buyers to take a firearm safety class to earn a “safety certificate.”</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB475" type="external">SB 475</a>by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, bans gun shows at the Cow Palace by requiring approval from San Mateo and San Francisco counties.</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB169" type="external">AB 169</a> by Assemblyman Roger Dickinson, D-Sacramento, limits transfer of “unsafe” handguns — any pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed, which has not been vetted by the California Department of Justice.</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB711" type="external">AB 711</a> by Assemblyman Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, bans the use of lead ammunition.</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB231" type="external">AB 231</a>by Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, adds criminal liability for firearm storage that endangers a child.</p>
<p>An oppressive government is what led to the <a href="http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html" type="external">Bill of Rights</a>. The Founding Fathers wrote into the Bill of Rights that rights are human rights endowed with by our Creator, and not rights granted by the government. The argument over the Second Amendment is not just about preserving the right to keep and bear arms; this fight is about making sure the government cannot take away citizens’ rights.</p>
<p>If the government can grant rights, it can also take them away. That’s what makes the liberties outlined in the Bill of Rights “unalienable.”</p>
<p>“All power is inherent in the people; . . . it is their right and duty to be at all times armed,”&#160;Thomas Jefferson wrote, shortly before his death.</p>
<p>George Mason, a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention,&#160;believed the relationship between&#160;arms and liberty was crucial, and said history had demonstrated that the most effective way to enslave a people is to disarm them.</p>
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criminals dont register guns authorities despite indisputable fact california legislature recently passed 14 gun control bills taking aim citizens legally guns california lawmakers ignoring the160historic recall last weekof two colorado state legislators backed new gun restrictions ignoring bill rights well regulated militia necessary security free state right people keep bear arms shall infringed says second amendment within bill rights us constitution gun control debate waged last eight months california legislature attack second amendment democratic lawmakers claim legislation needed address acts gun violence trying control never letting good crisis go waste californias democratic lawmakers reacted en masse dec 2012 mass shooting sandy hook elementary school newtown conn gunman killed 20 children six adults january 2013 legislature introduced 40 gun control bills wrotein gun control laws would make us safer worst deadly massacre school american history newtown shootings columbine shootings worst school massacre took place even television every home michigan 1927 a160school board official enraged tax increase fund school construction planted explosives bath township elementary school blew school 160when crowds rushed rescue children drove shrapnelfilled car detonated killing people including media politicians respond purely emotionally opportunistically ignored incidents new certainly indigenous america despite media claims types mass killings rise160criminologist james allen fox boston northeastern university studying subject since 1980s said random mass shootings get media attention rarest fox said people die bullet wounds knew identity killer experts study mass shootings say becoming common rise april us senate killed measures ban assault weapons highcapacity magazines require160 background checks purchase guns gun shows internet study study shown 6 percent 10 percent criminals responsible 70 percent crimes committed interpretation second amendment varies believe protects citizens rights guns 2008 us supreme court ruled district columbia v heller second amendment protected individual right keep suitable firearms home selfdefense case overturned washington dcs ban handguns listed lawmakers authored gun control bills democrats ab 48 assemblywoman nancy skinner dberkeley bans ammunition gun parts skinner infamously said bullets thing making guns deadly also skinner ab 1131 increases prohibition periods credible threat violence 6 months 5 years ab 170 assemblyman steven bradford dgardena prohibits anyone owns business getting assault weapon permits sb 374 sen pres pro tem darrell steinberg dsacramento bans detachable magazines rifles sb 567by sen hannahbeth jackson dsanta barbara redefines shotguns delete requirement fired shoulder sb 755 sen lois wolk ddavis expands list crimes resulting ban owning firearms ab 180 assemblyman rob bonta dalameda allows city oakland pass gun control regulations ab 500 assemblyman tom ammiano dsan francisco allows department justice additional time run background checks gun purchasers sb 299 sen mark desaulnier dconcord requires gun owners report lost stolen firearms sb 683by sen marty block dsan diego requires gun buyers take firearm safety class earn safety certificate sb 475by sen mark leno dsan francisco bans gun shows cow palace requiring approval san mateo san francisco counties ab 169 assemblyman roger dickinson dsacramento limits transfer unsafe handguns pistol revolver firearm capable concealed vetted california department justice ab 711 assemblyman anthony rendon dlakewood bans use lead ammunition ab 231by phil ting dsan francisco adds criminal liability firearm storage endangers child oppressive government led bill rights founding fathers wrote bill rights rights human rights endowed creator rights granted government argument second amendment preserving right keep bear arms fight making sure government take away citizens rights government grant rights also take away thats makes liberties outlined bill rights unalienable power inherent people right duty times armed160thomas jefferson wrote shortly death george mason delegate virginia us constitutional convention160believed relationship between160arms liberty crucial said history demonstrated effective way enslave people disarm
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<p>Editor’s note: Elizabeth Daube traveled to Kenya last year as a master’s student at Boston University’s School of Public Health through the Pamoja Together reporting project—a collaboration of students around the world committed to “telling the stories of foreign aid.” Her graduate thesis looked at the tension between the pro-sex worker rights and anti-trafficking movements. This guest post has been adapted from “Selling Sex in Kisumu,” which originally appeared on the Pamoja <a href="http://pamojatogether.com/stories/health/selling-sex-in-kisumu/" type="external">website</a>. &#160;</p>
<p>I started looking for sex workers long before I got to Kenya. I scoured Google, Facebook, Twitter—I even stumbled upon a message board made by foreign men looking for the “freshest” girls in the country.</p>
<p>After months of research on sex workers, violence and HIV around the world for my master’s thesis at Boston University, I’d heard what the public health and policy wonks had to say. Some portrayed sex workers as victims suffering unimaginable abuse; others depicted them as empowered entrepreneurs.&#160;I sensed the reality was somewhere in between. Talking to actual sex workers seemed like the only way to get closer to the truth.</p>
<p>With BU’s <a href="http://pamojatogether.com/" type="external">Pamoja Together</a> reporting project, a storytelling collaboration of students in Boston and Kenya, I got my opportunity. In 2013, I was one of eight fellows selected to report in Kenya for Pamoja and work with 10 local students to share the stories of Kenyan recipients of foreign aid—capturing the perspectives of people on the ground, as opposed to those of outside experts.&#160;A few weeks and 7,000 miles later, the 18 of us were planning our reporting on global health and development issues over local Tusker beers.&#160;</p>
<p>Our Kenyan counterparts gave us the scoop on local culture and attitudes toward HIV, which has infected about <a href="http://kenya.usaid.gov/programs/health/77" type="external">6 percent</a> of adults. The disease has concentrated in the western Nyanza and Rift Valley regions, where more than half of all HIV-positive people in Kenya live, and we were near Kisumu, Nyanza’s largest city. Kisumu is a trading hub on Lake Victoria where men often travel for work—and where many of them buy sex from women working near hotel “hot spots.” A <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0054953" type="external">recent study</a> found more than half of Kisumu’s female sex workers are HIV positive.</p>
<p>I wanted to meet these women, but my Kenyan colleagues didn’t exactly have them on speed dial. After many inquiries, I found <a href="https://twitter.com/kashkenya" type="external">KASH</a>, or Keeping Alive Societies’ Hope—a Kisumu NGO funded by several US donors that helps sex workers protect themselves from HIV.</p>
<p>KASH advocates for sex workers’ rights, not just condoms.</p>
<p>The “hot spot” When I first met Aluna at the KASH office, she was smiling and wearing a pink sweater and pressed slacks, carefully arranging the bangles at her wrists. She reminded me of a friendly suburban mom.</p>
<p>But Aluna was a sex worker, and a KASH peer educator. In her role, she brings together other sex workers for regular group meetings, where they discuss their problems and strategize ways to address them.</p>
<p>Aluna took me—along with Algah, my Pamoja peer and volunteer translator—to a “hot spot” where we could observe one of these meetings. We walked out of the midday sun and into a dark bar, then up the back stairs and down a hall of locked doors. At the end of the hall, two women in jeans and T-shirts were waiting in a small room, lounging on well-worn beds. Broken bed frames lay stacked in a nearby alcove. As more women filed in, they sat on the hallway floor and removed their shoes. When a pregnant woman arrived late, someone gave up a coveted plastic chair. In all, about 18 women showed up. Some yawned; Aluna told me most of them work from about 5 p.m. to 5 a.m.</p>
<p>Aluna and Algah explained my presence in the local dialect, Luo, and each woman introduced herself. Then Aluna asked the group if they’d faced any challenges since their last meeting. There was a sudden flurry of Luo, along with big swooping gestures and pointing fingers, peppered by English words: “uniform” and “Land Cruiser.” Algah told me they were complaining about police harassment.</p>
<p>Before we could ask more, the women suddenly turned to a recent episode of violence.</p>
<p>They started discussing a young woman who was sitting on the floor near my feet. She was wearing a flowery tank top over a black T-shirt, and she kept her eyes fixed on the floor. When she glanced up to address the group, her eye was so swollen that I almost winced. Shades of deep purple surfaced, despite the darkness of her skin.</p>
<p>“He refused to wear a condom,” she said of the client, almost whispering. “He started beating me and I fell down. He stepped on my head with two legs.” Someone explained to the group that other sex workers had heard her cries and entered the room; the man had fled, and her friends took her to the hospital.</p>
<p>A KASH field officer who was leading the meeting with Aluna assured the woman that “KASH will be there to defend you.” KASH has modest funding and a staff of only 12, but one lawyer and a few paralegals are among them, precisely for cases like this one. Because most sex workers don’t want to end up in court—cases can drag on for months or years—the legal team usually negotiates with police, and has found some success along the way.</p>
<p>KASH also trains police, trying to get them to see sex workers as people with human rights. But this strategy hasn’t yielded great results. “There is no trust,” one woman explained. “We know the policemen. They come as customers, ask for a price, then they start beating.”</p>
<p>The KASH officer offered some practical guidance: “When they pick you [up], call us and we will come.” Later, she snapped pictures of the victim’s swollen eye and the abrasions on her face and neck. KASH lawyers can use photos like these as evidence even after the victim’s wounds begin to heal.</p>
<p>Money talks If violence is so routine, why do sex workers take the risk? I wasn’t exactly shocked by Aluna’s answer: “Money.” She needed it when she was 12 years old and a man propositioned her on a bus. And she still needed it when we met, so she could support her five kids.</p>
<p>Many researchers tend to skip over the details when it comes to how much money sex workers make—because they don’t view sex work as legitimate employment, or because they focus on health to the exclusion of economics. But regardless of one’s opinion of sex work, money undoubtedly motivates it.</p>
<p>And according to Aluna, it pays relatively well. She estimated that if she could get five clients a day at a high price—400 Kenyan shillings per transaction—she could make up to $23 USD a day, or about $8,000 a year. This amount wildly exceeds the incomes of many Kenyans, who, according to World Bank <a href="http://devdata.worldbank.org/AAG/ken_aag.pdf" type="external">estimates</a>, earn an average of just $820 a year.</p>
<p>But competition can shave down earnings. In the KASH group meeting, women complained that some sex workers charge just 50 or 100 Kenyan shillings. That’s less than $1 USD. “No sex for 100 shillings,” one woman said. “We do not want to be cheap.” Someone suggested creating a kind of union, convincing all local sex workers to agree on set prices.</p>
<p>During the heated Luo conversation that followed, I wondered if a union was a real option. Sex work in Kenya seemed to be a free market, with zero regulation and a high demand for youth. Aluna told me that she—like most Kenyan girls entering sex work—started on her own, without oversight from a pimp or brothel. She explained the ups and downs of the trade, including the “dry season,” during school holidays. That’s when most of the usual clients disappear to buy sex from girls around 14, who try to make money during their break. Kenya has a steady supply of adolescent girls who need cash, and the sex market seems to thrive on them. Research shows they’re not all selling sex to survive; some are just seeking the minor luxuries of modern life: a better pair of jeans, a cooler cell phone.</p>
<p>None of them were at our meeting because, according to Aluna, teenage girls usually try to keep their sex work a secret. They’re hard to reach. I thought of the only time I’d met a young sex worker—years ago, volunteering with a street outreach NGO in Puerto Rico. She was maybe 13, and so drugged that she staggered toward us. I wanted to do something, to protect her somehow. Instead, I handed her a sandwich.</p>
<p>It’s easy to sanitize sex work when you’re researching it from Boston, looking up public health data and analyzing the trends. In person, the reality—that a sizable number of women and girls are selling access to their more intimate body parts for the amount I spend on a large latte at home—unnerved me in a way I didn’t expect.</p>
<p>I wondered how funders of HIV prevention programs—particularly those based in offices far away from the “hot spots” of Kisumu—would react if they actually spent time with sex workers. Historically, for example, the US government has funded sex worker-focused projects with serious reservations, as evidenced by the “anti-prostitution pledge” that NGOs used to have to agree to when they received HIV/AIDS-related grants. (The Supreme Court <a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/174910/supreme-court-strikes-down-anti-prostitution-pledge-us-groups" type="external">struck down</a> that policy just last summer.) Would visiting Aluna and the other sex workers foster more compassion? Less?</p>
<p>As the meeting wound down, the women started talking about ways out of sex work. Vocational training was available at a partner NGO, someone said. The woman with the swollen eye asked in a hushed voice if she might be eligible. The KASH officer asked her how old she was. She responded: “23.” Unlike many women in the group, she would just qualify under the age cap of 24.</p>
<p>I found myself exhaling, relieved. I thought she deserved a job that didn’t involve a high risk of getting raped and kicked in the face. A viable way out seemed to be what many sex workers wanted, too. Aluna was trying to get a loan to start a poultry farm with other sex workers. They would supply eggs and chickens to the hotels where they rented rooms and sold sex.</p>
<p>The shame associated with sex work remains, even among women who seem to earn a decent income. Through KASH, Aluna was advocating for the rights and respect that sex workers desperately need—but she also told me she didn’t want her real name on record. She didn’t want her kids to find out what she does. One child wants to be a pilot; another, an artist. More than anything, Aluna told me, she wants them to finish school—to do what she did not.</p>
<p>Maybe this is a difficult truth about sex work, one that public health researchers often gloss over. Aluna is empowered. She does what she needs to do to support her family. But she is not proud.</p>
<p>Elizabeth Daube is a freelance writer based in New York City and communications officer at American Jewish World Service. The views expressed here are entirely her own. In the US and in the developing world, she's worked as a journalist and with researchers and nonprofit programs focused on health, gender, violence and poverty. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="" type="external">@lizdaube</a>.&#160; &#160;</p>
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editors note elizabeth daube traveled kenya last year masters student boston universitys school public health pamoja together reporting projecta collaboration students around world committed telling stories foreign aid graduate thesis looked tension prosex worker rights antitrafficking movements guest post adapted selling sex kisumu originally appeared pamoja website 160 started looking sex workers long got kenya scoured google facebook twitteri even stumbled upon message board made foreign men looking freshest girls country months research sex workers violence hiv around world masters thesis boston university id heard public health policy wonks say portrayed sex workers victims suffering unimaginable abuse others depicted empowered entrepreneurs160i sensed reality somewhere talking actual sex workers seemed like way get closer truth bus pamoja together reporting project storytelling collaboration students boston kenya got opportunity 2013 one eight fellows selected report kenya pamoja work 10 local students share stories kenyan recipients foreign aidcapturing perspectives people ground opposed outside experts160a weeks 7000 miles later 18 us planning reporting global health development issues local tusker beers160 kenyan counterparts gave us scoop local culture attitudes toward hiv infected 6 percent adults disease concentrated western nyanza rift valley regions half hivpositive people kenya live near kisumu nyanzas largest city kisumu trading hub lake victoria men often travel workand many buy sex women working near hotel hot spots recent study found half kisumus female sex workers hiv positive wanted meet women kenyan colleagues didnt exactly speed dial many inquiries found kash keeping alive societies hopea kisumu ngo funded several us donors helps sex workers protect hiv kash advocates sex workers rights condoms hot spot first met aluna kash office smiling wearing pink sweater pressed slacks carefully arranging bangles wrists reminded friendly suburban mom aluna sex worker kash peer educator role brings together sex workers regular group meetings discuss problems strategize ways address aluna took mealong algah pamoja peer volunteer translatorto hot spot could observe one meetings walked midday sun dark bar back stairs hall locked doors end hall two women jeans tshirts waiting small room lounging wellworn beds broken bed frames lay stacked nearby alcove women filed sat hallway floor removed shoes pregnant woman arrived late someone gave coveted plastic chair 18 women showed yawned aluna told work 5 pm 5 aluna algah explained presence local dialect luo woman introduced aluna asked group theyd faced challenges since last meeting sudden flurry luo along big swooping gestures pointing fingers peppered english words uniform land cruiser algah told complaining police harassment could ask women suddenly turned recent episode violence started discussing young woman sitting floor near feet wearing flowery tank top black tshirt kept eyes fixed floor glanced address group eye swollen almost winced shades deep purple surfaced despite darkness skin refused wear condom said client almost whispering started beating fell stepped head two legs someone explained group sex workers heard cries entered room man fled friends took hospital kash field officer leading meeting aluna assured woman kash defend kash modest funding staff 12 one lawyer paralegals among precisely cases like one sex workers dont want end courtcases drag months yearsthe legal team usually negotiates police found success along way kash also trains police trying get see sex workers people human rights strategy hasnt yielded great results trust one woman explained know policemen come customers ask price start beating kash officer offered practical guidance pick call us come later snapped pictures victims swollen eye abrasions face neck kash lawyers use photos like evidence even victims wounds begin heal money talks violence routine sex workers take risk wasnt exactly shocked alunas answer money needed 12 years old man propositioned bus still needed met could support five kids many researchers tend skip details comes much money sex workers makebecause dont view sex work legitimate employment focus health exclusion economics regardless ones opinion sex work money undoubtedly motivates according aluna pays relatively well estimated could get five clients day high price400 kenyan shillings per transactionshe could make 23 usd day 8000 year amount wildly exceeds incomes many kenyans according world bank estimates earn average 820 year competition shave earnings kash group meeting women complained sex workers charge 50 100 kenyan shillings thats less 1 usd sex 100 shillings one woman said want cheap someone suggested creating kind union convincing local sex workers agree set prices heated luo conversation followed wondered union real option sex work kenya seemed free market zero regulation high demand youth aluna told shelike kenyan girls entering sex workstarted without oversight pimp brothel explained ups downs trade including dry season school holidays thats usual clients disappear buy sex girls around 14 try make money break kenya steady supply adolescent girls need cash sex market seems thrive research shows theyre selling sex survive seeking minor luxuries modern life better pair jeans cooler cell phone none meeting according aluna teenage girls usually try keep sex work secret theyre hard reach thought time id met young sex workeryears ago volunteering street outreach ngo puerto rico maybe 13 drugged staggered toward us wanted something protect somehow instead handed sandwich easy sanitize sex work youre researching boston looking public health data analyzing trends person realitythat sizable number women girls selling access intimate body parts amount spend large latte homeunnerved way didnt expect wondered funders hiv prevention programsparticularly based offices far away hot spots kisumuwould react actually spent time sex workers historically example us government funded sex workerfocused projects serious reservations evidenced antiprostitution pledge ngos used agree received hivaidsrelated grants supreme court struck policy last summer would visiting aluna sex workers foster compassion less meeting wound women started talking ways sex work vocational training available partner ngo someone said woman swollen eye asked hushed voice might eligible kash officer asked old responded 23 unlike many women group would qualify age cap 24 found exhaling relieved thought deserved job didnt involve high risk getting raped kicked face viable way seemed many sex workers wanted aluna trying get loan start poultry farm sex workers would supply eggs chickens hotels rented rooms sold sex shame associated sex work remains even among women seem earn decent income kash aluna advocating rights respect sex workers desperately needbut also told didnt want real name record didnt want kids find one child wants pilot another artist anything aluna told wants finish schoolto maybe difficult truth sex work one public health researchers often gloss aluna empowered needs support family proud elizabeth daube freelance writer based new york city communications officer american jewish world service views expressed entirely us developing world shes worked journalist researchers nonprofit programs focused health gender violence poverty follow twitter lizdaube160 160
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<p>CASABLANCA, Morocco — On a dingy side street, the smiling landlord pronounced with historical certainty that one need look no further. The real inspiration for Rick’s Cafe in the classic film "Casablanca" stands before you.</p>
<p>“Yes,” said Abdeslamy Labiad, 70, gesturing to an oval sign above an arched doorway. “It’s the same bar.”</p>
<p>The sign was plastic, and smeared with bird scat. It said, “Rex Cabaret.”</p>
<p>Several saloons in this North African country have laid claim to the legacy of the great World War II movie romance, each with varying degrees of plausibility. Steered by locals or guidebooks promising the authentic Rick’s, tourists flock to one after the other. Sorting out which bar best imitates the real thing is complicated by the fact that, by all reliable accounts, no original existed in the first place.</p>
<p />
<p>Hearing this notion leaves Mr. Labiad — a fit, genial man who ran Rex Cabaret himself until 1980 — decidedly nonplussed. As does the small matter of the sign’s spelling.</p>
<p>“Yes, OK,” he allowed. Since the 1940s, “the big sign and the door — that’s been changed.”</p>
<p>The 1942 movie "Casablanca" was a Hollywood confection of the highest order. Filmed entirely on a sound stage, it contained zero location shots or actors of Moroccan descent. The airplane in the final sequence was a half-size wooden mockup; the studio cast midgets as mechanics to preserve the illusion of size. And the Moroccan saloon at the heart of the story is about as rooted in reality as the lounge aboard the Starship Enterprise.</p>
<p>According to Aljean Harmetz’s exhaustive book, “Round Up the Usual Suspects: The Making of Casablanca,” the film began its life as a play written by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison. In 1938, Burnett became committed to the anti-Nazi cause after a trip spent aiding Jewish relatives in occupied Vienna. Before coming home, Burnett passed an evening in a nightclub with a polyglot clientele where a black man played piano. There, he reportedly turned to his wife and said, “What a setting for a play.”</p>
<p>The nightclub was in the south of France.</p>
<p>In the play, "Everyone Comes to Rick’s," Burnett and Alison changed the location, and populated it with the hard-bitten saloon keeper, his lover and the like. After the play sold to Hollywood, Warner Brothers screenwriters changed the title.</p>
<p>If you believe the guidebooks, the real Moroccan center for World War II intrigue was the sun-splashed port of Tangiers, nearly 200 miles from Casablanca. Indeed, the Tangiers entry of the 2009 Lonely Planet Morocco promises “the anything-goes cynicism, the sense of personal fates enmeshed in political change, even the real model for Rick’s Cafe are all there, waiting to be rediscovered.”</p>
<p>That model, the guide says, was a bar called Caid’s, situated on the bottom floor of the upscale El Minzah hotel. On Caid’s patio on a recent afternoon, a lone tourist sipped a Casablanca brand beer with her Lonely Planet propped open on the table. A native New Zealander, Gillian Tidd, 60, last saw the movie 12 years ago, but she said it helped inspire her visit. “This is where I thought to come,” Tidd said. “For me that was absolutely the connection.”</p>
<p>Inside Caid’s, cafe-style tables were clustered around a piano whose tunes echoed off arched, vaulted ceilings reminiscent of the film. Behind the bar, a plain-spoken man in a white tux, Hassan Zghinou, 52, delivered a rather extreme version of the Rick's origin myth.</p>
<p>“The film Casablanca was made here,” Zghinou said confidently, pausing behind a row of rinsed glasses. “In Caid’s bar.”</p>
<p>Follow-up questions suggested Zghinou may not have seen the film, exactly. The story involved “the woman, the man, the piano player who was black,” he said, but after that the details got hazy. To bolster his case, he listed several of the hotel’s movie star guests, including Jean-Claude Van Damme.</p>
<p>El Minzah’s general manager, Hisham Al Jumaa, 62, told a more modest story. "Casablanca" was made in Hollywood, of course, but “the idea of the film started here,” he said, adding that he first learned this from producers for a German radio show. “They checked it and they proved it.”</p>
<p>How exactly, Al Jumaa wasn’t sure. “There is no document, nothing registered,” he said.</p>
<p>Al Jumaa, a busy man with a large hotel to run, said he was simply relaying what he’s been told. He made no claims of Casablanca expertise. Press Al Jumaa, and he’ll admit: his favorite movie is "Spartacus."</p>
