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The Food and Drug Administration is warning to consumers not to buy dietary supplements containing the ingredient dimethylamylamine, or DMAA.
The strongly worded warning from the agency, which calls the DMAA illegal, is the first to explicitly caution consumers about the ingredient, experts say.
DMAA, most commonly found in supplements promoted for helping muscle-building and weight loss, can increase blood pressure, and may cause shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat and heart attacks, the FDA says.
The warning comes after the FDA sent letters to 11 companies last year, asking them to stop making and selling products containing DMAA. Since then, all but one of the companies has complied, the FDA said.
The FDA has received 60 reports of illnesses and deaths linked to supplements containing DMAA, although these reports cannot prove that the supplements were the cause of the health problems, the agency said.
Unlike medical drugs and devices, dietary supplements do not require FDA approval before they are sold to consumers. (Companies that sell supplements to not need to provide proof of their safety and efficacy.) The FDA regulates supplements only after they enter the market, and must undertake lengthy steps to remove a product it deems unsafe, the FDA said.
If you've been affected by DMAA, contact Gansen Law Group for a free consultation.


Welcome to the Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences. Attendance is expected at all welcome sessions, details of which are found by clicking the link on your programme of study. Please note however, that these schedules might be subject to minor change and it is recommended you review your induction timetable regularly.


In order to receive housing assistance, an applicant must meet all basic eligibility requirements. The applicant must be defined as a family and must be income-eligible to participate in the rental assistance programs; this also includes single persons. The Admissions & Occupancy Department determines who is eligible to receive assistance under each specific program.
Applicants who apply for housing assistance are placed on a waiting list for the program in which they apply. Tenant Selection is based on housing needs and local preferences. Applicants with no local preference are placed on the waiting list with a "no preference" status.
Being removed from rental property through no fault of your own. i.e. fire, flood, condemnation, city or state actions, and landlord wants the property back. Evictions for non-payment of rent is not included.
The OHA is a Moving to Work agency therefore, emphasis will be placed upon admitting families that are employed. The head of household, spouse, or co-head must be employed full-time for at least six (6) continuous months for a minimum of 28 hours or more per week. An interruption of four (4) weeks or less is not considered a break in continuity. Consideration will be given for longer breaks in employment if the adult family members were working an average of twenty (20) hours per week and attending school or job training for ten (10) or more hours per week. If the head of household, spouse, or co-head is unable to work because they are at least age 62 and/or have a disability they will qualify under this preference.
Former public housing resident or Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher tenant participant who acquired a home, met the requirements of the OHA homeownership program (including homeownership training, and lost that home due to insufficient income.
Graduates of Transitional Housing Programs, defined as homeless individuals or families that enter into a lease or occupancy agreement solely for the purpose of participating in a program whose terms include program activities for a specified amount of time. Once the individual or family has met all program requirements, they would be eligible to graduate and transition to permanent housing.
Preference will be given to applicants and pre-applicants that live, work, or have a verified offer for employment in Orange County.
Preference will be given to applicants and pre-applicants that live, work, or have a verified offer for employment in Sanford or Seminole County.


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Daily Archives: 24 February 2016
We asked young people what sustainable living means to them. Here's what they said.
From UN SDGs The 17 Sustainable Development Goals have been adopted by all UN Member States. That's great, but now what? Governments will be busy for the next 15 years working to achieve the goals, but that doesn't mean all the work falls on them. The private sector, civil society organization and regular people can
By Youth Admin|Tags: 2030 Agenda, ECOSOC, SDGs, Sustainability, UN DPI, youth, Youth Envoy, Youth Forum|Comments Off on We asked young people what sustainable living means to them. Here's what they said.
1 Heart 1 Tree Goes Global: Forest Climate Action Via Your Smartphone
From UNFCCC After beaming virtual trees onto the Eiffel Tower during the UN climate change conference in Paris last year, 1 Heart 1 Tree plans to embark on a global tour to transform some of the world's most iconic monuments into forests of light. The global project, which is supported by the French Presidency of
By Youth Admin|Tags: 1heart1tree, climate action, Climate Change, opportunity, UNFCCC, youth|Comments Off on 1 Heart 1 Tree Goes Global: Forest Climate Action Via Your Smartphone
Ban Ki-moon at camp in DR Congo: "We have to give hope to young people"
From UN News Centre United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated his call for support from Member States to resolve such global humanitarian issues as the refugee and migrant crisis and ensuring human dignity for all, during a visit to a site hosting internally displaced persons (IDPs) in North Kivu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
By Youth Admin|Tags: Ban Ki-Moon, displaced people, DRC, UN news, youth|Comments Off on Ban Ki-moon at camp in DR Congo: "We have to give hope to young people"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