<p>But the possibility that Rick’s Cafe was invented without reference to his hotel struck Al Jumaa as unlikely. “A writer needs to start with a little something real,” he said.</p>
<p>In the real city Casablanca, on the edge of the old medina, yet another bar bills itself as the true Rick’s — and spells the name correctly on the sign outside. Employees at this Rick’s had an unambiguous reaction to the claims of their Tangiers colleagues.</p>
<p>“Imposters,” said Mohamad Ladhem, 39, a waiter decked out on recent evening in a red fez and black tie. “That’s just a way of probably bringing in customers.”</p>
<p>Only five years old, this Rick’s Cafe was built by a former American diplomat, Kathy Kriger, inside a remodeled three-story Moroccan home. Like her cinematic counterpart, Kriger, lives upstairs from the place she runs. But her similarities with the Bogart character pretty much stop there.</p>
<p>“I never ran guns to Ethiopia,” said Kriger, 63, who spends days off with her small fuzzy dog, a 6-year-old Coton de Tulear named Pasha.</p>
<p>The only connection with the film Kriger claims for her place is that of homage. In case that’s lost on anyone, "Casablanca" plays continuously on a screen in an upstairs room.</p>
<p>The customers didn’t seem to mind that the restaurant had no link with the making of the film nor history dating to the war that inspired it. “So what?,” said Dave McGinnis, 49, from St. Charles, Ill., in a T-shirt that read Campus Rec Block Party 2008. “You’re in Casablanca and you’re at Rick’s. I mean that’s all you have to say.”</p>
<p>For McGinnis, the draw of the place and film were one and the same. “You want to escape,” he said. “Everyone wants to believe they would be brave enough to throw the beautiful girl away, go into the desert, fight the Germans and walk off into history.”</p>
<p>The scale of Kriger’s restaurant is more intimate than the sprawling cinematic Rick’s, but its decor pays scrupulous tribute to the film, from the arched ceilings, to the black-and-white tile, to the piano at the heart of it all.</p>
<p>Yet the piano player, Issam Chabaa, 43, offers a study in subverted expectations. A self-taught computer programmer with an affection for F. Scott Fitzgerald, Chabaa speaks a decidedly more schooled English than Sam, his aw-shucks movie counterpart.</p>
<p>Chabaa said his employer doesn’t truck in fakery — she serves a real clientele, who seek good music and good food. If occasionally customers refuse to let go of their preconceptions, well that’s just a minor hazard of the job.</p>
<p>“I remember once someone came to me and told me, ‘But you’re not black,’ ” he recalled. “I said, ‘I’m sorry to disappoint you. That’s the way it is.’ ”</p>
<p>Read more on Morocco:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/090611/morocco-local-elections-women-quota" type="external">Women in politics: A voice, or just a seat?</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/090604/moroccan-family-law-5-year-anniversary" type="external">Family law: Is Morocco a model for the Muslim world?</a></p>
<p>Read more on cafes around the world:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/japan/090406/tokyos-cat-cafes" type="external">Tokyo's cat cafes</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/chile/090407/want-legs-your-coffee" type="external">Chile: Want legs with your coffee?</a></p>
<p />
<p><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=morocco&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;hl=en&amp;ll=33.504759,-3.427734&amp;spn=12.81009,25.488281&amp;z=5&amp;source=embed" type="external">View Larger Map</a></p>
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casablanca morocco dingy side street smiling landlord pronounced historical certainty one need look real inspiration ricks cafe classic film casablanca stands yes said abdeslamy labiad 70 gesturing oval sign arched doorway bar sign plastic smeared bird scat said rex cabaret several saloons north african country laid claim legacy great world war ii movie romance varying degrees plausibility steered locals guidebooks promising authentic ricks tourists flock one sorting bar best imitates real thing complicated fact reliable accounts original existed first place hearing notion leaves mr labiad fit genial man ran rex cabaret 1980 decidedly nonplussed small matter signs spelling yes ok allowed since 1940s big sign door thats changed 1942 movie casablanca hollywood confection highest order filmed entirely sound stage contained zero location shots actors moroccan descent airplane final sequence halfsize wooden mockup studio cast midgets mechanics preserve illusion size moroccan saloon heart story rooted reality lounge aboard starship enterprise according aljean harmetzs exhaustive book round usual suspects making casablanca film began life play written murray burnett joan alison 1938 burnett became committed antinazi cause trip spent aiding jewish relatives occupied vienna coming home burnett passed evening nightclub polyglot clientele black man played piano reportedly turned wife said setting play nightclub south france play everyone comes ricks burnett alison changed location populated hardbitten saloon keeper lover like play sold hollywood warner brothers screenwriters changed title believe guidebooks real moroccan center world war ii intrigue sunsplashed port tangiers nearly 200 miles casablanca indeed tangiers entry 2009 lonely planet morocco promises anythinggoes cynicism sense personal fates enmeshed political change even real model ricks cafe waiting rediscovered model guide says bar called caids situated bottom floor upscale el minzah hotel caids patio recent afternoon lone tourist sipped casablanca brand beer lonely planet propped open table native new zealander gillian tidd 60 last saw movie 12 years ago said helped inspire visit thought come tidd said absolutely connection inside caids cafestyle tables clustered around piano whose tunes echoed arched vaulted ceilings reminiscent film behind bar plainspoken man white tux hassan zghinou 52 delivered rather extreme version ricks origin myth film casablanca made zghinou said confidently pausing behind row rinsed glasses caids bar followup questions suggested zghinou may seen film exactly story involved woman man piano player black said details got hazy bolster case listed several hotels movie star guests including jeanclaude van damme el minzahs general manager hisham al jumaa 62 told modest story casablanca made hollywood course idea film started said adding first learned producers german radio show checked proved exactly al jumaa wasnt sure document nothing registered said al jumaa busy man large hotel run said simply relaying hes told made claims casablanca expertise press al jumaa hell admit favorite movie spartacus possibility ricks cafe invented without reference hotel struck al jumaa unlikely writer needs start little something real said real city casablanca edge old medina yet another bar bills true ricks spells name correctly sign outside employees ricks unambiguous reaction claims tangiers colleagues imposters said mohamad ladhem 39 waiter decked recent evening red fez black tie thats way probably bringing customers five years old ricks cafe built former american diplomat kathy kriger inside remodeled threestory moroccan home like cinematic counterpart kriger lives upstairs place runs similarities bogart character pretty much stop never ran guns ethiopia said kriger 63 spends days small fuzzy dog 6yearold coton de tulear named pasha connection film kriger claims place homage case thats lost anyone casablanca plays continuously screen upstairs room customers didnt seem mind restaurant link making film history dating war inspired said dave mcginnis 49 st charles ill tshirt read campus rec block party 2008 youre casablanca youre ricks mean thats say mcginnis draw place film one want escape said everyone wants believe would brave enough throw beautiful girl away go desert fight germans walk history scale krigers restaurant intimate sprawling cinematic ricks decor pays scrupulous tribute film arched ceilings blackandwhite tile piano heart yet piano player issam chabaa 43 offers study subverted expectations selftaught computer programmer affection f scott fitzgerald chabaa speaks decidedly schooled english sam awshucks movie counterpart chabaa said employer doesnt truck fakery serves real clientele seek good music good food occasionally customers refuse let go preconceptions well thats minor hazard job remember someone came told youre black recalled said im sorry disappoint thats way read morocco women politics voice seat family law morocco model muslim world read cafes around world tokyos cat cafes chile want legs coffee view larger map
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<p>c. 2012 Salt Lake Tribune&#160;</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (RNS) — When Switzerland passed new employment rules that ban foreign religious groups from sending unpaid missionaries, 13 Mormon members of Congress pleaded with the Swiss ambassador for an exception.</p>
<p>The Swiss ambassador sent a respectful, yet perfunctory, letter in response, and while some meetings took place, the rules went forward. Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican and a Mormon, called it "very disappointing."</p>
<p>But for some, the fact that Mormon lawmakers waged the battle at all is troubling, and they point to it as evidence that if elected president, Mitt Romney may use his post to promote his faith and protect its interests.</p>
<p>"I think it is a very serious problem that would arise if he is president," said Fred Karger, a gay rights activist from California who is running a fringe campaign for the Republican nomination.</p>
<p>He argues top officials at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints coordinated the letter to the Swiss ambassador, and says it shows the influence the faith's First Presidency can wield simply by picking up a phone. That influence could grow greatly if, instead of calling senators, those church leaders could call the White House.</p>
<p>"How can a President Romney turn down a call from the First Presidency?" Karger asked. "He has been an obedient, faithful Mormon his whole life; he won't just disregard it. I think the separation of church and state is designed to prevent exactly that."</p>
<p>Mormon lawmakers and scholars say there is nothing illegal, unethical or untoward about the LDS Church petitioning its government for help on such matters. Still, they recognize that a Mormon in the White House would bring new levels of scrutiny from Republicans uneasy about the faith, and from Democrats concerned about its conservative political posture.</p>
<p>"In the event that Romney were elected president, both sides would be anxiously looking for any signs that he was promoting his faith or doing the bidding of the LDS hierarchy," said Grant Hardy, a history and religious studies professor at the University of North Carolina-Asheville.</p>
<p>Hardy, a Mormon, expects a Romney administration would be reluctant to nominate Mormons to top government positions or to invite too many to participate in White House events. And while most would expect him to work with prominent Mormons in Washington, such as Hatch, his interactions with Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is also Mormon, would likely draw extra attention.</p>
<p>"Any reaching out to Harry Reid would be carefully scrutinized for indications of putting religious ties above party loyalty," Hardy predicted.</p>
<p>Romney's campaign did not respond to a request for comment, but the former governor of Massachusetts talked extensively about the intersection of his faith and politics in a 2007 interview with The Salt Lake Tribune.</p>
<p>"I don't try and distance myself in any way, shape or form from my faith, but my church doesn't dictate to me or anyone what political policies we should pursue," Romney said during his first run for the White House. "There has never been a time in my four years as governor, that anyone from my church called me or contacted me and asked me to take a position on an issue."</p>
<p>Alice Ross of Butler, Pa., is a Republican voter who says she won't support a Mormon presidential candidate, in part because she distrusts the top-down and tightknit structure of the worldwide faith.</p>
<p>"They are a very strong movement in America," she said. "The president would make decisions based on his Mormon beliefs, and that would not be good."</p>
<p>Ross participated in a Salt Lake Tribune national poll commissioned in mid-December that showed 60 percent of likely voters would be comfortable voting for a Mormon presidential candidate, but 26 percent were uncomfortable to some degree; 14 percent said they didn't know.</p>
<p>The survey asked the people who were uncomfortable with a Mormon candidate to explain why. The most common responses were polygamy, concerns the faith isn't Christian and that its members were too conservative.</p>
<p>Karger's constant jabs at Mormons stem from his involvement in California's Proposition 8 fight on gay marriage. As an activist, Karger was upset at the faith's hefty financial involvement in the 2008 ballot measure. He has since worked to highlight Mormon donors, leading to boycotts of their businesses.</p>
<p>Romney backers, including Hatch, say critics should examine Romney's tenure as governor, where he enforced abortion laws that he disagreed with and, while he fought against gay marriage, he didn't stand in the way of any same-sex unions after the state Supreme Court deemed them legal.</p>
<p>"Anybody who thinks Mitt Romney is governed by church leaders is just plain wrong," said Hatch, who said Mormon authorities don't pressure elected officials. "Give me a break. I've served in the Senate for 35 years now. I never had any leader in the LDS Church tell me what I've had to do. Never once."</p>
<p>Former Utah Sen. Bob Bennett, who is Mormon and a Romney supporter, said it shouldn't shock anyone that the LDS Church asks national politicians for help on occasion.</p>
<p>"Quite naturally any organization of that size is going to have issues requiring contact with their elected officials," he said.</p>
<p>Bennett said it wasn't uncommon for him to speak with foreign officials in places like Russia and Ecuador on matters involving missionaries or LDS land disputes. He predicted the LDS Church would be more hesitant to weigh in on a political issue if Romney was in the White House.</p>
<p>"I think the brethren would be sensitive to the fact they were dealing with a Mormon, and Mitt would be sensitive to the fact he would not want to subject the church to criticism," he said.</p>
<p>Hardy, the history professor, said he expects that gay rights and immigration are the two hot-button issues most likely to put Romney and the LDS Church in a bind.</p>
<p>Romney, in his 2007 interview with the Tribune, cited one example of taking a position that ran contrary to that of the church: legislation that would allow the sale of alcohol on Sundays in Massachusetts.</p>
<p>"I signed it," Romney said. "I believe that in our state allowing the sale of alcohol on Sunday is good for the consumer and therefore I didn't oppose it. That isn't saying that I disagree with my church. I simply did what I thought was in the best interest of the state, which I was elected to serve."</p>
<p>Matt Canham writes for The Salt Lake Tribune.</p>
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c 2012 salt lake tribune160 washington rns switzerland passed new employment rules ban foreign religious groups sending unpaid missionaries 13 mormon members congress pleaded swiss ambassador exception swiss ambassador sent respectful yet perfunctory letter response meetings took place rules went forward sen orrin hatch utah republican mormon called disappointing fact mormon lawmakers waged battle troubling point evidence elected president mitt romney may use post promote faith protect interests think serious problem would arise president said fred karger gay rights activist california running fringe campaign republican nomination argues top officials church jesus christ latterday saints coordinated letter swiss ambassador says shows influence faiths first presidency wield simply picking phone influence could grow greatly instead calling senators church leaders could call white house president romney turn call first presidency karger asked obedient faithful mormon whole life wont disregard think separation church state designed prevent exactly mormon lawmakers scholars say nothing illegal unethical untoward lds church petitioning government help matters still recognize mormon white house would bring new levels scrutiny republicans uneasy faith democrats concerned conservative political posture event romney elected president sides would anxiously looking signs promoting faith bidding lds hierarchy said grant hardy history religious studies professor university north carolinaasheville hardy mormon expects romney administration would reluctant nominate mormons top government positions invite many participate white house events would expect work prominent mormons washington hatch interactions democratic senate majority leader harry reid also mormon would likely draw extra attention reaching harry reid would carefully scrutinized indications putting religious ties party loyalty hardy predicted romneys campaign respond request comment former governor massachusetts talked extensively intersection faith politics 2007 interview salt lake tribune dont try distance way shape form faith church doesnt dictate anyone political policies pursue romney said first run white house never time four years governor anyone church called contacted asked take position issue alice ross butler pa republican voter says wont support mormon presidential candidate part distrusts topdown tightknit structure worldwide faith strong movement america said president would make decisions based mormon beliefs would good ross participated salt lake tribune national poll commissioned middecember showed 60 percent likely voters would comfortable voting mormon presidential candidate 26 percent uncomfortable degree 14 percent said didnt know survey asked people uncomfortable mormon candidate explain common responses polygamy concerns faith isnt christian members conservative kargers constant jabs mormons stem involvement californias proposition 8 fight gay marriage activist karger upset faiths hefty financial involvement 2008 ballot measure since worked highlight mormon donors leading boycotts businesses romney backers including hatch say critics examine romneys tenure governor enforced abortion laws disagreed fought gay marriage didnt stand way samesex unions state supreme court deemed legal anybody thinks mitt romney governed church leaders plain wrong said hatch said mormon authorities dont pressure elected officials give break ive served senate 35 years never leader lds church tell ive never former utah sen bob bennett mormon romney supporter said shouldnt shock anyone lds church asks national politicians help occasion quite naturally organization size going issues requiring contact elected officials said bennett said wasnt uncommon speak foreign officials places like russia ecuador matters involving missionaries lds land disputes predicted lds church would hesitant weigh political issue romney white house think brethren would sensitive fact dealing mormon mitt would sensitive fact would want subject church criticism said hardy history professor said expects gay rights immigration two hotbutton issues likely put romney lds church bind romney 2007 interview tribune cited one example taking position ran contrary church legislation would allow sale alcohol sundays massachusetts signed romney said believe state allowing sale alcohol sunday good consumer therefore didnt oppose isnt saying disagree church simply thought best interest state elected serve matt canham writes salt lake tribune
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<p>Though the promise of US immigration reform largely reverberates throughout <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/130129/immigration-reform-latin-america-mexico-brazil" type="external">the Americas</a>, the proposed overhaul could also have a major effect on Asia. After all, now <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/120619/asians-surpass-hispanics-largest-wave-new-immigr" type="external">Asians are the fastest-growing immigrant group</a> in the United States.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/politics/bipartisan-framework-for-immigration-reform-report/27/b" type="external">bipartisan plan</a> that eight senators pitched this week remains rough around the edges. But the talk is that it will&#160;include more than double the number of visas offered to highly skilled workers, as well as increased efforts at border patrol.</p>
<p>Find out just how the Philippine economy could get a boost, precisely why India's tech sector stands to gain, and the surprising reason why one North Korean defector thinks US immigration reform is just plain great.&#160;</p>
<p>Philippines</p>
<p>According to the Department of Homeland Security, only Mexico, El Salvador and Guatemala send more undocumented immigrants to the US than the Philippines.</p>
<p>For the most part, the former US colony is the sole Southeast Asian nation that continues to see mass migration toward America. Most come to work low-wage jobs and send money back home.</p>
<p>The proposed laws, which would limit deportation of many undocumented immigrants younger than 30, are cautiously embraced by several Filipino rights groups. The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns called the plan "short-term relief" and pushed the White House to offer more stable paths to residency.</p>
<p>The overhaul could also have ripple effects on the Philippine economy. According to US government figures from 2008, roughly 300,000 undocumented Filipinos reside in the US. Filipinos in America — with and without papers — send a whopping $6 billion home each year, according to the Central Bank of the Philippines. More Filipinos working on the books could improve their employment prospects, their pay and, ultimately, up the flow of cash sent back to their families in the Philippines.</p>
<p>— Patrick Winn in Bangkok</p>
<p>China</p>
<p>The Chinese response to Congress’ proposals for immigration reform has been equal parts pragmatic and skeptical.</p>
<p>On the one hand, many admired the ideal of an inclusive society. "Tolerant and open countries hold the future," wrote one user on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. "People create wealth, it is the country’s most valuable resource.”</p>
<p>Others were a bit more shrewd, even cynical, about the political incentives for politicians to embrace such a huge population.</p>
<p>“It's sickening, the 11 million potential votes of illegal immigrants is all the Democrats want,” said another, voicing a surprisingly common sentiment.</p>
<p>The piece of policy with the biggest potential impact on China — the proposed increase of visas for high-skilled workers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) — was also greeted with some caution.</p>
<p>While some celebrated the improving prospects of immigration to the US, others were dubious it would add up to much.</p>
<p>“There has always been a delusion about Obama’s immigration reform, believing that he will open the floodgates to STEM students,” wrote one user. “In fact, illegal immigrants have always been the top priority. There are over 10 million illegal immigrants who for welfare reasons will vote Democratic. There are 10,000 STEM students, which isn’t remotely the same order of magnitude. This is the reality of the one-man one-vote system. STEM reform is merely on the table, nothing more.”</p>
<p>— Benjamin Carlson in Hong Kong</p>
<p>India</p>
<p>US immigration reform that would dramatically increase the number of visas for highly skilled foreign workers could be hugely beneficial to India's software and IT services industry.</p>
<p>Currently, India's software and IT sector accounts for nearly 15 percent of the H1-B visas, as they are technically called, issued by the US government, according to Ameet Nivsarkar, vice president of global trade at India's National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom).</p>
<p>“We are not really as an industry concerned about permanent immigration and the right to settle in the US,” said Nivsarkar. “We are concerned about the ability of our companies to deliver on the contracts they have signed up for.”</p>
<p>“The services trade is closely linked to the individual delivering the service,” Nivsarkar said. “Typically what happens [for] a customized product or application is that a lot of the development work happens at the development center in India. But the deployment and testing and everything must be done where the customer is. And it's important the person who worked on the development does the testing.”</p>
<p>Currently, the US government issues only 65,000 H1-B visas a year, though the demand is so high that the quota is used up in the first few weeks. If the proposed bill passes, the regular quota would increase to 115,000 visas, with room for a further increase to 300,000 visas depending on economic demands.</p>
<p>The new reforms would also exempt foreigners who earn advanced US degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics from the quota.</p>
<p>— Jason Overdorf in New Delhi</p>
<p>North Korea</p>
<p>A former law professor at a North Korean university, now living as a refugee in Seoul, compared immigration issues in the US with the problems facing North Korean defectors in China.</p>
<p>Ever since the end of the Korean War, some 100,000 North Korean citizens — by conservative estimates — have crossed the border into China, escaping poverty and political persecution.</p>
<p>But China has a policy of repatriating North Korean defectors because it recognizes them as “economic migrants” and therefore not refugees under the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention, to which China is a signatory. He said that returned North Koreans usually serve a three-month prison sentence, but even though that’s a short period, the cramped conditions and torture make it hell.</p>
<p>“The Chinese officials say the situation is like the Mexico-US border, and that America should not interfere in this internal matter. The US, they say, sends those people home too,” said the teacher, who asked not to be named fearing retribution against his family in the North. “This is not all true. North Korean refugees should legally, under international law, be considered refugees and granted asylum in China. This is because they all have a legitimate fear of persecution should they return.”</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/china/120717/sea-turtles-haigui-overseas-educated-return-home" type="external">How China's "sea turtles" will crush the US economy</a></p>
<p>“But Mexican migrants? The government celebrates and even encourages them to go to America, because they send money home. No political persecution there.”</p>
<p>The point? “Immigration reform is great. It only gives less fodder to the Chinese and North Korean dictators who try to deflect attention away from themselves. They justify their bad behavior by pointing to American problems.”</p>
<p>— Geoffrey Cain in Seoul</p>
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though promise us immigration reform largely reverberates throughout americas proposed overhaul could also major effect asia asians fastestgrowing immigrant group united states bipartisan plan eight senators pitched week remains rough around edges talk will160include double number visas offered highly skilled workers well increased efforts border patrol find philippine economy could get boost precisely indias tech sector stands gain surprising reason one north korean defector thinks us immigration reform plain great160 philippines according department homeland security mexico el salvador guatemala send undocumented immigrants us philippines part former us colony sole southeast asian nation continues see mass migration toward america come work lowwage jobs send money back home proposed laws would limit deportation many undocumented immigrants younger 30 cautiously embraced several filipino rights groups national alliance filipino concerns called plan shortterm relief pushed white house offer stable paths residency overhaul could also ripple effects philippine economy according us government figures 2008 roughly 300000 undocumented filipinos reside us filipinos america without papers send whopping 6 billion home year according central bank philippines filipinos working books could improve employment prospects pay ultimately flow cash sent back families philippines patrick winn bangkok china chinese response congress proposals immigration reform equal parts pragmatic skeptical one hand many admired ideal inclusive society tolerant open countries hold future wrote one user weibo chinas version twitter people create wealth countrys valuable resource others bit shrewd even cynical political incentives politicians embrace huge population sickening 11 million potential votes illegal immigrants democrats want said another voicing surprisingly common sentiment piece policy biggest potential impact china proposed increase visas highskilled workers science technology engineering mathematics stem also greeted caution celebrated improving prospects immigration us others dubious would add much always delusion obamas immigration reform believing open floodgates stem students wrote one user fact illegal immigrants always top priority 10 million illegal immigrants welfare reasons vote democratic 10000 stem students isnt remotely order magnitude reality oneman onevote system stem reform merely table nothing benjamin carlson hong kong india us immigration reform would dramatically increase number visas highly skilled foreign workers could hugely beneficial indias software services industry currently indias software sector accounts nearly 15 percent h1b visas technically called issued us government according ameet nivsarkar vice president global trade indias national association software services companies nasscom really industry concerned permanent immigration right settle us said nivsarkar concerned ability companies deliver contracts signed services trade closely linked individual delivering service nivsarkar said typically happens customized product application lot development work happens development center india deployment testing everything must done customer important person worked development testing currently us government issues 65000 h1b visas year though demand high quota used first weeks proposed bill passes regular quota would increase 115000 visas room increase 300000 visas depending economic demands new reforms would also exempt foreigners earn advanced us degrees science technology engineering mathematics quota jason overdorf new delhi north korea former law professor north korean university living refugee seoul compared immigration issues us problems facing north korean defectors china ever since end korean war 100000 north korean citizens conservative estimates crossed border china escaping poverty political persecution china policy repatriating north korean defectors recognizes economic migrants therefore refugees 1951 united nations refugee convention china signatory said returned north koreans usually serve threemonth prison sentence even though thats short period cramped conditions torture make hell chinese officials say situation like mexicous border america interfere internal matter us say sends people home said teacher asked named fearing retribution family north true north korean refugees legally international law considered refugees granted asylum china legitimate fear persecution return globalpost chinas sea turtles crush us economy mexican migrants government celebrates even encourages go america send money home political persecution point immigration reform great gives less fodder chinese north korean dictators try deflect attention away justify bad behavior pointing american problems geoffrey cain seoul
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<p>Fish have long been hailed for their remarkable nutritional value: once upon a time kids were forced to swallow cod liver oil, because it was considered “brain food.” Today, doctors say that switching from red meat to seafood can lower the risk of heart disease and cancer in humans. Unfortunately, we’ve overdone it at the big seafood buffet: industrial fishing and bad management are making it increasingly hard to eat seafood sustainably.</p>
<p>In his new book <a href="http://theperfectprotein.org" type="external">The Perfect Protein</a>, Andy Sharpless, CEO of the advocacy organization <a href="http://oceana.org" type="external">Oceana</a>, argues that we can protect this healthy food source and feed our growing population for years to come, if only we manage our fisheries better. He even has some great recipe ideas in the book, to help drive home his optimistic message.</p>
<p>The book’s central idea is built on a paradox: it advocates saving fish so we can eat more of them. “It does seem kind of counterintuitive, doesn’t it?” Sharpless laughs.</p>
<p>The logic of saving our fish populations so that we can eat more of them is the same logic one brings to saving money in a bank account or investing in the stock market, Sharpless says. We save or invest our money for the purpose of eventually spending what we make, either from interest or dividends. But by overfishing we have eaten into the capital (no pun intended), which is never a good idea.</p>
<p>“The problem is, we love [seafood] so much that we have, in a very short-sighted way, depleted the ocean bank account, so that the ‘interest,’ if you will, that an abundant ocean could provide is no longer big enough to feed the mouths that want to eat it,” Sharpless explains.</p>
<p>But better management can increase the productivity of the ocean quite rapidly — within five or 10 years, Sharpless insists. “If we stop overfishing, we can rebuild the bank account in the ocean and see a sustainable level of return each year.” In fact, he says, if a relatively short list of countries do a good job of managing their oceans, we could see an improvement on the order of 20 to 40 percent in the total world catch from the previous peak in the late 1980s — and have that food source available for people to eat forever.</p>
<p>Sharpless has three basic rules for good fisheries management: 1) Set and enforce scientific quotas; 2) Protect the nursery habitat, so small fish can grow to reach reproduction age; 3) Manage the accidental killing of non-target species, called <a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/bycatch" type="external">bycatch</a>. “If we do those three things, we will increase ocean abundance, we will increase spawning stock, and we will have more fish — typically in a five or 10 year period,” Sharpless says.</p>
<p>But increasing the seafood supply isn’t just about following these three rules or placing tighter controls on industrial scale fishing, which Sharpless says is the biggest threat to the world’s fisheries. It isn’t even about eating less seafood. Rather we need to think about eating seafood differently.</p>
<p>Eating farmed fish, for example, seems like it should be part of the solution: “If you’re eating a farmed fish, after all, you’re not eating a wild fish; and if the wild fisheries need some space to rebuild, let’s all go eat farmed fish,” Sharpless says. “That’s an intuitive, but in some cases wrong logic.”</p>
<p>There are several categories of farmed fish, he explains.&#160;The problematic ones are farmed fish that eat other fish. A common example is salmon. Farmed salmon eat wild fish: the salmon farmers feed their stock wild fish that have been ground into little pellets that look like dog food. In the process, Sharpless says, fish farmers convert four or five pounds of wild fish into one pound of farmed fish, resulting in an overall reduction of the wild fish population.</p>
<p>At the “good” end of fish farming are shellfish: mussels, clams and oysters. “This is something about which we are extremely enthusiastic, and people ought to eat as much of those good-tasting things as they can stomach,” Sharpless says.</p>
<p>Think about how they grow, he points out. “They grow by filtering the water…They are eating things that we don’t want to eat. An oyster farmer is that rarest of things in the world: a profit-making enterprise who is providing jobs [and] who wants — indeed must have — a clean ocean, and therefore is an ally in the battle against pollution.”</p>
<p>Sharpless likes to suggest four or five, simple rules for eating seafood: 1) eat wild; 2) eat smaller species; 3) eat local or domestic; 4) eat all the oysters, clams and mussels that you can; and 5) swear off shrimp.</p>
<p>“There’s no way to eat a shrimp and feel good about what you’re doing for the future,” Sharpless says. “Wild shrimp are caught in a process that produces very high levels of bycatch. And shrimp are farmed in shallow pens, typically in tropical countries, that are often managed in a very short-sighted way and end up wrecking and contaminating coastal zones.”</p>
<p>Still, Sharpless sees hope. “One of the wonderful things about fish is they are an incredibly powerful and robust part of nature,” he says. “If we will give them a little bit of room, they will rebound.”</p>
<p>And it's not like&#160;having&#160;to wait a hundred years for the rainforest to grow back, he adds. &#160;“You can in our lifetimes go out into the ocean and see that there are more fish out there, that we can raise our catch levels, that we can give people more jobs, and that people can eat a lot of this healthy and wonderful protein.”</p>
<p>This story is based&#160;on an <a href="http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.html?programID=15-P13-00005&amp;segmentID=4" type="external">interview</a> that aired on PRI's <a href="http://www.loe.org/index.html" type="external">Living on Earth</a> with Steve Curwood</p>
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fish long hailed remarkable nutritional value upon time kids forced swallow cod liver oil considered brain food today doctors say switching red meat seafood lower risk heart disease cancer humans unfortunately weve overdone big seafood buffet industrial fishing bad management making increasingly hard eat seafood sustainably new book perfect protein andy sharpless ceo advocacy organization oceana argues protect healthy food source feed growing population years come manage fisheries better even great recipe ideas book help drive home optimistic message books central idea built paradox advocates saving fish eat seem kind counterintuitive doesnt sharpless laughs logic saving fish populations eat logic one brings saving money bank account investing stock market sharpless says save invest money purpose eventually spending make either interest dividends overfishing eaten capital pun intended never good idea problem love seafood much shortsighted way depleted ocean bank account interest abundant ocean could provide longer big enough feed mouths want eat sharpless explains better management increase productivity ocean quite rapidly within five 10 years sharpless insists stop overfishing rebuild bank account ocean see sustainable level return year fact says relatively short list countries good job managing oceans could see improvement order 20 40 percent total world catch previous peak late 1980s food source available people eat forever sharpless three basic rules good fisheries management 1 set enforce scientific quotas 2 protect nursery habitat small fish grow reach reproduction age 3 manage accidental killing nontarget species called bycatch three things increase ocean abundance increase spawning stock fish typically five 10 year period sharpless says increasing seafood supply isnt following three rules placing tighter controls industrial scale fishing sharpless says biggest threat worlds fisheries isnt even eating less seafood rather need think eating seafood differently eating farmed fish example seems like part solution youre eating farmed fish youre eating wild fish wild fisheries need space rebuild lets go eat farmed fish sharpless says thats intuitive cases wrong logic several categories farmed fish explains160the problematic ones farmed fish eat fish common example salmon farmed salmon eat wild fish salmon farmers feed stock wild fish ground little pellets look like dog food process sharpless says fish farmers convert four five pounds wild fish one pound farmed fish resulting overall reduction wild fish population good end fish farming shellfish mussels clams oysters something extremely enthusiastic people ought eat much goodtasting things stomach sharpless says think grow points grow filtering waterthey eating things dont want eat oyster farmer rarest things world profitmaking enterprise providing jobs wants indeed must clean ocean therefore ally battle pollution sharpless likes suggest four five simple rules eating seafood 1 eat wild 2 eat smaller species 3 eat local domestic 4 eat oysters clams mussels 5 swear shrimp theres way eat shrimp feel good youre future sharpless says wild shrimp caught process produces high levels bycatch shrimp farmed shallow pens typically tropical countries often managed shortsighted way end wrecking contaminating coastal zones still sharpless sees hope one wonderful things fish incredibly powerful robust part nature says give little bit room rebound like160having160to wait hundred years rainforest grow back adds 160you lifetimes go ocean see fish raise catch levels give people jobs people eat lot healthy wonderful protein story based160on interview aired pris living earth steve curwood
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<p>NAIROBI, Kenya — Few countries have invested as much goodwill and diplomatic energy in the birth of South Sudan as the United States. And few presidents have tied their legacies more tightly to the fledgling nation than George W. Bush, for whom the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended 22-years of civil war and paved the way for independence was the signal foreign policy success of his administration.</p>
<p>But now the country is descending into chaos, ignoring Washington’s pleas for peace and forcing three administrations’ worth of diplomats and activists to wonder whether they misjudged the Sudanese situation all along.</p>
<p>It has been over a month since a political dispute erupted in gun battles in the capital Juba: On Dec. 15, forces loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar were accused of an attempted coup against President Salva Kiir. Since then nearly half a million people have been forced to flee their homes and some estimates say that as many as 10,000 may have been killed. The fighting threatens to tip the country into all-out civil war as political differences are settled along tribal lines.</p>
<p>The leverage Washington thought it had in the region is proving useless. This week Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield told a congressional hearing that “an all-out effort” was being made to end the crisis that began in mid-December. Yet nothing has so far been achieved: no cease-fire, no progress at peace talks in Addis Ababa, no humanitarian corridors in the warzones, no end to the killing, misery and ethnic cleansing.</p>
<p>Watching the country tear itself apart is “devastating,” said Cameron Hudson, a former director for African affairs at the National Security Council who was involved in the CPA negotiations.</p>
<p>Washington’s apparent impotence in the new conflict also raises the question of how much influence the US had in Sudan to begin with. “I was at the White House during the Bush administration doing Sudan and there were many moments where we counseled them to do one thing and they did another,” said Hudson, who feels American control over the region has long been overstated.</p>
<p>In 2007 South Sudan’s leaders ignored US advice and withdrew from the government of national unity. In 2010 it went ahead and bought a shipment of T72 tanks from a Ukrainian arms dealer and in 2012 it attacked the disputed Heglig oil field in the border zone between north and south.</p>
<p>The US has been losing South Sudan for years. The turning point, said Hudson, was independence in 2011, after which US dollars were less powerful because the south had a fair share of oil revenues, and US influence was less important as a bulwark against the machinations of Khartoum in seeking to undermine southern independence.</p>
<p>Feeling disappointed and betrayed by the behavior of the South’s top leadership, many American stalwarts of the South Sudanese project are now questioning their own strategy over the past two decades.</p>
<p>“For a generation of leaders and activists there’s a concern that our closeness and our sympathy got in the way of giving [South Sudan] the tough love that has been required for a long time,” Hudson said.</p>
<p>Ed Royce, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, <a href="http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/hearing-south-sudan-s-broken-promise" type="external">opened</a> this week’s hearing on South Sudan calling the fighting “infuriating.” He warned that the long US involvement “and diplomatic success may have skewed the judgment of the US government.”</p>
<p>The depth of American dismay became clear last summer when some of South Sudan’s oldest and closest US friends wrote an <a href="http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/11953/Letter-To-President-Kiir-From-Long-time-Friends-of-South-Sudan.aspx" type="external">open letter</a> to Kiir ahead of the second independence anniversary, expressing their deep disappointment with the direction things were headed.</p>
<p>Ted Dagne, John Prendergast, Eric Reeves and Roger Winter, all influential lobbyists for South Sudan, wrote in anguished tones that they had “committed more than two decades of our lives to the great cause of a just peace for the people of South Sudan.”</p>
<p>They compared the South Sudanese security forces’ ethnic pogroms, rape, and murder to similar crimes committed by the old enemy, Khartoum. “We cannot turn a blind eye when yesterday’s victims become today’s perpetrators,” they wrote, warning of corruption in the new country as well.</p>
<p>This heartfelt letter, sent by some of South Sudan’s most long-standing and influential friends in Washington — who had made the case for the country before it existed, who had formed the core of a powerful lobby group <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/07/11/us-south-sudan-midwives-idUSBRE86A0GC20120711" type="external">nicknamed</a>&#160;the “midwives” for its role in South Sudan’s birth — had zero impact.</p>
<p>Rather than address these concerns Kiir <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/130725/south-sudan-president-salva-kiir-cabinet" type="external">fired</a>&#160;his then-deputy Machar just a few weeks later, setting the stage for December’s explosion.</p>
<p>During a recent Senate hearing Princeton Lyman, a former US special envoy for the Sudans, <a href="http://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/010914am" type="external">made</a> a tacit admission that the US-South Sudan relationship was frayed. “A new partnership between South Sudan and the international community must now be forged to preserve all that has been invested in this new nation,” said Lyman.</p>
<p>Last week in Nairobi the Rift Valley Institute think tank <a href="http://www.riftvalley.net/event/south-sudan-peace-possible#.Utjg2fZu2Eg" type="external">brought together</a> members of South Sudan’s civil society to discuss the chances for peace. Many spoke of the need to address the underlying issues and not simply patch together another short-term political deal.</p>
<p>“If you don’t pay attention to the complex social, political, military and security issues then any kind of deal will simply be a way of deferring violence until another trigger comes and the country will blow up as it has now,” said Jok Maduk Jok, co-founder of the Juba-based Sudd Institute.</p>
<p>But there was also a widely expressed hope that the eruption of violence can be turned into an opportunity to remake South Sudan. “There’s a need to approach these peace talks in a holistic manner, to go beyond what is happening in Addis to engage those people most affected by the conflict because these leaders are not affected,” said David Deng, director of research at the South Sudan Law Society.</p>
<p>Hudson does not share such optimism. “The talks are a complete sideshow. Talks for what? A power-sharing government is what we had,” he said. “This is going to be won on the battlefield.”</p>
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nairobi kenya countries invested much goodwill diplomatic energy birth south sudan united states presidents tied legacies tightly fledgling nation george w bush 2005 comprehensive peace agreement cpa ended 22years civil war paved way independence signal foreign policy success administration country descending chaos ignoring washingtons pleas peace forcing three administrations worth diplomats activists wonder whether misjudged sudanese situation along month since political dispute erupted gun battles capital juba dec 15 forces loyal former vice president riek machar accused attempted coup president salva kiir since nearly half million people forced flee homes estimates say many 10000 may killed fighting threatens tip country allout civil war political differences settled along tribal lines leverage washington thought region proving useless week assistant secretary state african affairs linda thomasgreenfield told congressional hearing allout effort made end crisis began middecember yet nothing far achieved ceasefire progress peace talks addis ababa humanitarian corridors warzones end killing misery ethnic cleansing watching country tear apart devastating said cameron hudson former director african affairs national security council involved cpa negotiations washingtons apparent impotence new conflict also raises question much influence us sudan begin white house bush administration sudan many moments counseled one thing another said hudson feels american control region long overstated 2007 south sudans leaders ignored us advice withdrew government national unity 2010 went ahead bought shipment t72 tanks ukrainian arms dealer 2012 attacked disputed heglig oil field border zone north south us losing south sudan years turning point said hudson independence 2011 us dollars less powerful south fair share oil revenues us influence less important bulwark machinations khartoum seeking undermine southern independence feeling disappointed betrayed behavior souths top leadership many american stalwarts south sudanese project questioning strategy past two decades generation leaders activists theres concern closeness sympathy got way giving south sudan tough love required long time hudson said ed royce chairman house committee foreign affairs opened weeks hearing south sudan calling fighting infuriating warned long us involvement diplomatic success may skewed judgment us government depth american dismay became clear last summer south sudans oldest closest us friends wrote open letter kiir ahead second independence anniversary expressing deep disappointment direction things headed ted dagne john prendergast eric reeves roger winter influential lobbyists south sudan wrote anguished tones committed two decades lives great cause peace people south sudan compared south sudanese security forces ethnic pogroms rape murder similar crimes committed old enemy khartoum turn blind eye yesterdays victims become todays perpetrators wrote warning corruption new country well heartfelt letter sent south sudans longstanding influential friends washington made case country existed formed core powerful lobby group nicknamed160the midwives role south sudans birth zero impact rather address concerns kiir fired160his thendeputy machar weeks later setting stage decembers explosion recent senate hearing princeton lyman former us special envoy sudans made tacit admission ussouth sudan relationship frayed new partnership south sudan international community must forged preserve invested new nation said lyman last week nairobi rift valley institute think tank brought together members south sudans civil society discuss chances peace many spoke need address underlying issues simply patch together another shortterm political deal dont pay attention complex social political military security issues kind deal simply way deferring violence another trigger comes country blow said jok maduk jok cofounder jubabased sudd institute also widely expressed hope eruption violence turned opportunity remake south sudan theres need approach peace talks holistic manner go beyond happening addis engage people affected conflict leaders affected said david deng director research south sudan law society hudson share optimism talks complete sideshow talks powersharing government said going battlefield
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<p>JAN. 28, 2010</p>
<p>By STEVEN GREENHUT</p>
<p>The three Assembly members who <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2011/01/in-a-twist-republicans-rail-against-cuts-at-union-rally.html" type="external">joined with Democrats</a> at a union-sponsored rally to oppose government cuts to In-Home Supportive Services — Jim Silva of Huntington Beach, Brian Nestande of Palm Desert and Paul Cook of Yucca Valley — didn’t betray their conservative principles. They never had any such principles. But they did betray the GOP caucus and they did humiliate <a href="" type="internal">Assembly Minority Leader Connie Conway</a>, who either didn’t know that the officials were joining this press conference sponsored by left-wing union organizers or she couldn’t do anything to stop them. Nestande is Conway’s top lieutenant, so this is a huge embarrassment for the Republican leadership, which no longer has much credibility on budget matters.</p>
<p>If a top GOP leader is against cuts, then there’s not much left to do than to raise taxes. And how can Republicans now move forward with reforms to the waste-plagued, scandal-ridden and oftentimes abusive IHSS program if top Republicans oppose cuts to it at any cost?</p>
<p>It’s pretty amazing when Gov. Jerry Brown’s spokesperson has to remind Republicans of the need for budget cuts in tough times: “Cuts are never popular. We expect that this is the first in a series of bipartisan protests against the cuts that the governor has proposed.” Amen to that. It’s pretty bizarre when Brown outflanks Republicans on the right!</p>
<p>Meanwhile the three Republicans were perfectly comfortable standing in front of a union crowd that was chanting, “No more cuts.” So now that Silva, Nestande and Cook agree with the state’s most liberal elements that we cannot cut programs, especially not ones that they like (and there is a constituency that likes every program), then what choices are left? You can go on to each Assembly member’s Web site and find all the usual Republican blather about limiting government and holding&#160; the line on taxes. Silva boasts that he signed a “no new taxes” pledge, but this is dishonest and craven at best.</p>
<p>If they believe in “no more cuts,” then taxes or debt have to go up. There are no other choices. And debt simply is a tax increase on future generations. At least the Democrats are honest when they call for higher taxes to pay for all these programs.</p>
<p>It’s ironic that these three pro-union Republicans would champion the IHSS program in particular. It’s a crazy wasteful program that ends up subsidizing family members to take care of their own.This is cradle-to-grave socialism at its most extreme and support for it undermines any claim of conservatism. Even the Los Angeles Times made the point about the system’s waste: “State-subsidized in-home care such as shopping, laundry and housework for the frail and disabled, often provided by family members living with the recipients, has been the object of GOP charges of waste and fraud, and assailed as a symbol of Democrats’ unrestrained appetite for spending.”</p>
<p>People get paid to clean their own house!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.myfox9online.com/dpp/news/local/governor-schwarzenegger-urges-legislature-to-bar-felony-caregivers-from-ihss-program" type="external">Check out the deep level of corruption in this program, as reported by the Schwarzenegger administration</a>.&#160; This is from a letter from the former governor to the Legislature regarding the program’s tendency to hire felons as caregivers:</p>
<p>“In 2009, we enacted a series of IHSS reforms to address fraud, waste and abuse in the program and ensure the benefits are going only to those who genuinely need them. One of the basic reforms was to require IHSS caregivers to undergo criminal background checks before they go into the private homes of elderly or disabled individuals to care for them. This simple requirement is standard protocol for almost every other licensed or certified professional in California. A good example is the requirement for all volunteers at public schools to receive a background check. No one questions the responsible policy of ensuring that children are protected, even when they are participating in after-school sporting events. How, then, can we continue to allow convicted felons to provide unsupervised care in a disabled or senior’s private home?”</p>
<p>The Schwarzenegger letter was in response to a Sacramento grand jury report that found: “At its best, [IHSS] is a dysfunctional system plagued by upper management who refuse to make meaningful changes or even look into matters that will be beneficial to the truly needy people [IHSS] is pledged to support. … The lack of fiscal controls and oversight at IHSS has made it an easy target for those who are greedy.”</p>
<p>Yet Silva, Cook and Nestande love the program and stand side-by-side with the unions that resist reforms. <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=81877#ixzz1CMmCLFdn" type="external">Listen to the selfish stupidity of Cook’s argument</a>, as quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle: “Well, it doesn’t take a magnifying glass — I’m pretty close. I won’t tell you how old I am, but I’m pretty close. And they say you have to be nice to your kids because they will pick out your nursing home. You should be nice to your loved ones, too, because they will pick out your In Home Supportive Services provider.”</p>
<p>Maybe it’s too much to expect statesmanship from this group, but one does expect an Assembly member to do a little better than, “Gee, I might want that program for myself.” The three GOP Assembly members were of course applauded <a href="http://calitics.com/diary/13073/republicans-speak-out-for-ihss" type="external">by a progressive blog</a>, which expressed the hopes that they will now drop their anti-tax pledges.</p>
<p>I’m not surprised by this. Cook is a tool of the prison guards union and Nestande is a big-government guy. I covered Jim Silva when he was an Orange County supervisor. <a href="http://www.lewrockwell.com/ocregister/unreal-pension.html" type="external">Silva was as reliable a union vote</a> as they come. Silva voted twice to retroactively increase pensions for union members and he defends those votes to this day — despite the evidence that his giveaways led to an enormous pension liability. Silva supported the county’s project labor agreement, the most wide-ranging union-monopoly agreement in the state because it gave all county work to unions. Silva was rewarded by the code enforcement officials’ association for his work giving them expanded police powers.</p>