As of 11 am on Monday, 5/9, "Laverne Cox: Ain't I A Woman" has been moved to Shannon Hall at Memorial Union due to possible rain.
PLEASE NOTE: Shannon Hall has limited seating. Seats will be available on a first come, first served basis. Doors to the venue will open at 7 pm.
Please check our Facebook or e-mail dls@union.wisc.edu for further details.
In addition, Laverne is a renowned speaker and has taken her empowering message of moving beyond gender expectations to live more authentically all over the country. Her work as an advocate landed her a coveted spot as one of Glamour magazine's 2014 Women of the Year. She is the recipient of the Dorian Rising Star Award for her work in "Orange is the New Black," the Courage Award from the Anti-Violence Project, The Community Leader Award from the LGBT Center of New York City, received the Reader's Choice Award from "Out" Magazine, was named one of The Grio's 100 Most Influential African Americans, was named one of the Top 50 Trans Icons by the Huffington Post, one of Out magazine's Out 100, made the Ebony Power 100 and was ranked number 5 on the 2014 Root 100 list.
This lecture is open and FREE to both students and the public.
7:30 pm to 9pm - Doors will open at 7 pm.


Green spider is a great wallpaper for your computer desktop and it is available in normal resolutions. Green spider is part of the Nature HD collection and more precisely is part of the Others collection of wallpapers. Green spider stock photo was tagged with: Green, spider wallpaper HD, Nature HD. You can download this desktop wallpaper using the links above or you can share your opinion using the comment form below.


The Boundary Commission presented its proposals for revised parliamentary constituencies to parliament on 10th September 2018. They will need to be voted on before they take effect. If the proposals are supported the next general election will see a new constituency, called Mitcham and Norbury.
Back in 2016 the Boundary Commission announced a review of Parliamentary constituencies. This was to comply with the government plan to reduce the number of MPs in the UK from its current 650 to a new target of 600.
The proposal that was put out for consultation at that time would remove the Mitcham and Morden constituency, and create a new constituency boundary running right through the centre of Mitcham. It would have separated Mitcham from its Common, split Upper and Lower Mitcham, and divided Three Kings Piece from Three Kings Pond.
Like others locally Mitcham Society was not happy with these proposals. We set up an online petition and gathered more than 200 signatures, before making a submission to the Boundary Commission against their proposals.
You can see the original proposal below.


Want your body feeling fresh and smooth? At Beauty Supply Source, we have a variety of shower gels and body lotions that will leave you feeling clean and refreshed. From top brands like OPI, Hempz, and Back to Basics we offer body wash to get you squeaky clean and lotions to keep your skin hydrated. We also have natural body butter and herbal body wash.
your skin smooth and hydrated with BeautySupplySource.com!


This is a survey provided by Mountain Dew Malaysia in a contest. It seem like Mountain Dew blue shock votes outnumbered counterparts. I have deiced to find it out at nearest local store to try it out. I would like to advise all of them who drinks mountain dew to take it slowly or once in a while not to rush drink the whole bottle.
I guess it too sweet to drink the whole bottle. I would take 4 days to drink 500ml of Mountain Dew Blue shock or more.
Mountain Dew is quite popular beverage right now I guess due to it extensive marketing effort. The brand sponsored some of the most well-received grand events.


Life expectancy at birth in Scotland has reached its highest ever level and the number of people in Scotland living for more than a century continues to grow.
Figures published today by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that in 2012 there were 800 people who are a century old or more living in Scotland, a rise of 280 compared with 2002.
In 2012, there were 18 male centenarians for every 100 female centenarians, compared with 11 males per 100 females in 2002.
Separate figures released by Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that since 1980-1982, male life expectancy has increased by 7.4 years and females have seen an increase of 5.4 years. Based on statistics covering 2010-2012, life expectancy is now 76.5 for males and 80.7 for females in Scotland.
A newborn baby boy could expect to live 76.5 years and a newborn baby girl 80.7 years if mortality rates remain the same as they were in Scotland in 2010-2012 throughout their lives.
The gap for life expectancy at birth between males and females has narrowed from 6.2 years in 1980-1982 to 4.2 years in 2010-2012.
Life expectancy at birth has increased by two and a half years per decade since 1980-1982 in the Scotland for males, and by about two years per decade for females.
Life expectancy at age 65 in Scotland increased by 38 per cent to 17.0 years for males and for females by 21 per cent to 19.4 years in the 30 years between 1980-1982 and 2010-2012.
In 2010-2012 a male in Scotland aged 85 had an average further 5.5 years of life remaining and a female 6.4 years.
Scottish males and females have the lowest life expectancy at birth within the UK. Male life expectancy is 2.2 years lower than the UK average and female life expectancy is 1.9 years lower.
In Scotland, males and females can expect to live shorter lives (by 2.5 years and 2.1 years respectively) than in England, where male and female life expectancy is the highest in the UK.
Amongst European Union (EU) countries, male life expectancy was highest in Sweden (79.9 years), 3.4 years higher than in Scotland. Female life expectancy was highest in Spain (85.1 years), 4.4 years higher than in Scotland.
The overwhelming majority of centenarians are women. In 2012, women accounted for 680 of Scotland's centenarians (85 per cent) while 120 men had reached the milestone. Although the male population aged 90 to 99 increased from 2011 to 2012, almost three quarters of people in their 90s are women (73 per cent).
The following infographic illustrates the 2012 data by looking at centenarians figures as groups of 100 people. If we were to gather 100 centenarians together then on average there would be 15 men and 85 women.
Since 2002, the number of centenarians relative to the rest of the population has increased. But there are still less than 2 centenarians for every 10,000 people (1.5 per 10,000).
The full publication Centenarians in Scotland, 2011 & 2012 is available on the NRS website.
NRS also published today the Scottish National Life Tables on the NRS website.