<p>These three should at least dispense with the limited government, tax-limiting claptrap. They like big government. They like high taxes. Their rhetoric is dishonest — designed mainly to win over GOP voters. Now that Silva, for instance, wants to run for a Senate seat in an open primary, perhaps he made the calculation that he wants to lure Democratic voters. Who knows?</p>
<p>I missed Silva’s callback today, but will talk to him soon and include his explanations for his behavior.</p>
<p>State Sen. Juan Vargas of San Diego praised the men’s bravery and said he got to know some of them at a Bible study. Apparently, their support for these programs comes from their faith. There’s no doubt that Jesus preached the need to help the poor — but since when does that mean supporting taxation to pay for government workers to provide bureaucratic programs? There are many ways to help the poor voluntarily. Government often makes life tougher on the poor and keeps more people in poverty thanks to confiscatory rates of taxation and regulatory burdens that stifle enterprise and freedom. Unions are friends only of the workers, not of the recipients of their services. People shouldn’t be paid by the state to care for their own loved ones.</p>
<p>Well, at least we know which three Republicans are likely to support Democratic tax-raising budgets.</p>
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jan 28 2010 steven greenhut three assembly members joined democrats unionsponsored rally oppose government cuts inhome supportive services jim silva huntington beach brian nestande palm desert paul cook yucca valley didnt betray conservative principles never principles betray gop caucus humiliate assembly minority leader connie conway either didnt know officials joining press conference sponsored leftwing union organizers couldnt anything stop nestande conways top lieutenant huge embarrassment republican leadership longer much credibility budget matters top gop leader cuts theres much left raise taxes republicans move forward reforms wasteplagued scandalridden oftentimes abusive ihss program top republicans oppose cuts cost pretty amazing gov jerry browns spokesperson remind republicans need budget cuts tough times cuts never popular expect first series bipartisan protests cuts governor proposed amen pretty bizarre brown outflanks republicans right meanwhile three republicans perfectly comfortable standing front union crowd chanting cuts silva nestande cook agree states liberal elements cut programs especially ones like constituency likes every program choices left go assembly members web site find usual republican blather limiting government holding160 line taxes silva boasts signed new taxes pledge dishonest craven best believe cuts taxes debt go choices debt simply tax increase future generations least democrats honest call higher taxes pay programs ironic three prounion republicans would champion ihss program particular crazy wasteful program ends subsidizing family members take care ownthis cradletograve socialism extreme support undermines claim conservatism even los angeles times made point systems waste statesubsidized inhome care shopping laundry housework frail disabled often provided family members living recipients object gop charges waste fraud assailed symbol democrats unrestrained appetite spending people get paid clean house check deep level corruption program reported schwarzenegger administration160 letter former governor legislature regarding programs tendency hire felons caregivers 2009 enacted series ihss reforms address fraud waste abuse program ensure benefits going genuinely need one basic reforms require ihss caregivers undergo criminal background checks go private homes elderly disabled individuals care simple requirement standard protocol almost every licensed certified professional california good example requirement volunteers public schools receive background check one questions responsible policy ensuring children protected even participating afterschool sporting events continue allow convicted felons provide unsupervised care disabled seniors private home schwarzenegger letter response sacramento grand jury report found best ihss dysfunctional system plagued upper management refuse make meaningful changes even look matters beneficial truly needy people ihss pledged support lack fiscal controls oversight ihss made easy target greedy yet silva cook nestande love program stand sidebyside unions resist reforms listen selfish stupidity cooks argument quoted san francisco chronicle well doesnt take magnifying glass im pretty close wont tell old im pretty close say nice kids pick nursing home nice loved ones pick home supportive services provider maybe much expect statesmanship group one expect assembly member little better gee might want program three gop assembly members course applauded progressive blog expressed hopes drop antitax pledges im surprised cook tool prison guards union nestande biggovernment guy covered jim silva orange county supervisor silva reliable union vote come silva voted twice retroactively increase pensions union members defends votes day despite evidence giveaways led enormous pension liability silva supported countys project labor agreement wideranging unionmonopoly agreement state gave county work unions silva rewarded code enforcement officials association work giving expanded police powers three least dispense limited government taxlimiting claptrap like big government like high taxes rhetoric dishonest designed mainly win gop voters silva instance wants run senate seat open primary perhaps made calculation wants lure democratic voters knows missed silvas callback today talk soon include explanations behavior state sen juan vargas san diego praised mens bravery said got know bible study apparently support programs comes faith theres doubt jesus preached need help poor since mean supporting taxation pay government workers provide bureaucratic programs many ways help poor voluntarily government often makes life tougher poor keeps people poverty thanks confiscatory rates taxation regulatory burdens stifle enterprise freedom unions friends workers recipients services people shouldnt paid state care loved ones well least know three republicans likely support democratic taxraising budgets
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<p>On a good traffic day, it takes Jasiel López nearly one hour to drive from work at his family’s yacht repair shop in Fort Lauderdale to classes at Florida International University in Miami. It’s a hustle, juggling a full-time job, classes and a commute, but López is gunning for his college degree — he'll be the first in his family to earn one.</p>
<p>At age 6, López left Mexico with his family, crossing the border into the United States to meet his father, who had migrated earlier for better work in Arizona. They eventually settled in Florida. In high school, López did well but, being undocumented, college seemed out of reach.</p>
<p>Then, in 2012, President Barack Obama created the <a href="" type="internal">Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)</a> program&#160;to give immigrants like López, who were brought to the US as children, the chance to obtain a work permit and be protected from deportation for two years, with the chance to renew.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">See the full DACA Diaries series.</a></p>
<p />
<p>“When DACA came, I thought about going to college,” López said. But this was Florida and in 2012&#160;state law prohibited any undocumented residents from qualifying for in-state tuition rates. For López, and other DACA recipients in Florida, that made college unaffordable. Students considered residents from outside the state can pay triple as much tuition as in-state students. DACA or not, “I was met with a lot of the same problems,” López says.</p>
<p>Relief came in May 2014, when Florida’s House of Representatives passed <a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2014/0851" type="external">House Bill 851</a>. It allowed qualified students — those who had attended high school in Florida for three consecutive years and applied for college within two years of graduation — to apply for in-state tuition rates, regardless of their immigration status.</p>
<p>López saw an academic path open. He enrolled at Florida International University to study marketing. He is in his junior year now, with three semesters left until he earns a degree. His goal is to apply what he learns toward running the family yacht repair shop. It was opened by his dad in 2010 and López wants to expand it beyond a small, industrial storefront full of carpentry tools and paint. Then, he wants to become an entrepreneur himself.</p>
<p>“I’m not here to mooch off the government or take away from a US citizen,” he says. “What I want to do is build communities, build a life here and help others.”</p>
<p>More stories from students: <a href="" type="internal">DACA Diaries</a></p>
<p>Yet now, López, like many students with DACA, fear that President Donald Trump’s decision to rescind DACA will affect his ability to earn a degree.</p>
<p>“There’s obvious anxiety, to go from feeling like your presence here could one day be permanent, to suddenly not knowing if today will be your last day in the country,” López says.</p>
<p>López hopes that his in-state tuition remains in place. House Bill 851 keeps that option open for qualified students regardless of whether they have DACA. But there was <a href="http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/0082" type="external">a failed push in Florida to</a> <a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/0082" type="external">revoke</a> <a href="http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/0082" type="external">the bill</a> in 2017.</p>
<p>Had that effort succeeded, it would have been unfortunate, according to Julio Calderón, South Florida Community Organizer with the Florida Immigrant Coalition.</p>
<p>“When I went to FIU in 2014, right after it was implemented, my tuition changed from $7,500 to $2,500,” says Calderón. “I was saving $5,000 every semester. That’s a game changer for students like me.”</p>
<p>For López, though, there is now another worry: the 45-minute drive to class.</p>
<p>Florida’s state house recently passed what many immigration advocates consider an anti-sanctuary bill. The legislation outlaws any sanctuary policies and <a href="http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2018/00009/" type="external">compels local and state police to enforce immigration law</a> and cooperate with federal agents. The bill is <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/01/12/house-passes-sanctuary-city-ban-appears-dead-in-senate/" type="external">expected to die in the Senate</a>, but if it passes, a simple traffic stop could mean arrest, detention and possible deportation to Mexico for López.</p>
<p>DACA allowed for recipients in every state to legally obtain a driver’s license, further opening up job and education opportunities with an ability to travel and commute&#160;that some never experienced before. But only 12 states and the District of Columbia <a href="http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/analysis/2016/11/22/drivers-licenses-for-unauthorized-immigrants-2016-highlights" type="external">allow undocumented immigrants, with or without DACA, to acquire driver’s licenses</a>. That means in some states, including Florida, DACA recipients will lose the ability to legally drive.</p>
<p>“My driver’s license expires the same day as my DACA status,” he says. “So from the day I fall out of status, I could be pulled over by police and sent back to Mexico.”</p>
<p>For many DACA recipients, this reality is already forcing them into the shadows. The <a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2017/11/09/442502/thousands-daca-recipients-already-losing-protection-deportation/" type="external">Center for American Progress estimates that over 16,000 people have lost DACA status</a> since the program drawdown began in September. A federal judge has ruled that the government must resume the program pending legal challenges, a decision the Trump administration has appealed. The Justice Department <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/immigration/trump-administration-appeals-judges-order-that-daca-must-remain-for-now/2018/01/16/41a8c960-f6e8-11e7-beb6-c8d48830c54d_story.html" type="external">announced Tuesday that it will ask the Supreme Court to take up the DACA case</a>.&#160;It's uncertain how long these proceedings will take and what the outcome will be. Without congressional action, López and others simply will not have clarity about their status in the coming months.</p>
<p />
<p>Jasiel López was not always active in the pro-immigrant rights movement, but became motivated after learning about the work done by advocates to help DACA and pro-immigrant bills in Florida become a reality.</p>
<p>Kenya Downs/PRI</p>
<p>“I have friends who’ve been held in private prisons contracted to do immigration detention,” Calderón says. “As taxpayers, we paid $14,000 for someone to be detained for three months, as opposed to $7,500 to educate them for a semester,” an estimate Calderón bases on a <a href="http://www.collegetuitioncompare.com/compare/tables/?state=FL" type="external">$6,000 tuition at Florida International University</a>, plus an extra $1,500 for books and other costs. &#160;</p>
<p>He questions the cost of detaining immigrants.</p>
<p>“Do you want to educate them so they can give back to their communities or send them to jail?” Calderón asks.</p>
<p>Calderón and López agree that it will take leadership from Congress to protect DACA recipients from facing deportation to countries they hardly know. But they also hope Florida lawmakers can do what is possible to support sanctuary cities and undocumented students generally.</p>
<p>“It’s going to take a strong front from immigrants and allies in this space stepping up and making sure their voices are heard,” López says. “There’s too much at stake for us not to.”</p>
<p>López has helped organize <a href="http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/miami-fiu-students-walk-out-for-daca-9814180" type="external">a student walkout on FIU’s campus</a>, to demand that the university do more to protect students from anti-immigrant harassment on campus and provide a safe space from federal immigration enforcement. His advocacy also extends to other undocumented immigrants facing similar battles, including <a href="" type="internal">Central American and Haitian</a> <a href="" type="internal">recipients of Temporary Protected Status</a> <a href="" type="internal">,</a> other temporary immigration programs that the Trump administration is ending.</p>
<p>He was not always so active, and acknowledges that his involvement kicked in only after he qualified for DACA and in-state tuition.</p>
<p>“I look back and lament how inactive and oblivious I was to the movement that was happening around me, but take it as motivation to work hard and help others,” he says.</p>
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good traffic day takes jasiel lópez nearly one hour drive work familys yacht repair shop fort lauderdale classes florida international university miami hustle juggling fulltime job classes commute lópez gunning college degree hell first family earn one age 6 lópez left mexico family crossing border united states meet father migrated earlier better work arizona eventually settled florida high school lópez well undocumented college seemed reach 2012 president barack obama created deferred action childhood arrivals daca program160to give immigrants like lópez brought us children chance obtain work permit protected deportation two years chance renew see full daca diaries series daca came thought going college lópez said florida 2012160state law prohibited undocumented residents qualifying instate tuition rates lópez daca recipients florida made college unaffordable students considered residents outside state pay triple much tuition instate students daca met lot problems lópez says relief came may 2014 floridas house representatives passed house bill 851 allowed qualified students attended high school florida three consecutive years applied college within two years graduation apply instate tuition rates regardless immigration status lópez saw academic path open enrolled florida international university study marketing junior year three semesters left earns degree goal apply learns toward running family yacht repair shop opened dad 2010 lópez wants expand beyond small industrial storefront full carpentry tools paint wants become entrepreneur im mooch government take away us citizen says want build communities build life help others stories students daca diaries yet lópez like many students daca fear president donald trumps decision rescind daca affect ability earn degree theres obvious anxiety go feeling like presence could one day permanent suddenly knowing today last day country lópez says lópez hopes instate tuition remains place house bill 851 keeps option open qualified students regardless whether daca failed push florida revoke bill 2017 effort succeeded would unfortunate according julio calderón south florida community organizer florida immigrant coalition went fiu 2014 right implemented tuition changed 7500 2500 says calderón saving 5000 every semester thats game changer students like lópez though another worry 45minute drive class floridas state house recently passed many immigration advocates consider antisanctuary bill legislation outlaws sanctuary policies compels local state police enforce immigration law cooperate federal agents bill expected die senate passes simple traffic stop could mean arrest detention possible deportation mexico lópez daca allowed recipients every state legally obtain drivers license opening job education opportunities ability travel commute160that never experienced 12 states district columbia allow undocumented immigrants without daca acquire drivers licenses means states including florida daca recipients lose ability legally drive drivers license expires day daca status says day fall status could pulled police sent back mexico many daca recipients reality already forcing shadows center american progress estimates 16000 people lost daca status since program drawdown began september federal judge ruled government must resume program pending legal challenges decision trump administration appealed justice department announced tuesday ask supreme court take daca case160its uncertain long proceedings take outcome without congressional action lópez others simply clarity status coming months jasiel lópez always active proimmigrant rights movement became motivated learning work done advocates help daca proimmigrant bills florida become reality kenya downspri friends whove held private prisons contracted immigration detention calderón says taxpayers paid 14000 someone detained three months opposed 7500 educate semester estimate calderón bases 6000 tuition florida international university plus extra 1500 books costs 160 questions cost detaining immigrants want educate give back communities send jail calderón asks calderón lópez agree take leadership congress protect daca recipients facing deportation countries hardly know also hope florida lawmakers possible support sanctuary cities undocumented students generally going take strong front immigrants allies space stepping making sure voices heard lópez says theres much stake us lópez helped organize student walkout fius campus demand university protect students antiimmigrant harassment campus provide safe space federal immigration enforcement advocacy also extends undocumented immigrants facing similar battles including central american haitian recipients temporary protected status temporary immigration programs trump administration ending always active acknowledges involvement kicked qualified daca instate tuition look back lament inactive oblivious movement happening around take motivation work hard help others says
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<p>If you’re among the tens of millions of Americans deeply concerned about climate change — and there’s ever more&#160;reason to be, with this week’s <a href="http://wfla.com/2016/11/18/earths-warm-october-not-record-2016-likely-record-hot/" type="external">news</a> that 2016 is likely to set yet another global temperature record — you may have been wringing your hands since the election of Donald Trump last week to the White House.</p>
<p>Trump has <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/265895292191248385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" type="external">dismissed climate change</a> as a hoax made up by the Chinese, and he's promised to pull the US out of the new global agreement to fight climate change.</p>
<p>But in the week since the election, Trump has walked back some of his campaign promises, which has some folks wondering, optimistically, whether he might do the same on climate.</p>
<p>Atmospheric scientist and climate educator, Katharine Hayhoe of Texas Tech University, says the signs don't look good for that so far, but she does hold out some hope for a White House conversion — if the right people can reach Trump with the right message.</p>
<p>“The biggest thing that I found in talking with people who don't agree with me over [the] last 10 or 15 years — and I feel like I’ve talked to probably thousands — is that the most important thing is to build bridges rather than to burn them,” Hayhoe told The World in an interview with host Marco Werman.</p>
<p>Connect first over shared values</p>
<p>Don’t focus on what divides us, says Hayhoe, who’s&#160;one of the US’s leading figures on communicating about climate change with skeptical audiences. Don’t "march up with three feet of scientific reports in hand, and smack them down in front of somebody, and say, ‘This is what all the scientists in the world say, and you disagree with them! How can you disagree?'"</p>
<p>Such an approach immediately emphasizes differences, Hayhoe says. But she believes the most effective approach is to connect first over shared values or concerns.</p>
<p>And studying climate change and its impact on us humans, as she does, Hayhoe says, there’s no shortage of ways that it affects us&#160;through which “we can connect with people across the entire political spectrum.”</p>
<p>Hayhoe is an evangelical Christian who spends a lot of time talking about climate change with fellow evangelicals and other Americans who tend to be less convinced by those “three feet of scientific reports.” So what would she tell Donald Trump to keep him from pulling out of the newly enacted United Nations climate agreement?</p>
<p>“My message — to all of us — would be that the Paris Agreement matters to us personally,” she says. “It [was]&#160;put in place by just about every single country in the entire world because we have recognized that it is more expensive to ignore this problem than it is to do something to fix it.”</p>
<p>But Hayhoe would only try to bring this message to Trump if she were asked.</p>
<p>“I don’t talk to people unless they want to talk to me,” she says. “Otherwise, it’s falling on deaf ears.”</p>
<p>Instead, she says, the most effective outreach to Trump’s team on climate-related issues might well come from military leaders who understand the national security implications, business leaders who recognize the costs of doing nothing and the opportunities for new green industries and other “leaders from communities that have values front and center that relate directly to the new president's platform.”</p>
<p>Common ground on clean energy?</p>
<p>And she says there’s lots of room there for common values, common benefits and common solutions, “whether they are clean energy solutions, whether they are fear of falling behind China in our technology — basically the next moon race is to renewable energy — [or]&#160;whether it is investing in the local economy.”</p>
<p>On that front, Hayhoe points to an example in her adopted home state, where, she says, a step toward a climate-friendly future would be better for the economy than a step back toward a carbon-intensive past.</p>
<p>When you build a new power plant in Texas, she says, "if [it]&#160;is powered by natural gas or by coal, it creates eight times less jobs than if the same amount of electricity were generated locally by wind or solar.</p>
<p>“There are many different arguments and many different benefits to moving forward,” Hayhoe says. “The key is to identify those arguments, or those benefits and those values, that we already do genuinely share with whoever it is that we're talking with.”</p>
<p>Of course, she says, it takes two sides to build a bridge.</p>
<p>“You can only extend the bridge halfway across the river, and then the person on the other side has to help,” she says.</p>
<p>So what happens if the federal government now decides to turn its back on the climate crisis&#160;and abandons support for — or even tries to turn the clock back on — the current clean energy revolution?</p>
<p>Hayhoe says she takes heart that at the international level, the Paris Agreement will continue, “although it will certainly be weaker without the contribution of the United States,” she says.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, she believes much of the current momentum here in the US will continue below the federal level.</p>
<p>“Cities are already building their resilience to a changing climate,” she says. They are “a huge incubator for carbon mitigation and for reducing emissions.”</p>
<p>And just as significant, she says, “the clean energy economy is already moving forward.”</p>
<p>As just one example of this, Hayhoe points to the recent <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/28/13463236/tesla-solar-roof-battery-new-elon-musk" type="external">unveiling</a> by the electric car and solar battery maker, Tesla, of a system of rooftop solar shingles coupled to a storage battery, which the company says will ultimately cost less than the cost of a standard roof.</p>
<p>“Which is amazing,” Hayhoe says. “I mean, who doesn’t want shingles that grow your own energy on your own roof?</p>
<p>"The big 'But'"</p>
<p>Hayhoe says these things give her hope that we’re moving in the right direction on climate, with or without federal action.</p>
<p>“But,” she says — “here's the big but — carbon dioxide levels are already past 400 parts per million. Global temperature is breaking records — this year is again going to be the warmest year on record, superseding the previous year and the year before that. So we are seeing a massive amount of change that is already impacting us today. Climate change is no longer a future issue, so the issue today is simply an issue of time, we have to move faster.</p>
<p>“The momentum is there,” Hayhoe says. “The technologies are coming online. The desire for change is real. The question is, can we do it fast enough to avoid dangerous impacts? That is the question.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Related: World climate activists to US: Please don't be a 'rogue state' under Trump</a></p>
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youre among tens millions americans deeply concerned climate change theres ever more160reason weeks news 2016 likely set yet another global temperature record may wringing hands since election donald trump last week white house trump dismissed climate change hoax made chinese hes promised pull us new global agreement fight climate change week since election trump walked back campaign promises folks wondering optimistically whether might climate atmospheric scientist climate educator katharine hayhoe texas tech university says signs dont look good far hold hope white house conversion right people reach trump right message biggest thing found talking people dont agree last 10 15 years feel like ive talked probably thousands important thing build bridges rather burn hayhoe told world interview host marco werman connect first shared values dont focus divides us says hayhoe whos160one uss leading figures communicating climate change skeptical audiences dont march three feet scientific reports hand smack front somebody say scientists world say disagree disagree approach immediately emphasizes differences hayhoe says believes effective approach connect first shared values concerns studying climate change impact us humans hayhoe says theres shortage ways affects us160through connect people across entire political spectrum hayhoe evangelical christian spends lot time talking climate change fellow evangelicals americans tend less convinced three feet scientific reports would tell donald trump keep pulling newly enacted united nations climate agreement message us would paris agreement matters us personally says was160put place every single country entire world recognized expensive ignore problem something fix hayhoe would try bring message trump asked dont talk people unless want talk says otherwise falling deaf ears instead says effective outreach trumps team climaterelated issues might well come military leaders understand national security implications business leaders recognize costs nothing opportunities new green industries leaders communities values front center relate directly new presidents platform common ground clean energy says theres lots room common values common benefits common solutions whether clean energy solutions whether fear falling behind china technology basically next moon race renewable energy or160whether investing local economy front hayhoe points example adopted home state says step toward climatefriendly future would better economy step back toward carbonintensive past build new power plant texas says it160is powered natural gas coal creates eight times less jobs amount electricity generated locally wind solar many different arguments many different benefits moving forward hayhoe says key identify arguments benefits values already genuinely share whoever talking course says takes two sides build bridge extend bridge halfway across river person side help says happens federal government decides turn back climate crisis160and abandons support even tries turn clock back current clean energy revolution hayhoe says takes heart international level paris agreement continue although certainly weaker without contribution united states says meanwhile believes much current momentum us continue federal level cities already building resilience changing climate says huge incubator carbon mitigation reducing emissions significant says clean energy economy already moving forward one example hayhoe points recent unveiling electric car solar battery maker tesla system rooftop solar shingles coupled storage battery company says ultimately cost less cost standard roof amazing hayhoe says mean doesnt want shingles grow energy roof big hayhoe says things give hope moving right direction climate without federal action says heres big carbon dioxide levels already past 400 parts per million global temperature breaking records year going warmest year record superseding previous year year seeing massive amount change already impacting us today climate change longer future issue issue today simply issue time move faster momentum hayhoe says technologies coming online desire change real question fast enough avoid dangerous impacts question related world climate activists us please dont rogue state trump
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<p>The Ninth Circuit determined a transgender immigrant is eligible for relief under the Convention Against Torture.</p>
<p>A federal appeals court on Thursday ruled a transgender woman who fled Mexico to escape life-long persecution is eligible for relief under laws granting refuge for people who experience torture, establishing a precedent that could aid those&#160;fleeing violence based on gender identity in their home countries.</p>
<p>A three-judge panel on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals determined Edin Avendano-Hernandez, an undocumented immigrant placed in holding in the process for removal back to Mexico, can obtain relief under Article 3 of the Convention Against Torture. U.S. Circuit Judge Jacqueline Nguyen, an Obama appointee, wrote the <a href="http://immigrantjustice.org/sites/immigrantjustice.org/files/AvendanovLynch-9thCircuitDecision.pdf" type="external">20-page decision</a> on behalf of the court.</p>
<p>“The unique identities and vulnerabilities of transgender individuals must be considered in evaluating a transgender applicant’s asylum, withholding of removal, or CAT claim,” the decision says.</p>
<p>After allegedly enduring harassment, rape and death threats growing up in rural Mexico for her lack of gender conformity, Avenando-Hernandez sought refuge in 2000 by unlawfully entering the United States and living in Fresno, Calif., where she began taking female hormones and living as a woman.</p>
<p>Struggling with alcohol abuse, Avendano-Hernandez was twice convicted of driving under the influence. In 2006, her second offense, which resulted in a collision that injured another person, led to a felony conviction, jail time and removal to Mexico.</p>
<p>Back in Mexico, harassment and violence against Avendano-Hernandez continued. One evening, a group of four uniformed officers “beat her, forced her to perform oral sex and raped her,” according to the court decision. That experience prompted her to flee Mexico almost immediately.</p>
<p>Attempting to cross the border with a group of migrants a few days later, Avendano-Hernandez’s troubles continued when they encountered Mexican military officers.</p>
<p>“Though the leaders of the migrant group had asked Avendano-Hernandez to dress differently to avoid attracting attention at the border, she was still visibly transgender, as she wore her hair in a ponytail and had been taking female hormones for several years,” the decision says. “Calling her a ‘faggot,’ the officers separated Avendano-Hernandez from the rest of her group. One of the officers forced her to perform oral sex on him, while the rest of the group watched and laughed. The officer then told her to ‘get out of his sight.'”</p>
<p>After these trials, she returned to the United States and Fresno in 2008, but was arrested for violating the terms of her probation for the 2006 the felony charge. She was placed in holding and removal proceedings began.</p>
<p>An immigration judge denied her application on the basis of&#160;withholding from removal and relief under Conventions Against Torture — a decision that was upheld by the Board of Immigrations Appeals. Although the Ninth Circuit upheld the decision to deny withholding from removal, the three-judge panel instructed the agency to grant relief under the Convention Against Torture.</p>
<p>The Ninth Circuit determined the immigration judge and BIA was correct in determining Avendano-Hernandez is ineligible for withholding from removal. Her attorney contended her felony wasn’t serious, but it resulted in injury to another person. However, the appeals court determined the harassment and violence she endured constitutes torture, granting her relief under this portion of her claim.</p>
<p>“We reject the government’s attempts to characterize these police and military officers as merely rogue or&#160;corrupt officials,” the decision says. “The record makes clear that both groups of officers encountered, and then assaulted, Avendano-Hernandez while on the job and in uniform. Avendano-Hernandez was not required to show acquiescence by a higher level member of the Mexican government because ‘an applicant for CAT relief need not show that the entire foreign government would consent to or acquiesce in [her] torture.’ It is enough for her to show that she was subject to torture at the hands of local officials.”</p>
<p>Although the immigration judge denied Avendano-Hernandez relief because of new laws in Mexico against discrimination based on sexual orientation, such the legalization of same-sex marriage, the Ninth Circuit determined these developments don’t affect transgender people, who reportedly experience high rates of harassment and violence in the country. According to Immigration Equality, the immigration judge handling Avendano-Hernandez’s case wrongly referred to her as a gay man instead of a transgender woman.</p>
<p>Representing Avendano-Hernandez in her case were the Santa Ana, Calif.-based Public Law Center and the D.C.-based law firm Manatt, Phelps &amp; Phillips, LLP.</p>
<p>Transgender advocates hailed the decision for establishing precedent in the Ninth Circuit that would benefit individuals seeking refuge in the United States after they face discrimination overseas on the basis of gender identity.</p>
<p>Keren Zwick, managing attorney for the Chicago-based National Immigration Justice Center’s LGBT Immigrant Rights Initiative argued as a friend-of-the court on behalf of Avendano-Hernandez and hailed the decision.</p>
<p>“This decision is overwhelmingly positive and sets a precedent that we hope eliminates some of the unnecessary hurdles transgender people face when they flee to the United States to escape persecution,” Zwick said. “The ruling is particularly timely as the government moves forward with plans to increase and consolidate its detention of transgender women at the Adelanto Detention Center in California, which will limit access to the kind of legal counsel that proved critical in ensuring Ms. Avendano-Hernandez was able to navigate the complex legal system and overcome the discrimination she faced in the immigration court system.”</p>
<p>According to the National Immigrant Justice Center, the Ninth Circuit at the same time it issued a decision in the Avendano-Hernandez delivered unpublished rulings granting relief to two other transgender Mexican women who faced similar hurdles when seeking protection before a California immigration judge.</p>
<p>Seeking asylum in the United States is different from seeking relief under the Convention Against Torture, which has more stringent requirements. To seek relief under the Convention Against Torture, applicants need to prove it is more likely than not they would be persecuted or tortured in their home country. Despite the higher bar, there are advantages to seeking relief under this law because aggravated felons are eligible for claims, according to Immigration Equality.</p>
<p>Aaron Morris, legal director of Immigration Equality, also praised the decision, saying it “requires the federal government to recognize and respect the gender identity of women like Ms. Avendano-Hernandez.” Immigration Equality aided Avendano-Hernandez in her litigation.</p>
<p>“This sentiment should be extended to all areas of immigration law, and especially to immigration detention facilities,” Morris added.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Edin Avendano-Hernandez</a> <a href="" type="internal">Immigration Equality</a> <a href="" type="internal">U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals</a></p>
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ninth circuit determined transgender immigrant eligible relief convention torture federal appeals court thursday ruled transgender woman fled mexico escape lifelong persecution eligible relief laws granting refuge people experience torture establishing precedent could aid those160fleeing violence based gender identity home countries threejudge panel us ninth circuit court appeals determined edin avendanohernandez undocumented immigrant placed holding process removal back mexico obtain relief article 3 convention torture us circuit judge jacqueline nguyen obama appointee wrote 20page decision behalf court unique identities vulnerabilities transgender individuals must considered evaluating transgender applicants asylum withholding removal cat claim decision says allegedly enduring harassment rape death threats growing rural mexico lack gender conformity avenandohernandez sought refuge 2000 unlawfully entering united states living fresno calif began taking female hormones living woman struggling alcohol abuse avendanohernandez twice convicted driving influence 2006 second offense resulted collision injured another person led felony conviction jail time removal mexico back mexico harassment violence avendanohernandez continued one evening group four uniformed officers beat forced perform oral sex raped according court decision experience prompted flee mexico almost immediately attempting cross border group migrants days later avendanohernandezs troubles continued encountered mexican military officers though leaders migrant group asked avendanohernandez dress differently avoid attracting attention border still visibly transgender wore hair ponytail taking female hormones several years decision says calling faggot officers separated avendanohernandez rest group one officers forced perform oral sex rest group watched laughed officer told get sight trials returned united states fresno 2008 arrested violating terms probation 2006 felony charge placed holding removal proceedings began immigration judge denied application basis of160withholding removal relief conventions torture decision upheld board immigrations appeals although ninth circuit upheld decision deny withholding removal threejudge panel instructed agency grant relief convention torture ninth circuit determined immigration judge bia correct determining avendanohernandez ineligible withholding removal attorney contended felony wasnt serious resulted injury another person however appeals court determined harassment violence endured constitutes torture granting relief portion claim reject governments attempts characterize police military officers merely rogue or160corrupt officials decision says record makes clear groups officers encountered assaulted avendanohernandez job uniform avendanohernandez required show acquiescence higher level member mexican government applicant cat relief need show entire foreign government would consent acquiesce torture enough show subject torture hands local officials although immigration judge denied avendanohernandez relief new laws mexico discrimination based sexual orientation legalization samesex marriage ninth circuit determined developments dont affect transgender people reportedly experience high rates harassment violence country according immigration equality immigration judge handling avendanohernandezs case wrongly referred gay man instead transgender woman representing avendanohernandez case santa ana califbased public law center dcbased law firm manatt phelps amp phillips llp transgender advocates hailed decision establishing precedent ninth circuit would benefit individuals seeking refuge united states face discrimination overseas basis gender identity keren zwick managing attorney chicagobased national immigration justice centers lgbt immigrant rights initiative argued friendofthe court behalf avendanohernandez hailed decision decision overwhelmingly positive sets precedent hope eliminates unnecessary hurdles transgender people face flee united states escape persecution zwick said ruling particularly timely government moves forward plans increase consolidate detention transgender women adelanto detention center california limit access kind legal counsel proved critical ensuring ms avendanohernandez able navigate complex legal system overcome discrimination faced immigration court system according national immigrant justice center ninth circuit time issued decision avendanohernandez delivered unpublished rulings granting relief two transgender mexican women faced similar hurdles seeking protection california immigration judge seeking asylum united states different seeking relief convention torture stringent requirements seek relief convention torture applicants need prove likely would persecuted tortured home country despite higher bar advantages seeking relief law aggravated felons eligible claims according immigration equality aaron morris legal director immigration equality also praised decision saying requires federal government recognize respect gender identity women like ms avendanohernandez immigration equality aided avendanohernandez litigation sentiment extended areas immigration law especially immigration detention facilities morris added edin avendanohernandez immigration equality us ninth circuit court appeals
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<p>First Read is a morning briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter</p>
<p>Why the primary calendar could be king in 2016 GOP race</p>
<p>Here’s one reason why we’re excited to cover the 2016 presidential race: We have absolutely no idea who is going to win the Republican presidential nomination. Jeb Bush? Scott Walker? Marco Rubio? Someone else? And because it’s THAT wide open with no true frontrunner, the 2016 primary calendar could very well be king. As we discovered on the Democratic side in 2008, the campaign that best maximizes the calendar, map, and delegate hauls will probably be the nominee. Already, one likely move -- <a href="http://lasvegassun.com/news/2015/apr/24/nevada-republicans-mull-dumping-caucus-system/" type="external">Nevada becoming a primary contest instead of a caucus</a>, which hurts Rand Paul -- would have consequences. And here are three other primary calendar storylines to watch, with the important caveat that the calendar isn’t going to be finalized until later this year:</p>
<p>Bernie Sanders makes his presidential announcement</p>
<p>The Vermont independent, who’ll run as a Democrat, makes it official today via an email to supporters. He’ll emphasize his focus on income inequality, according to excerpts of the email, with an explicit mention of the one percent/99 percent divide. “The people at the top are grabbing all the new wealth and income for themselves, and the rest of America is being squeezed and left behind,” he’ll say. Other issues he’ll highlight in his announcement message: money-in-politics (“billionaires rig the system by using their Super PACS to buy politicians and elections”) and climate change (“the central challenge of our time and our planet.”). <a href="" type="internal">As our colleague Perry Bacon writes</a>, Sanders won’t win, but his presence in the race will mean more discussion of progressive issues like expanded Social Security and further financial reforms – which means more pressure on Hillary Clinton to enumerate specifics about her own domestic agenda. But because he’s been reluctant to take too much aim at Clinton yet (more on that below), it’s worth wondering how much his run is also about elevating his own status as progressive leader in the Senate, too.</p>
<p>Why he’s running</p>
<p>In an interview with NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, Sanders said he doesn’t see his presidential bid as a challenge to Hillary Clinton. “It's addressing the very, very serious crises facing our country, crises that have to be addressed. Look, for the last 40 years the America middle class has been disappearing. We have people working longer hours for lower wages. And at the same time, we have seen a huge increase in income and wealth inequality such that the top 1% are now earning 99% of all new income generated in this country,” he said. He told Mitchell that questions about Hillary Clinton’s fundraising and the Clinton Foundation are legitimate questions but added “But I think we have to ask what the motives are of the Koch brothers and Republican billionaires who frankly want to end Social Security, end Medicare, end Medicaid and give more tax breaks to billionaires.”And he explained why he’s running as a Democrat – instead of an independent:“The reason is pretty simple. I am not a billionaire. To run outside of the two-party system would require enormous sums of money and a great expenditure of energy and time just to get on the ballot.”</p>
<p>Who ends up being Clinton’s chief rival?</p>
<p>With Sanders and potential 2016 Democratic candidate Martin O’Malley both in the headlines today, we’re getting a view of how each one will be a contrast to Clinton throughout the nomination process. And it’s not clear yet which one will be the more important rival. With Sanders, she’ll have to consider how far to turn the progressive dial in her rhetoric and policy proposals. O’Malley can argue that he’s a viable alternative to Clinton who can check the progressive boxes and still be competitive. But O’Malley’s entry into the national conversation this week hasn’t gone as smoothly as the former Baltimore mayor must have hoped. Rather than a narrative about returning to Baltimore as healing and unifying leader, much of the coverage has focused on those who blame his zero-tolerance policies for the city’s simmering tensions. As <a href="" type="internal">NBC’s Leigh Ann Caldwell writes,</a> “He is positioning himself to the left of Clinton on economic issues but on the issue of policing and criminal justice, O'Malley's past could be more of a black mark than a boon to the progressive voter he's attempting to court.”</p>
<p>David Wildstein reportedly set to plead guilty</p>
<p>Chris Christie has been struggling to score positive headlines, and it’s about to get even worse. <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-29/former-christie-ally-david-wildstein-said-to-plan-guilty-plea" type="external">Bloomberg reports</a> that former Port Authority official and onetime Christie ally David Wildstein is set to plead guilty for charges related to the Bridgegate scandal. That suggests that he may be cooperating with prosecutors and offering more information about the plot to snarl traffic on the George Washington Bridge back in 2013. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Christie reiterated that he knew nothing in advance about the lane closures, adding “Whenever anything does occur, we’ll react to it. But I know what the truth is, so I’m not the least bit concerned about it.” But regardless of the fallout from Wildstein’s plea, “Christie Ally Pleads Guilty” is not the kind of headline you want when you’re trying to convince donors and political operatives of your viability in a presidential race.</p>
<p>Iran bill faces its next challenge</p>
<p>2016 presidential ambitions: After all the meticulous negotiations to maintain enough support for the Senate’s Iran nuclear-approval bill, it could still be derailed because of presidential politics. 2016 hopefuls Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are pushing for amendments to the legislation that critics say are “poison pills” designed to win them conservative accolades even if they risk scuttling the agreement, <a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/domesticpolicy/how-presidential-ambitions-could-kill-the-iran-bill-20150429" type="external">National Journal writes</a>. While many of their colleagues agree with the substance of the amendments -- (one of Rubio’s would require Iran to accept Israel’s right to exist) – there’s real concern that forcing votes on the measures would ruin the Senate’s one shot of weighing in on the overall deal. Rubio argued yesterday that pushing issues that make some lawmakers squeamish is the stuff of political bravery, saying “If you don't want to vote on things, don't run for the Senate.” But folks like possible 2016 rival Lindsey Graham aren’t being shy about dismissing Rubio’s strategy as “immature” and selfishly focused on scoring political points. The question might come down to: which argument do voters buy?</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Click here to sign up for First Read emails.</a> Check us out on <a href="http://is.gd/TzuR1b" type="external">Facebook</a>and also on <a href="http://is.gd/hkhSDT" type="external">Twitter</a>. Follow us @ <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/chucktodd" type="external">chucktodd</a>, @ <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/mmurraypolitics" type="external">mmurraypolitics</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieNBCNews" type="external">@carrienbcnews</a></p>
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first read morning briefing meet press nbc political unit days important political stories matter primary calendar could king 2016 gop race heres one reason excited cover 2016 presidential race absolutely idea going win republican presidential nomination jeb bush scott walker marco rubio someone else wide open true frontrunner 2016 primary calendar could well king discovered democratic side 2008 campaign best maximizes calendar map delegate hauls probably nominee already one likely move nevada becoming primary contest instead caucus hurts rand paul would consequences three primary calendar storylines watch important caveat calendar isnt going finalized later year bernie sanders makes presidential announcement vermont independent wholl run democrat makes official today via email supporters hell emphasize focus income inequality according excerpts email explicit mention one percent99 percent divide people top grabbing new wealth income rest america squeezed left behind hell say issues hell highlight announcement message moneyinpolitics billionaires rig system using super pacs buy politicians elections climate change central challenge time planet colleague perry bacon writes sanders wont win presence race mean discussion progressive issues like expanded social security financial reforms means pressure hillary clinton enumerate specifics domestic agenda hes reluctant take much aim clinton yet worth wondering much run also elevating status progressive leader senate hes running interview nbcs andrea mitchell sanders said doesnt see presidential bid challenge hillary clinton addressing serious crises facing country crises addressed look last 40 years america middle class disappearing people working longer hours lower wages time seen huge increase income wealth inequality top 1 earning 99 new income generated country said told mitchell questions hillary clintons fundraising clinton foundation legitimate questions added think ask motives koch brothers republican billionaires frankly want end social security end medicare end medicaid give tax breaks billionairesand explained hes running democrat instead independentthe reason pretty simple billionaire run outside twoparty system would require enormous sums money great expenditure energy time get ballot ends clintons chief rival sanders potential 2016 democratic candidate martin omalley headlines today getting view one contrast clinton throughout nomination process clear yet one important rival sanders shell consider far turn progressive dial rhetoric policy proposals omalley argue hes viable alternative clinton check progressive boxes still competitive omalleys entry national conversation week hasnt gone smoothly former baltimore mayor must hoped rather narrative returning baltimore healing unifying leader much coverage focused blame zerotolerance policies citys simmering tensions nbcs leigh ann caldwell writes positioning left clinton economic issues issue policing criminal justice omalleys past could black mark boon progressive voter hes attempting court david wildstein reportedly set plead guilty chris christie struggling score positive headlines get even worse bloomberg reports former port authority official onetime christie ally david wildstein set plead guilty charges related bridgegate scandal suggests may cooperating prosecutors offering information plot snarl traffic george washington bridge back 2013 speaking reporters yesterday christie reiterated knew nothing advance lane closures adding whenever anything occur well react know truth im least bit concerned regardless fallout wildsteins plea christie ally pleads guilty kind headline want youre trying convince donors political operatives viability presidential race iran bill faces next challenge 2016 presidential ambitions meticulous negotiations maintain enough support senates iran nuclearapproval bill could still derailed presidential politics 2016 hopefuls marco rubio ted cruz pushing amendments legislation critics say poison pills designed win conservative accolades even risk scuttling agreement national journal writes many colleagues agree substance amendments one rubios would require iran accept israels right exist theres real concern forcing votes measures would ruin senates one shot weighing overall deal rubio argued yesterday pushing issues make lawmakers squeamish stuff political bravery saying dont want vote things dont run senate folks like possible 2016 rival lindsey graham arent shy dismissing rubios strategy immature selfishly focused scoring political points question might come argument voters buy click sign first read emails check us facebookand also twitter follow us chucktodd mmurraypolitics carrienbcnews
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<p>KABUL, Afghanistan — Benafsha should be a poster child for post-Taliban Afghanistan.</p>
<p>Born just a year before the fundamentalist group was toppled in 2001, she soon joined the millions of girls who flooded back into classrooms around the country. Propelled by her own hard work plus the promises of a U.S.-backed government and Western countries that were pouring billions of dollars in aid into the war-torn country, she let her ambitions run free.</p>
<p>“I want to become a doctor because I want to help people, and I love biology,” Benafsha said, smiling broadly.</p>
<p>That all ended in March, when her mother and brother stopped her from attending school. They deemed the trip too dangerous and possibly shameful for a girl old enough to marry.</p>
<p>The slender 15-year-old isn’t alone. Women’s achievements and status still hang in the balance throughout Afghanistan, where conservative forces are joining unabated poverty and growing violence to undermine huge gains made since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.</p>
<p>“I may never be able to fulfill my dreams,” Benafsha told NBC News during an interview at her home in Kabul.</p>
<p>It wasn't supposed to be this way.</p>
<p>In 2001, American forces helped topple the Taliban, which had sheltered Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders as they plotted the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. But Western soldiers weren't only looking for bad guys. Helping to improve the lot of female Afghans dominated the reconstruction agenda, and billions were spent on aid programs aimed at women and girls.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">U.S., NATO Formally End War in Afghanistan</a></p>
<p>In the early days of the Western invasion, then-first lady Laura Bush put the struggle for women's rights front and center.</p>
<p>"Muslims around the world have condemned the brutal degradation of women and children by the Taliban regime," she said in a national radio address in November 2001. "The fight against terrorism is also a fight for the rights and dignity of women."</p>
<p>"All the gains women made could be lost"</p>
<p>Today, an estimated 2.5 million Afghan girls are in school. Women serve in parliament, work in government and a handful have become prominent businesswomen. There is even a female fighter pilot.</p>
<p>But Afghanistan still remains one of the most dangerous places in the world to be female.</p>
<p>“Things are very gloomy for women, and it’s getting worse,” activists and campaigner Wazhma Frogh told NBC News. “There is much less space for women [in public life].”</p>
<p>Criminality and violence are at the heart of the problem, said the head of Afghanistan’s Women Peace and Security Research Institute.</p>
<p>“Women are being killed, raped and harassed on a daily basis much more than before — and overtly,” she said. She blamed much of this on generalized lawlessness — exacerbated by the dramatic drawdown in foreign troops — which leaves women and girls vulnerable to attack and abuse.</p>
<p>The brutal lynching of <a href="" type="internal">religious scholar Farkhunda in downtown Kabul earlier this year</a>was the latest in a series of stark reminders of the many threats facing Afghan women.</p>
<p>Women’s mortality rates are much higher than men’s, even when factoring in male combatants who are fighting and dying on the battlefield, according to the United Nations.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">'We Don't Eat, We Don't Sleep, We Cry': Farkhunda's Dad</a></p>
<p>In fact, the U.N. calls the rates of violence against women in Afghanistan “exceptionally high” with up to 87.2 per cent of women having experienced some form of violence.</p>
<p>The situation is getting worse, according to activists. There has been a 31 percent rise in the cases of violence against women so far this year compared to 2014, according to Soraya Sobhrang, deputy chair of Afghanistan’s Independent Human Rights Commission.</p>
<p>“This is a worrisome development that should be addressed — all the gains women made could be lost,” she said.</p>
<p>While President Ashraf Ghani is broadly believed to be a supporter of women’s rights, critics say he is hamstrung by the presence of powerful figures who are hostile to them. A stark example of this is how conservative forces have blocked the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) law, which criminalized and set prison sentences for rape, domestic violence, and underage and forced marriage, among other things.</p>
<p>Former President Hamid Karzai passed the law in 2009 but it never got through the lower house of parliament, the Wolesi Jirga, where some parliamentarians said it ran counter to Islam and could tear apart Afghan society.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Will Afghan Leader Ashraf Ghani Bow to Pressure to Hide His Wife?</a></p>
<p>Qazi Nazeer Ahmad Hanafi is one of the most prominent voices against the EVAW and has been especially rankled by the provision in the law to create women’s shelters for victims of domestic violence. According to Hanafi, a parliamentarian from western Herat province, these shelters were actually "brothels" and could prompt a “revolution” that could kill millions.</p>
<p>The conservative forces resisting the full inclusion of women into society extend beyond Hanafi.</p>
<p>Afghanistan's Ulama Council — the highest religious authority in the country — recently fought to block the appointment of a woman to the Supreme Court.</p>
<p>"Life in general is very challenging and involves a lot of risk ... I have been the target of assassination attempts."</p>
<p>While a female judge, Anisa Rassoli, has been nominated by Ghani to the chamber on Tuesday, the council's spokesman Ataullah Ludin said the move ran against Sharia law. This will likely strengthen the position of many conservatives in parliament who are looking to prevent her from taking her post.</p>
<p>The council has also been quiet on the need to defend women, <a href="http://fawziakoofi.org/" type="external">according to Fawzia Koofi</a>, a prominent lawmaker and the head of the parliamentary committee on women’s affairs and rights.</p>
<p>“They have been ineffective and silent about violence against women," she said. "They didn’t even condemn the brutal murder of Farkhunda."</p>
<p>Many women and rights activists say their fear isn’t only that the Taliban will return to power in some form. They're also afraid the country is going down the same road that led to the 1992-1996 civil war which swept the fundamentalist fighters into power.</p>
<p>Now women who dare speak out, or even step outside their homes without the burqa, say they increasingly risk abuse — or worse.</p>
<p>Like other women in public life that NBC News interviewed, such as politicians, teachers and activists, Koofi said she felt her life was in danger.</p>
<p>WATCH: <a href="" type="internal">For Afghan Women, Home Isn’t Where the Heart Is</a></p>
<p>“Life in general is very challenging and involves a lot of risk, but it’s much harder to be a woman in the public sphere,” Koofi said. “I have been the target of assassination attempts. [Recently] a well-placed security source told me that a suicide bomber came very close to target my vehicle in central Kabul, but lost me in the traffic.”</p>
<p>And it isn’t just legislators and activists who feel vulnerable.</p>
<p>Rangina Hamidi, who owns Kandahar Treasure — a successful business selling traditional Afghan pottery and textiles made by women — says she constantly worries about the future.</p>
<p>Hamidi is proud of her company, which employs around 400 women who mostly work from home including many secretly, in the heart of Kandahar, the Taliban’s birthplace. The business has recently been hurt by the withdrawal of thousands of foreign troops, whom the company used to sell to.</p>
<p>“For a place like Kandahar, which is only known for war and destruction, it is a success for a group of women to generate over $300,000,” Hamidi said. “The gains are certainly under threat of a civil war, should there not be peace."</p>
<p>Just 15 years ago, the Taliban imposed its strict interpretation of Islam combined with profoundly conservative tribal codes onto the Afghan people. Men and women were strictly segregated, the vast majority of the country’s girls’ schools were shuttered, women were barred from leaving their homes without an all-enveloping burka and a male chaperon. Those who broke the rules were beaten or executed.</p>
<p>The Taliban's rule, and the chaos that preceded it, are constantly on Hamidi's mind. As are the economic realities of Afghanistan, with foreign troops leaving and insecurity making it even harder for women as well as businesses like hers.</p>
<p>"We obviously fear that everything we have gained, not only as an entity here but as a country as a whole [will be reversed]. As women that fear is definitely in our minds," she said.</p>
<p>"My biggest fear is to tell all these women that we will not be able to support them any longer," Hamidi added.</p>
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kabul afghanistan benafsha poster child posttaliban afghanistan born year fundamentalist group toppled 2001 soon joined millions girls flooded back classrooms around country propelled hard work plus promises usbacked government western countries pouring billions dollars aid wartorn country let ambitions run free want become doctor want help people love biology benafsha said smiling broadly ended march mother brother stopped attending school deemed trip dangerous possibly shameful girl old enough marry slender 15yearold isnt alone womens achievements status still hang balance throughout afghanistan conservative forces joining unabated poverty growing violence undermine huge gains made since usled invasion 2001 may never able fulfill dreams benafsha told nbc news interview home kabul wasnt supposed way 2001 american forces helped topple taliban sheltered osama bin laden al qaeda leaders plotted 911 attacks us western soldiers werent looking bad guys helping improve lot female afghans dominated reconstruction agenda billions spent aid programs aimed women girls related us nato formally end war afghanistan early days western invasion thenfirst lady laura bush put struggle womens rights front center muslims around world condemned brutal degradation women children taliban regime said national radio address november 2001 fight terrorism also fight rights dignity women gains women made could lost today estimated 25 million afghan girls school women serve parliament work government handful become prominent businesswomen even female fighter pilot afghanistan still remains one dangerous places world female things gloomy women getting worse activists campaigner wazhma frogh told nbc news much less space women public life criminality violence heart problem said head afghanistans women peace security research institute women killed raped harassed daily basis much overtly said blamed much generalized lawlessness exacerbated dramatic drawdown foreign troops leaves women girls vulnerable attack abuse brutal lynching religious scholar farkhunda downtown kabul earlier yearwas latest series stark reminders many threats facing afghan women womens mortality rates much higher mens even factoring male combatants fighting dying battlefield according united nations related dont eat dont sleep cry farkhundas dad fact un calls rates violence women afghanistan exceptionally high 872 per cent women experienced form violence situation getting worse according activists 31 percent rise cases violence women far year compared 2014 according soraya sobhrang deputy chair afghanistans independent human rights commission worrisome development addressed gains women made could lost said president ashraf ghani broadly believed supporter womens rights critics say hamstrung presence powerful figures hostile stark example conservative forces blocked elimination violence women evaw law criminalized set prison sentences rape domestic violence underage forced marriage among things former president hamid karzai passed law 2009 never got lower house parliament wolesi jirga parliamentarians said ran counter islam could tear apart afghan society related afghan leader ashraf ghani bow pressure hide wife qazi nazeer ahmad hanafi one prominent voices evaw especially rankled provision law create womens shelters victims domestic violence according hanafi parliamentarian western herat province shelters actually brothels could prompt revolution could kill millions conservative forces resisting full inclusion women society extend beyond hanafi afghanistans ulama council highest religious authority country recently fought block appointment woman supreme court life general challenging involves lot risk target assassination attempts female judge anisa rassoli nominated ghani chamber tuesday councils spokesman ataullah ludin said move ran sharia law likely strengthen position many conservatives parliament looking prevent taking post council also quiet need defend women according fawzia koofi prominent lawmaker head parliamentary committee womens affairs rights ineffective silent violence women said didnt even condemn brutal murder farkhunda many women rights activists say fear isnt taliban return power form theyre also afraid country going road led 19921996 civil war swept fundamentalist fighters power women dare speak even step outside homes without burqa say increasingly risk abuse worse like women public life nbc news interviewed politicians teachers activists koofi said felt life danger watch afghan women home isnt heart life general challenging involves lot risk much harder woman public sphere koofi said target assassination attempts recently wellplaced security source told suicide bomber came close target vehicle central kabul lost traffic isnt legislators activists feel vulnerable rangina hamidi owns kandahar treasure successful business selling traditional afghan pottery textiles made women says constantly worries future hamidi proud company employs around 400 women mostly work home including many secretly heart kandahar talibans birthplace business recently hurt withdrawal thousands foreign troops company used sell place like kandahar known war destruction success group women generate 300000 hamidi said gains certainly threat civil war peace 15 years ago taliban imposed strict interpretation islam combined profoundly conservative tribal codes onto afghan people men women strictly segregated vast majority countrys girls schools shuttered women barred leaving homes without allenveloping burka male chaperon broke rules beaten executed talibans rule chaos preceded constantly hamidis mind economic realities afghanistan foreign troops leaving insecurity making even harder women well businesses like obviously fear everything gained entity country whole reversed women fear definitely minds said biggest fear tell women able support longer hamidi added
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<p>One characteristic of the robust religious freedom Americans enjoy is that the government doesn’t control the church nor the church the government. But that doesn’t mean churches are lawless zones.</p>
<p>While houses of worship and other nonprofit religious organizations often are granted some exceptions and exemptions to legal standards that apply to other corporate entities, they still must follow legal standards in many areas. Employment laws seem to be among the most confusing for churches—especially those that deal with workplace discrimination.</p>
<p>When it comes to employment law, maintaining church-state separation becomes a delicate balance between preventing the state from interfering in church polity and governance while still protecting workers.</p>
<p>Employers, including churches, are subject to the <a href="http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/civil-rights-act/" type="external">Civil Rights Act of 1964</a>, which prohibits discrimination on several protected bases, such as age, race, gender and national origin.</p>
<p>For example, in March, a U.S. District Court ruled against Greenforest Community Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga., on two cases, ruling the church had discriminated against two women on the basis of their gender. A teacher was fired and a teaching job offer withdrawn because both women involved had become pregnant.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/titlevii.cfm" type="external">Title VII</a> of the Civil Rights Act protects workers from being discriminated against on the basis of religion. And there are two exceptions.</p>
<p>Religious exception</p>
<p>The religious exception allows churches and other religious organizations to employ only workers who are members of their faith tradition. In other words, they can discriminate on the basis of religion. Baptist congregations can require their employees to be Baptists.</p>
<p>The original law only applied to positions and activities considered strictly religious. But in 1972, Congress expanded the exception to include all of a religious organization’s activities. Although in the past Baptist churches were allowed to hire only Baptist preachers and ministers, now they also are permitted to hire only Baptist secretaries, custodians and other workers.</p>
<p>The law also applies to a religious organization’s related businesses, including religious schools. In the <a href="http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/court/latt_v_amos.html" type="external">Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints v. Amos</a> case in 1986, the Supreme Court upheld a church’s right to refuse to hire anyone outside its religion, even for jobs not religious in nature.</p>
<p>And church workers still often are confused. In May, <a href="http://www.lawguru.com" type="external">lawguru.com</a>—one of several websites that provide general answers to legal questions at no cost—posted a church secretary’s question about possible reprimand or job loss because she worships elsewhere. Even though neither membership nor participation was required when she was hired, an attorney responded, the church is within its rights to require it now.</p>
<p>Ministerial exception</p>
<p>The courts seem divided on the second Title VII exception—the ministerial exception—that applies to church employees who perform religious functions. The exception provides religious organizations, including churches, immunity from all Title VII claims—including nonreligious ones—by ministerial employees. <a href="http://openjurist.org/460/f2d/553/mcclure-v-salvation-army" type="external">McClure v. Salvation Army</a>, the case that birthed the exception, found any governmental interference would intrude on church administration and governance.</p>
<p>The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission defines religion in broad terms and applies the exception to church employees whose “primary duties consist of engaging in church governance, supervising a religious order or conducting religious ritual, worship or instruction.”</p>
<p>The courts have interpreted the law and the ministerial definition in nearly opposing ways. Sometimes the courts have decided the definition did not apply. A North Carolina United Methodist district unsuccessfully argued that the ministerial exception should apply to a church minister accused of sexual harassment.</p>
<p>But some courts have ruled the <a href="http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html" type="external">First Amendment</a> covers all hiring, firing and discipline of ministers because doctrine and practice guides what a church ultimately determines. A Florida appellate court refused to hear a church member’s negligent hiring and supervision claim against a church for a minister’s sexual misconduct. The court decided evaluating the church’s decision not to fire the minister would be unconstitutional.</p>
<p>Sometimes the exception applies to other laws. For example, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a music director’s claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act, siding with the church’s argument that the music director fit the law’s definition as a minister.</p>
<p>The courts also have defined “minister” differently. Even though religious organizations have had difficulty in convincing courts that teachers should be included in the exception, some can be defined as a “minister,” depending upon the subject matter they teach. Last year, a Catholic school in Wisconsin downsized. One teacher filed suit, claiming age discrimination. But among its reasons for siding with the school, the court noted the instructor, who taught religion classes, could be defined as a “minister.”</p>
<p>But two 5th Circuit Court cases involving professors in two Baptist institutions were handled differently. Mississippi College lost a case because it couldn’t satisfy the court that its professors or administrative staffers were ministers.</p>
<p>Yet in a different case, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professors were accepted as ministers because <a href="http://openjurist.org/651/f2d/277" type="external">the court found</a> they provide religious instruction to future ministers and act as “intermediaries” between those future ministers and the Southern Baptist Convention.</p>
<p>Hollyn Hollman, general counsel for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, pointed out the courts deal with the issue on a case-by-case basis because “factual distinctions matter and religion and gender are not treated the same in all circumstances.”</p>
<p>Seek legal assistance</p>
<p>Unfortunately, there is no one-stop place for churches to find answers to many employment legal questions. Church administrative professionals consider Richard Hammar’s four-volume <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0917463463?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=wwwbaptiststa-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0917463463" type="external">Pastor, Church &amp; Law</a> as the best place to start.</p>
<p>Hammar, a Springfield, Mo.-based attorney and certified public accountant, also offers help online at <a href="http://www.churchlawtoday.com" type="external">churchlawtoday.com</a>. The website primarily deals with tax and safety issues.</p>
<p>Church consultant Dan Garland of LifeWay Consulting said he generally directs churches to Hammar’s books first.</p>
<p>“Although the material is pretty technical …, I think a personnel committee can read and understand it,” he said.</p>
<p>The Texas Baptist <a href="http://www.bgct.org/texasbaptists/Page.aspx?pid=5127&amp;srcid=5130" type="external">Christian Life Commission</a> provides a “Keeping Your Church Out of Court” resource. The notebook contains forms a church can use to answer legal questions, to create job applications and screen personnel policies. It also offers advice on how a church can conduct its affairs under state and national laws and do so in a manner that provides some legal insulation from lawsuits.</p>
<p>The EEOC and the U.S. Department of Labor offer information and forms on their websites, as well.</p>
| false | 3 |
one characteristic robust religious freedom americans enjoy government doesnt control church church government doesnt mean churches lawless zones houses worship nonprofit religious organizations often granted exceptions exemptions legal standards apply corporate entities still must follow legal standards many areas employment laws seem among confusing churchesespecially deal workplace discrimination comes employment law maintaining churchstate separation becomes delicate balance preventing state interfering church polity governance still protecting workers employers including churches subject civil rights act 1964 prohibits discrimination several protected bases age race gender national origin example march us district court ruled greenforest community baptist church decatur ga two cases ruling church discriminated two women basis gender teacher fired teaching job offer withdrawn women involved become pregnant title vii civil rights act protects workers discriminated basis religion two exceptions religious exception religious exception allows churches religious organizations employ workers members faith tradition words discriminate basis religion baptist congregations require employees baptists original law applied positions activities considered strictly religious 1972 congress expanded exception include religious organizations activities although past baptist churches allowed hire baptist preachers ministers also permitted hire baptist secretaries custodians workers law also applies religious organizations related businesses including religious schools corporation presiding bishop church jesus christ latter day saints v amos case 1986 supreme court upheld churchs right refuse hire anyone outside religion even jobs religious nature church workers still often confused may lawgurucomone several websites provide general answers legal questions costposted church secretarys question possible reprimand job loss worships elsewhere even though neither membership participation required hired attorney responded church within rights require ministerial exception courts seem divided second title vii exceptionthe ministerial exceptionthat applies church employees perform religious functions exception provides religious organizations including churches immunity title vii claimsincluding nonreligious onesby ministerial employees mcclure v salvation army case birthed exception found governmental interference would intrude church administration governance equal employment opportunity commission defines religion broad terms applies exception church employees whose primary duties consist engaging church governance supervising religious order conducting religious ritual worship instruction courts interpreted law ministerial definition nearly opposing ways sometimes courts decided definition apply north carolina united methodist district unsuccessfully argued ministerial exception apply church minister accused sexual harassment courts ruled first amendment covers hiring firing discipline ministers doctrine practice guides church ultimately determines florida appellate court refused hear church members negligent hiring supervision claim church ministers sexual misconduct court decided evaluating churchs decision fire minister would unconstitutional sometimes exception applies laws example 5th us circuit court appeals rejected music directors claim americans disabilities act siding churchs argument music director fit laws definition minister courts also defined minister differently even though religious organizations difficulty convincing courts teachers included exception defined minister depending upon subject matter teach last year catholic school wisconsin downsized one teacher filed suit claiming age discrimination among reasons siding school court noted instructor taught religion classes could defined minister two 5th circuit court cases involving professors two baptist institutions handled differently mississippi college lost case couldnt satisfy court professors administrative staffers ministers yet different case southwestern baptist theological seminary professors accepted ministers court found provide religious instruction future ministers act intermediaries future ministers southern baptist convention hollyn hollman general counsel baptist joint committee religious liberty pointed courts deal issue casebycase basis factual distinctions matter religion gender treated circumstances seek legal assistance unfortunately onestop place churches find answers many employment legal questions church administrative professionals consider richard hammars fourvolume pastor church amp law best place start hammar springfield mobased attorney certified public accountant also offers help online churchlawtodaycom website primarily deals tax safety issues church consultant dan garland lifeway consulting said generally directs churches hammars books first although material pretty technical think personnel committee read understand said texas baptist christian life commission provides keeping church court resource notebook contains forms church use answer legal questions create job applications screen personnel policies also offers advice church conduct affairs state national laws manner provides legal insulation lawsuits eeoc us department labor offer information forms websites well
| 653 |
<p>Jan. 16, 2013</p>
<p>By Katy Grimes</p>
<p>SACRAMENTO — Health care in California is about to get a makeover. But this makeover will not be improving the look of healthcare in the state, despite California’s state-of-the-art medical facilities and teaching hospitals.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p><a href="http://ahea.assembly.ca.gov/" type="external">The Assembly Committee on Health</a> has been hard at work under the tutelage of Committee Chairman, Assemblyman <a href="http://www.asmdc.org/members/a09/" type="external">Dr. Richard Pan</a>, D-Sacramento, to prepare the state to implement health reforms enacted by the federal government’s&#160; <a href="http://www.healthcare.gov/law/full/index.html" type="external">Affordable Care Act,</a> more commonly known as <a href="http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-facts.php" type="external">Obamacare</a>.</p>
<p>The ACA requires states to launch online insurance marketplaces by 2014. California’s health exchange, “ <a href="http://www.healthexchange.ca.gov/Pages/Default.aspx" type="external">Covered California</a>,” is “ <a href="http://www.healthexchange.ca.gov/Pages/HBEXVisionMissionValues.aspx" type="external">guided by six primary values</a>,” and claims that health insurance costs will be lowered for all Californians.</p>
<p>But even at the hearing Tuesday, Marian Mulkey, Director of the <a href="http://www.chcf.org/" type="external">California Healthcare Foundation</a>, said costs will go up for young people — and down for older people. No one at the hearing made the case that, as the number of people covered under one California health insurance exchange dramatically increases, costs will go down — especially since <a href="http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/healthcare/aca_fs_exchange.pdf" type="external">1.8 million Californians are eligible for subsidies</a>, according to a recent U.C. Berkeley <a href="http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/healthcare/aca_fs_exchange.pdf" type="external">study</a>.</p>
<p>“Risk Pools” and “ <a href="http://www.nber.org/papers/w6107" type="external">Adverse Selection</a>” were on the agenda Tuesday at the <a href="http://ahea.assembly.ca.gov/" type="external">health committee</a>hearing. This is where the free market and individual choice are completely removed from health care.</p>
<p>“Adverse selection is the tendency for individuals to select different health insurance products based on what is most cost effective to meet their anticipated short term health needs and expected use of health services,” the <a href="http://www.asmdc.org/members/a09/" type="external">health committee</a>overview said.</p>
<p>Adverse selection occurs when people who anticipate they will need more health care purchase commensurate insurance coverage, and those who “consider themselves healthy” stay out of the market or purchase the minimal coverage.</p>
<p>None of this sounds unusual; that’s how the free market works when consumers have choices. But the health committee doesn’t approve of this and said that this free market approach “leads to an uneven distribution of risks and healthcare costs.”</p>
<p>This concept of “uneven distribution” is the crux of the entire Obamacare plan.&#160;“Many of those risk avoidance strategies will no longer be available because of the ACA,” the overview said.</p>
<p>The largest piece of health policy legislation in more than 45 years, the ACA was passed in 2010 amid much national opposition. The ACA mandated health coverage for almost everyone in the country, and subsidized the costs for low-income or unemployed people. The ACA also will dramatically expand Medicaid, the nation’s largest health coverage program, serving&#160;both low-income individuals and families, and providing long-term care services for people with&#160;disabilities, as well as the low-income elderly.</p>
<p>Medi-Cal,&#160;the&#160; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" type="external">California</a>&#160; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicaid" type="external">Medicaid</a>&#160; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare_in_California" type="external">welfare</a>&#160;program, serves low-income families, seniors, persons with disabilities, children in foster care, pregnant women and low-income adults.</p>
<p>According to the <a href="http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/dataandstats/statistics/Documents/2_1_Reporting_Year_FY2009-10.pdf" type="external">California Department of Health Care Services</a>,&#160;8.8 million residents were enrolled in Medi-Cal for at least 1 month in 2009-10, or about 23 percent of California’s entire population.</p>
<p>In 1996, Medicaid was separated from the welfare system, and increased dramatically in size to include people with disabilities, foster children, pregnant womenand low-income seniors.</p>
<p>In California, approximately 50 percent of the people have health coverage through an employer, 18 percent have health coverage through government programs such as Medi-Cal or Healthy Families, 12 percent purchase insurance directly from an insurance carrier or have federal veterans’ benefits and 20 percent are uninsured, according to the <a href="http://www.lao.ca.gov/reports/2013/calfacts/calfacts_010213.pdf" type="external">Legislative Analyst’s Office CalFacts 2013.</a></p>
<p>“One last consequence of adverse selection is that it leads to an inefficient, often inappropriate distribution of health insurance across the population,” according to&#160;David M. Cutler,&#160;Richard J. Zeckhauser&#160;in a <a href="http://www.nber.org/papers/w6107" type="external">1997 report</a>. The report&#160;was quoted by the Assembly Health Committee in its Jan. 15, 2013 overview paper, “ <a href="http://www.asmdc.org/members/a09/pdf/AD09-AdverseSelectionBriefingPaper.pdf" type="external">Health Insurance Informational Hearing:&#160;What Policy Makers Need to Know&#160;About Risk Pools and Adverse Selection</a>.”</p>
<p>The committee is using 2013 statistics on California’s population, but referencing a report from 1997 on uneven distribution of health coverage. Since 1997, not only has Obamacare been enacted, but in 2003, President Bush <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_Prescription_Drug,_Improvement,_and_Modernization_Act" type="external">signed into law</a>a major expansion of Medicare drug provision to the elderly.</p>
<p>“One of the main reasons that adverse selection occurs is that there are so many insurance products available with varying levels of coverage and costs from which to choose,” the Assembly overview paper said. The health committee proposed to take care of this by standardizing insurance plans. “Thus, insurance companies will not be competing for enrollees primarily based on significant differences in the comprehensiveness of coverage,” the Affordable Care Act and California’s implementation “contemplates coverage among insurers based on price, quality and service instead of benefits or enrollee risk.” This is a model borrowed from the Kaiser health system, but implemented with the full powers of the state.</p>
<p>The federal government and the state of California are attempting to level the playing field and equalize health coverage. In doing so, they have to pass mandates on all insurance companies, preventing them from offering anything unique to Californians.</p>
<p>“As long as coverage is available outside the exchange, healthy individuals and groups may find cheaper policies, or employer-sponsored groups may self-insure, leaving only unhealthy groups in the exchange,” the overview paper said.</p>
<p>Critics pointed out that this is just what Obamacare would bring, leading to a degradation of the whole medical system in California, and eventually America.</p>
| false | 3 |
jan 16 2013 katy grimes sacramento health care california get makeover makeover improving look healthcare state despite californias stateoftheart medical facilities teaching hospitals assembly committee health hard work tutelage committee chairman assemblyman dr richard pan dsacramento prepare state implement health reforms enacted federal governments160 affordable care act commonly known obamacare aca requires states launch online insurance marketplaces 2014 californias health exchange covered california guided six primary values claims health insurance costs lowered californians even hearing tuesday marian mulkey director california healthcare foundation said costs go young people older people one hearing made case number people covered one california health insurance exchange dramatically increases costs go especially since 18 million californians eligible subsidies according recent uc berkeley study risk pools adverse selection agenda tuesday health committeehearing free market individual choice completely removed health care adverse selection tendency individuals select different health insurance products based cost effective meet anticipated short term health needs expected use health services health committeeoverview said adverse selection occurs people anticipate need health care purchase commensurate insurance coverage consider healthy stay market purchase minimal coverage none sounds unusual thats free market works consumers choices health committee doesnt approve said free market approach leads uneven distribution risks healthcare costs concept uneven distribution crux entire obamacare plan160many risk avoidance strategies longer available aca overview said largest piece health policy legislation 45 years aca passed 2010 amid much national opposition aca mandated health coverage almost everyone country subsidized costs lowincome unemployed people aca also dramatically expand medicaid nations largest health coverage program serving160both lowincome individuals families providing longterm care services people with160disabilities well lowincome elderly medical160the160 california160 medicaid160 welfare160program serves lowincome families seniors persons disabilities children foster care pregnant women lowincome adults according california department health care services16088 million residents enrolled medical least 1 month 200910 23 percent californias entire population 1996 medicaid separated welfare system increased dramatically size include people disabilities foster children pregnant womenand lowincome seniors california approximately 50 percent people health coverage employer 18 percent health coverage government programs medical healthy families 12 percent purchase insurance directly insurance carrier federal veterans benefits 20 percent uninsured according legislative analysts office calfacts 2013 one last consequence adverse selection leads inefficient often inappropriate distribution health insurance across population according to160david cutler160richard j zeckhauser160in 1997 report report160was quoted assembly health committee jan 15 2013 overview paper health insurance informational hearing160what policy makers need know160about risk pools adverse selection committee using 2013 statistics californias population referencing report 1997 uneven distribution health coverage since 1997 obamacare enacted 2003 president bush signed lawa major expansion medicare drug provision elderly one main reasons adverse selection occurs many insurance products available varying levels coverage costs choose assembly overview paper said health committee proposed take care standardizing insurance plans thus insurance companies competing enrollees primarily based significant differences comprehensiveness coverage affordable care act californias implementation contemplates coverage among insurers based price quality service instead benefits enrollee risk model borrowed kaiser health system implemented full powers state federal government state california attempting level playing field equalize health coverage pass mandates insurance companies preventing offering anything unique californians long coverage available outside exchange healthy individuals groups may find cheaper policies employersponsored groups may selfinsure leaving unhealthy groups exchange overview paper said critics pointed obamacare would bring leading degradation whole medical system california eventually america
| 544 |
<p>BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - It was an awkward moment for Anibal Fernandez, Argentina's former Cabinet chief, when President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner interrupted herself during a recent speech to order him to convert his savings from dollars to pesos.</p>
<p>Days earlier, Mr Fernandez had defended new restrictions on purchasing greenbacks and told Argentines they should start to "think in pesos."</p>
<p>But he was later caught out in a radio interview when pushed on why he had chosen to save in dollars. "Because I feel like it," he eventually responded. "I do what I want with my money."</p>
<p>The dollar is legal tender in Argentina and is the preferred currency for real-estate transactions. Many Argentines also save in dollars as they view it as safer than their historically unstable peso.</p>
<p>But on Friday morning, the country's central bank announced it will bar Argentines from buying dollars for purchasing property and for saving.</p>
<p>The currency controls form part of an intensification of President Fernandez de Kirchner's interventionist policies. These also include severe import restrictions and the nationalization of YPF, Argentina's biggest oil company, in April - moves that have caused jitters among foreign investors and angered ally governments overseas.</p>
<p>Now, some Argentines fear the economy will go full peso - known as "pesification" or "de-dollarization."</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/argentina/120427/oil-repsol-YPF-cristina-fernandez-de-kirchner" type="external">Argentina's oil grab - crude or shrewd?</a></p>
<p>Axel Kicillof, the economy deputy minister and rising star of the president's inner circle, has denied that plan is afoot. But recent moves seem to suggest otherwise.</p>
<p>This month, the government introduced checks that oblige Argentines to inform the federal tax agency, known as AFIP, when they travel abroad. They must disclose in which currency they paid for the holiday and a string of other details.</p>
<p>Last October, the Fernandez de Kirchner administration imposed stringent foreign exchange controls. People or businesses wanting to purchase dollars are now vetted by the tax agency, with many requests being refused.</p>
<p>Manuel Jimenez, a barman in Buenos Aires, has saved dollars stuffed under his mattress. "I'm not changing them to pesos," he says. "I'm holding on to them because I may never get access to dollars again."</p>
<p>The government says the restrictions are necessary in order to combat money laundering and stem capital flight.</p>
<p>Argentina lost around $30 billion in illicit capital flight last year, according to figures from the Bank of Buenos Aires.</p>
<p>But Leandro Bullor, an economic historian at the University of Buenos Aires, told GlobalPost that the president needs to replenish dollar reserves because of a $2.2 billion bond payment due in August.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/bolivia/120501/bolivia-nationalizes-spanish-owned-electrical-grid" type="external">Bolivia grabs its grid</a></p>
<p>Inflation, which independent economists say stands at 25 percent, is another problem the government needs to confront.</p>
<p>"In terms of inflation, Argentina is like a recovered alcoholic," Alberto Fernandez, another former cabinet chief, told a leading Buenos Aires newspaper. "But we've never had a problem with the dollar like there is today. Cristina has spent a lot of the reserves."</p>
<p>(He was referring to the president, whom Argentines often call either by her first name or her name by marriage, Kirchner, from her late husband and predecessor, President Nestor Kirchner.)</p>
<p>The president announced she would convert her savings into pesos, claiming it is more profitable. But it will take more than that to convince Argentines, who distrust the peso after enduring a history of economic crises, inflation, and devaluation.</p>
<p>The informal currency market is flourishing with money changers in the center of the capital offering 6 pesos to the dollar. The official rate of around 4.50 "can't be sustained much longer," says Bullor, who insists devaluation is on its way.</p>
<p>The dollar restrictions have sparked a series of "cacerolazos," a "casserole" protest where demonstrators bang pots and pans in the street.</p>
<p>That clamor became famous here during Argentina's financial collapse of 2001, but it can be traced back to the early 1970s in neighboring Chile, where it emerged as a form of protest against Salvador Allende's socialist government. Cacerolazos have also spread as far as Spain and, recently, Quebec.</p>
<p>Read more: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/canada/120531/quebec-bangs-pots-and-pans-growing-protests" type="external">Quebec bangs pots for the right to protest</a></p>
<p>Lucho Bugallo, an organizer of the recent Argentine protests, claims that 7,000 people gathered mid-June in wealthy neighborhoods of Buenos Aires before marching to the presidential palace.</p>
<p>Local media, however, reported much lower numbers.</p>
<p>The protests are instigated by Argentina's middle class. They've turned against the president because of alleged corruption - including a scandal involving the vice president - and the soaring inflation rate, denied by the government.</p>
<p>Holding up signs that read "It's OK to think differently," they also claim Fernandez de Kirchner is trying to quash the free press and say street crime is on the increase.</p>
<p>"We're tired of an opposition that crosses its arms and does nothing," Bugallo, founder of the website Argentina Contra K (Argentina against Kirchner), told GlobalPost. "The streets are a place for us to unite."</p>
<p>Bugallo also claims that the protests - coordinated through social networks - hold more legitimacy than mass rallies orchestrated by political movements aligned with the government.</p>
<p>In May, around 30,000 people celebrated outside Congress when the bill to expropriate oil company YPF from Repsol, the Spanish energy giant, was passed.</p>
<p>"Kirchnerist groups create an air of fanaticism and have huge organizational structures to encourage members to rally," Bugallo says. "But people join the cacerolazos of their own will."</p>
<p>The president has pursued a policy of social inclusion and neo-Keynesian state intervention, analysts say.</p>
<p>"These protesters crave a return to the neoliberal policies of the 1990s," says Bullor, the economic historian.</p>
<p>The recent cacerolazos are less significant than those triggered by a government bill to increase export tax on farmers in 2008. But they still represent discontent with Fernandez de Kirchner's policies after she was re-elected with 54 percent of the vote last October.</p>
<p>Since then, the president's approval rating has dropped significantly, from around 63 percent to just 39 percent, according to polls.</p>
<p>While the lower classes continue to back her, others view the manner in which she nationalized YPF - by emergency decree - as undemocratic. Opponents say her social policies, including a universal child allowance, are skewed toward the short-term.</p>
<p>Import restrictions are criticized by the United States and the European Union. The latter has taken steps to enforce trade sanctions.</p>
<p>Fernandez de Kirchner has also renewed claim to the Falkland Islands, which lie 300 miles off the coast of Argentine Patagonia but are controlled by Britain. Her push for the Falklands has sparked a fierce war of words with the islanders and the UK, 30 years after Great Britain thwarted an invasion of the islands by an Argentine military regime. Critics say the new claim to the Falklands is an attempt to whip up nationalist pride and deflect attention from economic problems.</p>
<p>They also make comparisons with Venezuela, which suffers from high inflation as well. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has nationalized industry, employed a protectionist economic policy, spent heavily on social programs for the poor - and enforced dollar restrictions.</p>
<p>El Cronista, a business newspaper critical of the Argentine government, published a recent article under the headline: "Argenzuela."</p>
<p>"Like in Venezuela, Argentina's economic policy has already scared off investors," says political analyst Jorge Castro. "And it now risks alienating the country entirely."</p>
<p>From the Suite Spot: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/argentina/120321/fuzzy-math-behind-argentina-growth" type="external">The Argentine economy's fuzzy math problem</a></p>
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buenos aires argentina awkward moment anibal fernandez argentinas former cabinet chief president cristina fernandez de kirchner interrupted recent speech order convert savings dollars pesos days earlier mr fernandez defended new restrictions purchasing greenbacks told argentines start think pesos later caught radio interview pushed chosen save dollars feel like eventually responded want money dollar legal tender argentina preferred currency realestate transactions many argentines also save dollars view safer historically unstable peso friday morning countrys central bank announced bar argentines buying dollars purchasing property saving currency controls form part intensification president fernandez de kirchners interventionist policies also include severe import restrictions nationalization ypf argentinas biggest oil company april moves caused jitters among foreign investors angered ally governments overseas argentines fear economy go full peso known pesification dedollarization globalpost argentinas oil grab crude shrewd axel kicillof economy deputy minister rising star presidents inner circle denied plan afoot recent moves seem suggest otherwise month government introduced checks oblige argentines inform federal tax agency known afip travel abroad must disclose currency paid holiday string details last october fernandez de kirchner administration imposed stringent foreign exchange controls people businesses wanting purchase dollars vetted tax agency many requests refused manuel jimenez barman buenos aires saved dollars stuffed mattress im changing pesos says im holding may never get access dollars government says restrictions necessary order combat money laundering stem capital flight argentina lost around 30 billion illicit capital flight last year according figures bank buenos aires leandro bullor economic historian university buenos aires told globalpost president needs replenish dollar reserves 22 billion bond payment due august globalpost bolivia grabs grid inflation independent economists say stands 25 percent another problem government needs confront terms inflation argentina like recovered alcoholic alberto fernandez another former cabinet chief told leading buenos aires newspaper weve never problem dollar like today cristina spent lot reserves referring president argentines often call either first name name marriage kirchner late husband predecessor president nestor kirchner president announced would convert savings pesos claiming profitable take convince argentines distrust peso enduring history economic crises inflation devaluation informal currency market flourishing money changers center capital offering 6 pesos dollar official rate around 450 cant sustained much longer says bullor insists devaluation way dollar restrictions sparked series cacerolazos casserole protest demonstrators bang pots pans street clamor became famous argentinas financial collapse 2001 traced back early 1970s neighboring chile emerged form protest salvador allendes socialist government cacerolazos also spread far spain recently quebec read quebec bangs pots right protest lucho bugallo organizer recent argentine protests claims 7000 people gathered midjune wealthy neighborhoods buenos aires marching presidential palace local media however reported much lower numbers protests instigated argentinas middle class theyve turned president alleged corruption including scandal involving vice president soaring inflation rate denied government holding signs read ok think differently also claim fernandez de kirchner trying quash free press say street crime increase tired opposition crosses arms nothing bugallo founder website argentina contra k argentina kirchner told globalpost streets place us unite bugallo also claims protests coordinated social networks hold legitimacy mass rallies orchestrated political movements aligned government may around 30000 people celebrated outside congress bill expropriate oil company ypf repsol spanish energy giant passed kirchnerist groups create air fanaticism huge organizational structures encourage members rally bugallo says people join cacerolazos president pursued policy social inclusion neokeynesian state intervention analysts say protesters crave return neoliberal policies 1990s says bullor economic historian recent cacerolazos less significant triggered government bill increase export tax farmers 2008 still represent discontent fernandez de kirchners policies reelected 54 percent vote last october since presidents approval rating dropped significantly around 63 percent 39 percent according polls lower classes continue back others view manner nationalized ypf emergency decree undemocratic opponents say social policies including universal child allowance skewed toward shortterm import restrictions criticized united states european union latter taken steps enforce trade sanctions fernandez de kirchner also renewed claim falkland islands lie 300 miles coast argentine patagonia controlled britain push falklands sparked fierce war words islanders uk 30 years great britain thwarted invasion islands argentine military regime critics say new claim falklands attempt whip nationalist pride deflect attention economic problems also make comparisons venezuela suffers high inflation well venezuelan president hugo chavez nationalized industry employed protectionist economic policy spent heavily social programs poor enforced dollar restrictions el cronista business newspaper critical argentine government published recent article headline argenzuela like venezuela argentinas economic policy already scared investors says political analyst jorge castro risks alienating country entirely suite spot argentine economys fuzzy math problem
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<p>China's state-run sports academies have long produced a stream of Olympic successes, but an evolving middle class may be slowing the mighty machine's churn of medals.</p>
<p>Putting young athletes through the grinder at so-called "athlete factories" was for decades a winning strategy: China has won more than 500 medals since returning to the Olympic fold in 1980 — including a haul of 51 golds when Beijing hosted the 2008 Games.</p>
<p>But through 11:15 a.m. ET on Sunday, there were just 70 visits by Chinese athletes <a href="http://www.nbcolympics.com/medals" type="external">to the podiums in Rio</a> — down from 88 in London — signaling the old system could be struggling to keep pace with a changing China. The country was third overall in <a href="http://www.nbcolympics.com/medals" type="external">gold medals</a> — with 26— behind the U.S. (43) and Great Britain (27). China boasted 38 champions at the 2012 Games.</p>
<p>China has a population of at least 1.4 billion. Great Britain has been buoyed by investment in infrastructure and training linked to hosting the London Olympics — but is home to only 65 million people.</p>
<p>“Before the 1980s, China had limited working opportunities for its people,” explained Dong Jinxia, director of the Peking University Research Center for Gender, Sports and Society, “But with rapid economic development, especially after the 1990s, there are more jobs in China. And with the one-child policy, parents became unwilling to let their children endure the hardship of training.”</p>
<p>With the growth of the country’s middle class, enrollment at state sports schools has dropped so significantly that even top-level academies are being forced to cancel or consolidate training programs.</p>
<p>The number of sports schools is down to 2,183 from a peak of 3,687 in 1990, according to government figures.</p>
<p>Beijing’s Shichahai Sports School is one cog in the national sports strategy that until now has churned out 95 percent of the country’s champions. For years it was considered a key production line of top-rated athletes and its gymnastics team was famous for producing gold-medal performances.</p>
<p>While posters of China's Olympic stars adorn the walls, vice principal Zhang Jing told NBC News the school's focus has shifted to more “comprehensive development” aimed at ensuring students are preparing not only for competition but also for life.</p>
<p>That has meant a transformation at the eliteacademy. The school no longer offers weightlifting or volleyball training programs; its legendary gymnastics facility is now an indoor driving range.</p>
<p>Zhang Yuan Rong takes golf lessons there three times a week. The 7-year-old told NBC News she does not care if she ever competes — then smiled as she shyly admitted she is “pretty good” at it.</p>
<p>“My parents play golf,” she said when we asked her why she took up the sport. “They told me no matter how old you get, you can always golf.”</p>
<p>That kids are playing sports for fun or fitness might not seem odd to many American parents, but in China it signals a sea change in the country's approach to the critical role of sports in life.</p>
<p>A Soviet-style training infrastructure was established in the 1950s as post-revolutionary China looked to earn a place in the world. Sport became a tool for the Communist government to rally national pride, and parents viewed the subsidized system as a chance for their children to prosper.</p>
<p>Since then, China’s strict training system often has been associated with agonized images of tearful children locked in grueling routines and being forced to live away from their families. The reputation is not unwarranted: Only after diver Wu Minxia won gold at the London 2012 Olympics she was she told of her mother’s long battle with breast cancer and the death of her grandparents over a year earlier.</p>
<p>“We accepted a long time ago that she doesn’t belong entirely to us,” her father, Wu Yuming, told the Shanghai Morning Post at the time. “I don’t even dare to think about things like enjoying family happiness.”</p>
<p>Increasingly, the system has been criticized among Chinese for its failure to prepare athletes for what comes after competition. An estimated 80 percent of about 300,000 retired athletes have struggled with injuries, joblessness, or poverty, according to China Sports Daily, a newspaper run by the government’s Physical Education and Sport Committee.</p>
<p>“All of our focus was on training and competition to fight for the glory of our country,” former gymnast Zhang Shangwu told NBC New. At age 5, Zhang was living with his aging grandparents — who convinced his divorced mother the state-run sport system would care for him.</p>
<p>Recruiters visited and identified Zhang’s hands as being well-suited to gymnastics; by 9 he was training full-time at a school away from home.</p>
<p>Zhang performed well and won at the provincial and national levels, but ruptured his Achilles tendon while training for a spot on the Olympic team for the Sydney 2000 Games. The injury ended his career and eventually his financial support from China’s government. For the first time, at 23, he found himself on his own.</p>
<p>“I didn’t even know how to cook,” Zhang recalled. “I had to learn everything from the beginning. Athletes have little life experience.”</p>
<p>At first he worked at restaurants, delivering food and washing dishes. But he says his years of hard training made the long shifts unbearable.</p>
<p>Now 33, Zhang moves between cities selling bracelets near subway stations and says he often sleeps at fast-food restaurants.</p>
<p>He wears a Team China shirt and fake Nike sneakers; a worn-out photograph showing him at competition and sign about his past decorate his display. While he once performed for adoring crowds; Zhang now does handstands to attract customers on the street.</p>
<p>“I wish I had a different life,” Zhang told NBC News.</p>
<p>Not all retired athletes in China are as destitute as Zhang. Many are rewarded with jobs, apartments, or subsidies — and some become celebrities, such as tennis star Li Na.</p>
<p>But since 2007, the state has had to direct at least $4 million a year toward welfare programs and social assistance for former athletes.</p>
<p>There are no official statistics on the number of student athletes currently in the state sport school system, though estimates range between 30,000 and 50,000. While figures are hard to come by, the number of athletes training for table tennis for example is estimated to have dropped by around 25 percent since 1987.</p>
<p>While the number of athletes entering the system is expected to fall even further, fears that China will lose its overall edge may be overblown, said Mark Dreyer, a Beijing-based sports analyst and commentator.</p>
<p>"China has 1.3 or 1.4 billion people. They are not going to have a shortage of athletes," he told NBC News. “If more people are choosing to do sports and actually enjoying themselves rather than enduring the pain of the training schools, that should create a larger pyramid of athletes. [And with] at least some of the old training techniques that have hardly been banished, medal-winning talent will still rise to the top.”</p>
<p>China’s government still dedicates millions of dollars every year to its investment to maintain superiority at the highest levels. Each Olympic gold medal has cost China at least $7 million, according to estimates.</p>
<p>But the decline in dominance is evident in the medal tally from Rio and lower numbers of student athletes.</p>
<p>That has no bearing on Fu Yu, who aspires to one day compete for a medal in women's tae kwon do. She's undeterred by the training schedule to get there; six days a week at Shichahai.</p>
<p>“I long for school life at times,” the 19-year-old said. “[But] representing the country at an international competition would be the greatest honor.”</p>
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chinas staterun sports academies long produced stream olympic successes evolving middle class may slowing mighty machines churn medals putting young athletes grinder socalled athlete factories decades winning strategy china 500 medals since returning olympic fold 1980 including haul 51 golds beijing hosted 2008 games 1115 et sunday 70 visits chinese athletes podiums rio 88 london signaling old system could struggling keep pace changing china country third overall gold medals 26 behind us 43 great britain 27 china boasted 38 champions 2012 games china population least 14 billion great britain buoyed investment infrastructure training linked hosting london olympics home 65 million people 1980s china limited working opportunities people explained dong jinxia director peking university research center gender sports society rapid economic development especially 1990s jobs china onechild policy parents became unwilling let children endure hardship training growth countrys middle class enrollment state sports schools dropped significantly even toplevel academies forced cancel consolidate training programs number sports schools 2183 peak 3687 1990 according government figures beijings shichahai sports school one cog national sports strategy churned 95 percent countrys champions years considered key production line toprated athletes gymnastics team famous producing goldmedal performances posters chinas olympic stars adorn walls vice principal zhang jing told nbc news schools focus shifted comprehensive development aimed ensuring students preparing competition also life meant transformation eliteacademy school longer offers weightlifting volleyball training programs legendary gymnastics facility indoor driving range zhang yuan rong takes golf lessons three times week 7yearold told nbc news care ever competes smiled shyly admitted pretty good parents play golf said asked took sport told matter old get always golf kids playing sports fun fitness might seem odd many american parents china signals sea change countrys approach critical role sports life sovietstyle training infrastructure established 1950s postrevolutionary china looked earn place world sport became tool communist government rally national pride parents viewed subsidized system chance children prosper since chinas strict training system often associated agonized images tearful children locked grueling routines forced live away families reputation unwarranted diver wu minxia gold london 2012 olympics told mothers long battle breast cancer death grandparents year earlier accepted long time ago doesnt belong entirely us father wu yuming told shanghai morning post time dont even dare think things like enjoying family happiness increasingly system criticized among chinese failure prepare athletes comes competition estimated 80 percent 300000 retired athletes struggled injuries joblessness poverty according china sports daily newspaper run governments physical education sport committee focus training competition fight glory country former gymnast zhang shangwu told nbc new age 5 zhang living aging grandparents convinced divorced mother staterun sport system would care recruiters visited identified zhangs hands wellsuited gymnastics 9 training fulltime school away home zhang performed well provincial national levels ruptured achilles tendon training spot olympic team sydney 2000 games injury ended career eventually financial support chinas government first time 23 found didnt even know cook zhang recalled learn everything beginning athletes little life experience first worked restaurants delivering food washing dishes says years hard training made long shifts unbearable 33 zhang moves cities selling bracelets near subway stations says often sleeps fastfood restaurants wears team china shirt fake nike sneakers wornout photograph showing competition sign past decorate display performed adoring crowds zhang handstands attract customers street wish different life zhang told nbc news retired athletes china destitute zhang many rewarded jobs apartments subsidies become celebrities tennis star li na since 2007 state direct least 4 million year toward welfare programs social assistance former athletes official statistics number student athletes currently state sport school system though estimates range 30000 50000 figures hard come number athletes training table tennis example estimated dropped around 25 percent since 1987 number athletes entering system expected fall even fears china lose overall edge may overblown said mark dreyer beijingbased sports analyst commentator china 13 14 billion people going shortage athletes told nbc news people choosing sports actually enjoying rather enduring pain training schools create larger pyramid athletes least old training techniques hardly banished medalwinning talent still rise top chinas government still dedicates millions dollars every year investment maintain superiority highest levels olympic gold medal cost china least 7 million according estimates decline dominance evident medal tally rio lower numbers student athletes bearing fu yu aspires one day compete medal womens tae kwon shes undeterred training schedule get six days week shichahai long school life times 19yearold said representing country international competition would greatest honor
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<p>It’s been happening all over the country for years: &#160; Muslims immigrants of different nationalities banding together to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/29/mosques-in-united-states-study_n_1307851.html" type="external">build mosques</a> to celebrate their faith.&#160; And predictably, perhaps, there’s been a <a href="https://www.aclu.org/map/nationwide-anti-mosque-activity" type="external">fierce backlash</a> from some native-born Americans who are against the new construction surge.</p>
<p>In many cases, local city councils and planning boards have turned down a Muslim association’s application for a building permit;&#160; the group’s plans have gone awry, leaving its congregants, many of them long-time American citizens, angry and confused.</p>
<p>But in the waning days of the Obama administration, Muslim mosque-builders have found a powerful new friend:&#160; the White House. With barely a week to go before the inauguration of a new president who has promised a <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/10/10/trump-muslim-ban-morphs-into-extreme-vetting-clinton-presidential-debate/91844000/" type="external">tough crackdown</a> on Muslim immigrants, the Obama Justice department has begun filing <a href="http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/department-of-justice-suit-mosque-religion/2016/12/13/id/763748/" type="external">lawsuits</a> against local governments that have denied the mosque building permits, arguing that their actions violate the 14th amendment and the <a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/religious-land-use-and-institutionalized-persons-act" type="external">Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act</a>, which specifically protects religious worship construction from racial discrimination.</p>
<p>Muslims mosque construction is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/28/us/north-dakota-mosque-a-symbol-of-muslims-deep-ties-in-america.html?_r=0" type="external">hardly new</a>.&#160; But with the arrival of large numbers of Muslims immigrants beginning in the 1990s, the <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jun/23/local/la-me-ln-mosque-building-booms-as-muslim-american-clout-grows-20130623" type="external">pace</a> has increased.&#160; However, following 9/11 and the more recent terrorist attack in Boston, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/23/boston-mosque-radicals/2101411/" type="external">concerns</a> that mosques might become recruitment grounds for radical jihadis, or worse logistical centers for Al-Qaeda, and more recently ISIS, have grown.</p>
<p>Conservative organizations like the <a href="http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/2011/12/15/study-shows-u-s-mosques-are-repositories-of-muslim-brotherhood-literature-and-preachers-2/" type="external">Center for National Security</a>, a number of ex-FBI and intelligence officials, and prominent Republican members of Congress have sounded the alarm, charging that Muslim mosque construction constitutes a “national security” threat.</p>
<p>Donald Trump, for much of his presidential campaign, echoed these charges, arguing that the mosques should be subject to <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-idUSKCN0Z12AS" type="external">close surveillance</a> and even calling for some to be closed.&#160; Muslim American groups have fired back, demanding their right to religious freedom.&#160; However, in recent months they have also launched publicity campaigns in conjunction with other religious faith groups hoping to defuse hostility, even organizing visits of non-Muslims to their mosques.&#160; These efforts have increased dramatically since Trump won the presidential election two months ago.</p>
<p>Culpeper, a rural Virginia county a short drive south of Washington, DC, may be <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/department-of-justice-sues-culpeper-county-virginia-discrimination-mosque-construction" type="external">ground zero</a> for what is fast turning into a new culture war surrounding Muslim mosques.&#160; Culpeper Muslims had congregated for worship beginning in 2011 but were meeting in a cramped house adjacent to a used car lot.&#160; Their congregation was growing as the number of Muslim immigrant families in the area swelled.&#160; It took them five years to find a nearby site that seemed appropriate for the mosque they had in mind and they dutifully applied for a permit.</p>
<p>But after a wave of local protests, the Culpeper city council turned down the Islamic Council of Culpeper (ICC)’s land use permit, citing problems with sanitation and sewage.&#160; The ICC charges that the permit rejection was strictly political and had nothing to do with land use issues.&#160; They cite numerous other instances across the United States in which their construction permits have been denied, ostensibly based on land use concerns — sewage and parking being the most common — but in fact, due to thinly-veiled Islamophobia.</p>
<p>Officials in towns like Culpeper and Bernard’s Township, New Jersey, where <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/18/nyregion/us-says-new-jersey-town-that-denied-mosque-discriminated-against-muslims.html?_r=0" type="external">another fierce dispute</a> continues, argue that courts are overstepping their bounds.&#160; In the New Jersey case, city officials relied on an assessment from a civil engineer who argued that the mosque applicants had grossly underestimated the amount of parking space that would be required to accommodate future mosque congregants and the mosque would constitute an undue burden on the land and local traffic.</p>
<p>Muslim religious activists claim that these issues are classic “red herrings.”&#160; These same towns routinely approve land use permits by Christian groups seeking to build churches and Jewish groups seeking to construct synagogues, they say.&#160; And they are not required to meet the onerous and seemingly arbitrary burdens imposed by local governments — often late in the planning process when it is too late to modify their construction and financing plans.</p>
<p>But local officials dispute that claim.&#160; They argue that each case is different and cannot be treated under the same narrow rules of strict equivalence. Muslims because of their religious observance schedule – many individual congregants come straight from work on Friday nights, alone in their cars – have greater parking needs, they argue, and that means a different parking space standard might be applied.</p>
<p>Who’s right?&#160; A federal judge in December <a href="http://newjersey.news12.com/news/federal-judge-bernards-township-s-reasons-for-denying-mosque-unconstitutional-1.12836867" type="external">struck down as unconstitutional</a> the Bernard Township’s rejection of a local Muslims group’s construction permit.&#160; &#160;The Justice department has just filed suit in the Culpeper case, and a flurry of additional actions may be coming in the few days left before Trump takes the oath of office.</p>
<p>All this could change, however, if Senator Jeff Sessions, who has previously&#160; <a href="http://www.alternet.org/grayzone-project/jeff-sessions-defends-anti-muslim-extremist-david-horowitz-calling-him-brilliant" type="external">supported</a> a crackdown on mosques, is confirmed as Trump’s new Attorney General.&#160;&#160; Obama, who waited until early this year to make his <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/feb/3/obama-praises-muslims-first-mosque-visit/" type="external">first mosque visit</a>, is trying ever so belatedly to stem a rising conservative tide.&#160; But there’s nothing to keep the incoming administration from reversing course and naming&#160; <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-to-inherit-more-than-100-court-vacancies-plans-to-reshape-judiciary/2016/12/25/d190dd18-c928-11e6-85b5-76616a33048d_story.html?utm_term=.0424e6ee4a16" type="external">dozens of new circuit and district court judges</a> that could well side with localities in future disputes.</p>
<p />
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happening country years 160 muslims immigrants different nationalities banding together build mosques celebrate faith160 predictably perhaps theres fierce backlash nativeborn americans new construction surge many cases local city councils planning boards turned muslim associations application building permit160 groups plans gone awry leaving congregants many longtime american citizens angry confused waning days obama administration muslim mosquebuilders found powerful new friend160 white house barely week go inauguration new president promised tough crackdown muslim immigrants obama justice department begun filing lawsuits local governments denied mosque building permits arguing actions violate 14th amendment religious land use institutionalized persons act specifically protects religious worship construction racial discrimination muslims mosque construction hardly new160 arrival large numbers muslims immigrants beginning 1990s pace increased160 however following 911 recent terrorist attack boston concerns mosques might become recruitment grounds radical jihadis worse logistical centers alqaeda recently isis grown conservative organizations like center national security number exfbi intelligence officials prominent republican members congress sounded alarm charging muslim mosque construction constitutes national security threat donald trump much presidential campaign echoed charges arguing mosques subject close surveillance even calling closed160 muslim american groups fired back demanding right religious freedom160 however recent months also launched publicity campaigns conjunction religious faith groups hoping defuse hostility even organizing visits nonmuslims mosques160 efforts increased dramatically since trump presidential election two months ago culpeper rural virginia county short drive south washington dc may ground zero fast turning new culture war surrounding muslim mosques160 culpeper muslims congregated worship beginning 2011 meeting cramped house adjacent used car lot160 congregation growing number muslim immigrant families area swelled160 took five years find nearby site seemed appropriate mosque mind dutifully applied permit wave local protests culpeper city council turned islamic council culpeper iccs land use permit citing problems sanitation sewage160 icc charges permit rejection strictly political nothing land use issues160 cite numerous instances across united states construction permits denied ostensibly based land use concerns sewage parking common fact due thinlyveiled islamophobia officials towns like culpeper bernards township new jersey another fierce dispute continues argue courts overstepping bounds160 new jersey case city officials relied assessment civil engineer argued mosque applicants grossly underestimated amount parking space would required accommodate future mosque congregants mosque would constitute undue burden land local traffic muslim religious activists claim issues classic red herrings160 towns routinely approve land use permits christian groups seeking build churches jewish groups seeking construct synagogues say160 required meet onerous seemingly arbitrary burdens imposed local governments often late planning process late modify construction financing plans local officials dispute claim160 argue case different treated narrow rules strict equivalence muslims religious observance schedule many individual congregants come straight work friday nights alone cars greater parking needs argue means different parking space standard might applied whos right160 federal judge december struck unconstitutional bernard townships rejection local muslims groups construction permit160 160the justice department filed suit culpeper case flurry additional actions may coming days left trump takes oath office could change however senator jeff sessions previously160 supported crackdown mosques confirmed trumps new attorney general160160 obama waited early year make first mosque visit trying ever belatedly stem rising conservative tide160 theres nothing keep incoming administration reversing course naming160 dozens new circuit district court judges could well side localities future disputes
| 528 |
<p>BERLIN, Germany — When news broke last year that the US National Security Agency had snooped on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone calls, Germans were outraged.</p>
<p>Then Germany’s BND intelligence service was caught having spied on US Secretary of State John Kerry and his predecessor Hillary Clinton.</p>
<p>By the time it emerged in September that the two agencies were sharing information each had collected about the other country’s leaders, the convoluted spy-versus-spy game between the two allies seemed to verge on the absurd.</p>
<p>That led German lawmaker Patrick Sensburg, chair of a parliamentary inquiry into the alleged NSA spying, to propose officials use typewriters in order to avoid digital surveillance.</p>
<p>The suggestion prompted amusement and disdain, but it came as no surprise to tech analyst Avivah Litan.</p>
<p>“When my clients ask me how to really secure their systems, I tell them to get off of the internet,” she says. “Nuclear reactors are not connected to the internet.”</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/united-kingdom/141121/government-whistleblowers-nsa-fbi-gchq-snowden-manning" type="external">5 things government whistleblowers say you must know</a></p>
<p>Now the German government is scrambling to find new ways of keeping sensitive information from prying eyes.</p>
<p>“Hackers and national security services operate in the same ways,” Litan says. “The techniques cyber criminals use to steal money, spies use to steal intellectual property and governments use to steal whatever they need — they’re very similar.”</p>
<p>In the quest to avoid future security breaches, officials here are drawing inspiration from the past as well as investing in cutting-edge research.</p>
<p>Although the BND wouldn’t confirm or deny using typewriters for sensitive communiques, the idea is gaining currency.</p>
<p>German typewriter manufacturer Truimph-Adler boasted in a recent advertisement that it had manufactured “NSA-proof” machines for Russian Federal Security Service operatives — the successors to the KGB — who wanted to communicate without leaving electronic traces.</p>
<p>But not everyone has confidence in the typewriter’s efficacy.</p>
<p>“We just have to go back to the techniques we’ve used in the 1960s and 1970s to gather the information,” says Vincent Houghton, a historian at the International Spy Museum in Washington.</p>
<p>There’s an entire field of typewriter forensics dedicated to stealing information from the antiquated machines. Well-placed listening devices enable spies to remotely determine writers’ keystrokes by the sound of their tapping. If typewriters fall into adversaries’ hands, spies can determine who typed what judging by the wear on the machines.</p>
<p>Houghton believes only one analog technology is worth resurrecting.</p>
<p>“If you are sending incredibly important diplomatic information, like ‘Hey we’re about to declare war,’ you use a one-time pad,” he says. “There are times in history where people should have used the one-time pad and didn’t, like the Zimmerman telegram, which dragged the US into World War I.”</p>
<p>In that coded telegram, German Foreign Minister Zimmerman asked Mexico to reconquer US territory. The British decrypted the message, putting pressure on America to declare war on Germany.</p>
<p>The system requires that two people have pads containing pages of the same random codes. They agree on unwritten signals — whether messages are sent on even or odd-numbered days, for example, or in the morning or afternoon — to settle on which code to use. That specific code and signal can be used only once. With no repetition, no one but the two contacts can decipher messages.</p>
<p>When that method was used during World War I, random codes were often written in such small script that spies needed magnifying glasses to read them. In the 1980s and ’90s, spies began using computer-generated codes on CD-ROMs to exchange one-time pad communications.</p>
<p>While they are completely secure, one-time pads require effort to use, making them inconvenient for digital natives who have grown up using instant communication.</p>
<p>“You use it for the most top secret information because it is so cumbersome and so difficult,” Houghton says. “If you have to send a message that no one can ever read except for your recipient, that’s when you use the one-time pad.”</p>
<p>Merkel appears to be taking simpler steps. Last year, after the NSA spying revelations broke, the chancellor ordered 5,000 encrypted Z10 phones from Blackberry to keep confidential chats away from prying intelligence services.</p>
<p>The phones are outfitted with Secusmart crypto-chips that protect conversations from unwanted eavesdroppers by encrypting the calls. They also use a notification service that alerts users to possible security threats from apps that aggregate more data than necessary.</p>
<p>Michael Brown, Blackberry vice president of security product management and research, says although voice protection is a key part of the solution, it doesn’t address malware, which is one of the main concerns for government clients.</p>
<p>“The concern about malware on devices is the risk of it accessing your contact information, email, and information about websites you visited,” he says.</p>
<p>Even the most sophisticated devices are only as secure as their users, however.</p>
<p>Brown says the biggest challenge in his 14 years at Blackberry is lost devices. “The most important thing is to put a password on your device, whether you are an individual or an organization,” he says. “Always have passwords on your devices. That is the first line of defense.”</p>
<p>But MIT cybersecurity expert John Williams cautions that no phone is entirely secure.</p>
<p>“They may think that they can’t get attacked, but I’m pretty sure they can be compromised,” he says. “As far as I know all phones can be compromised — Android, iPhone and Blackberry.”</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/russia/141111/russia-siberia-tomsk-innovation-hub" type="external">If you build an innovation hub in Siberia, will they come?</a></p>
<p>Houghton believes the future of intergovernmental information security lies not in the latest technology, but in the hands of physicists who are using quantum physics to develop a new form of communication as secure as the one-time pad.</p>
<p>“You are essentially beaming information, turning it into quanta, and sending it at the speed of light,” he says, referring to subatomic particles that display contradictory properties. “The only way to intercept the information would be to literally grab it out of the air, but it is designed to disappear if you try that.”</p>
<p>Houghton says although most developed countries are investing in advanced technologies such as quantum cryptography, it’s not clear whether that will mean more secure communication or more insidious surveillance methods in the future.</p>
<p>“Quantum cryptography could be the next wave in security developments, but this technology could be ten years away,” he says. “Or someone could figure it out tomorrow.”</p>
| false | 3 |
berlin germany news broke last year us national security agency snooped chancellor angela merkels phone calls germans outraged germanys bnd intelligence service caught spied us secretary state john kerry predecessor hillary clinton time emerged september two agencies sharing information collected countrys leaders convoluted spyversusspy game two allies seemed verge absurd led german lawmaker patrick sensburg chair parliamentary inquiry alleged nsa spying propose officials use typewriters order avoid digital surveillance suggestion prompted amusement disdain came surprise tech analyst avivah litan clients ask really secure systems tell get internet says nuclear reactors connected internet globalpost 5 things government whistleblowers say must know german government scrambling find new ways keeping sensitive information prying eyes hackers national security services operate ways litan says techniques cyber criminals use steal money spies use steal intellectual property governments use steal whatever need theyre similar quest avoid future security breaches officials drawing inspiration past well investing cuttingedge research although bnd wouldnt confirm deny using typewriters sensitive communiques idea gaining currency german typewriter manufacturer truimphadler boasted recent advertisement manufactured nsaproof machines russian federal security service operatives successors kgb wanted communicate without leaving electronic traces everyone confidence typewriters efficacy go back techniques weve used 1960s 1970s gather information says vincent houghton historian international spy museum washington theres entire field typewriter forensics dedicated stealing information antiquated machines wellplaced listening devices enable spies remotely determine writers keystrokes sound tapping typewriters fall adversaries hands spies determine typed judging wear machines houghton believes one analog technology worth resurrecting sending incredibly important diplomatic information like hey declare war use onetime pad says times history people used onetime pad didnt like zimmerman telegram dragged us world war coded telegram german foreign minister zimmerman asked mexico reconquer us territory british decrypted message putting pressure america declare war germany system requires two people pads containing pages random codes agree unwritten signals whether messages sent even oddnumbered days example morning afternoon settle code use specific code signal used repetition one two contacts decipher messages method used world war random codes often written small script spies needed magnifying glasses read 1980s 90s spies began using computergenerated codes cdroms exchange onetime pad communications completely secure onetime pads require effort use making inconvenient digital natives grown using instant communication use top secret information cumbersome difficult houghton says send message one ever read except recipient thats use onetime pad merkel appears taking simpler steps last year nsa spying revelations broke chancellor ordered 5000 encrypted z10 phones blackberry keep confidential chats away prying intelligence services phones outfitted secusmart cryptochips protect conversations unwanted eavesdroppers encrypting calls also use notification service alerts users possible security threats apps aggregate data necessary michael brown blackberry vice president security product management research says although voice protection key part solution doesnt address malware one main concerns government clients concern malware devices risk accessing contact information email information websites visited says even sophisticated devices secure users however brown says biggest challenge 14 years blackberry lost devices important thing put password device whether individual organization says always passwords devices first line defense mit cybersecurity expert john williams cautions phone entirely secure may think cant get attacked im pretty sure compromised says far know phones compromised android iphone blackberry globalpost build innovation hub siberia come houghton believes future intergovernmental information security lies latest technology hands physicists using quantum physics develop new form communication secure onetime pad essentially beaming information turning quanta sending speed light says referring subatomic particles display contradictory properties way intercept information would literally grab air designed disappear try houghton says although developed countries investing advanced technologies quantum cryptography clear whether mean secure communication insidious surveillance methods future quantum cryptography could next wave security developments technology could ten years away says someone could figure tomorrow
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