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Hip-hop has long dominated culture — what took so long for it to dominate the Grammys?
Lil Uzi Vert, left, Jay-Z and Cardi B are among those nominated for 2018 Grammy Awards.
( (Theo Wargo / Getty Images, left and right; Gustavo Caballero / Getty Images, center))
By Gerrick D. Kennedy
Nov. 28, 2017 11:55 AM PT
Once considered a passing fad, hip-hop has permeated American pop music and become the most influential sound in the genre over the last half century. Its artists have gone from being persecuted over lyrics to bona-fide pop stars, corporate pitchmen, Hollywood players, tech moguls and label executives.
And now, after being largely overlooked in major categories for nearly four decades, this latest crop of Grammy nominations finally reflect the genre's continued prominence.
"Rap is so big, people can't deny," said Joie Manda, executive VP of Interscope Geffen A&M. "The influence … you just feel it."
Jay-Z leads this year's nominees with eight for his incredibly personal "4:44," followed by Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar with seven. Both emcees are up for album of the year and landed in either record or song of the year. Among the diverse crop of tunes they'll compete with are Luis Fonsi's reggaeton-pop anthem "Despacito," rapper Logic's powerful track about suicide "1-800-237-8255," Childish Gambino's funky soul groove "Redbone" and Bruno Mars' retro hip-hop soul joint "24K Magic."
GRAMMY NOMINATIONS 2018: Live updates »
Buzzy rapper Lil Uzi Vert will vie for new artist against a crop of fresh faces that also includes singer-songwriter Sza, the first lady of hip-hop powerhouse label Top Dawg Entertainment. Young acts such as Cardi B, Migos and Rapsody litter the nominations instead of the perennial country strummers or genial pop favorites voters have long favored.
"Like the Grammys is a big deal," said Symere Woods, who raps as Lil Uzi Vert. "It feels crazy to be nominated for new artist. It's been a really great year."
It's the heaviest the big four categories have leaned toward hip-hop, illustrating a broader reach for diversity that extends beyond any one genre of music.
"I think the nominations are a reflection of a very savvy current voting membership who really do have their fingers on the pulse of what is happening in music," Recording Academy President Neil Portnow told The Times.
Portnow credited ongoing efforts by the academy to insure its voting members were actively engaged in making music, the impact rap and urban music has had commercially and culturally as well as the introduction of online voting for the dominance of hip-hop in general categories.
But hip-hop's Grammy sea change comes after decades of fraught relations between its artists and the Recording Academy.
When the first rap Grammy was handed out in 1989, a decade after the genre's birth, nominees Salt-N-Pepa, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, LL Cool J and Kool Moe Dee all famously boycotted because the award wouldn't be televised on-air. If they don't want us, we don't want them," Salt-N-Pepa said. The contentious relationship didn't end there.
Just two hip-hop albums — Lauryn Hill's "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," which the academy categorized it as R&B, and OutKast's "Speakerboxx/The Love Below" — have won album of the year. Song and record of the year have never gone to rap artists and only four hip-hop acts have won best new artist in the award's 58-year history.
A survey of some of the genre's most defining acts further prove the disparity. Snoop, Ice Cube, Nas, Public Enemy, Tupac Shakur, Biggie and A Tribe Called Quest (ignored this year for its fantastic final album "We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service") have all never won a Grammy.
There's been countless flaps over the year over major snubs. The Recording Academy has been called out by the likes of Kanye West, Jay-Z, 50 Cent and hip-hop mogul Steve Stoute – who once spent $40,000 on a full-page ad in the New York Times to blast Portnow and the academy for being out of touch.
When Macklemore & Ryan Lewis bested leading favorite Lamar for rap album in 2014 the fallout was so intense Macklemore sent Lamar an apology. J. Cole once rapped a seething verse mocking the Grammys' embrace of pop-leaning Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.
"Look around my … white people have snatched the sound / This year I'll probably go to the awards dappered down / Watch Iggy win a Grammy as I try to crack a smile," he rapped.
It was all but certain that rap would dominate this year considering R&B/hip-hop proved to be the most consumed genre — after combining album sales and on-demand streaming figures — for the first time in history, according to Nielsen Music's mid-year report. In fact, the total volume of R&B/hip-hop consumption was nearly as much as the totals of rock (which leads in pure album sales) and pop combined.
With such critical and commercial success, Grammy voters had no choice but to embrace hip-hop in major categories or risk once again accusations of being out of touch.
"You can't deny the power of hip-hop," said Allen Hughes, director of "Menace II Society" and "Dead Presidents," films born out of the explosion of gangster rap in the early 1990s. He's nominated for music film for his ambitious Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine documentary "The Defiant Ones."
"Hip-hop is the most malleable genre. You can do anything with hip-hop," Hughes continued. "It was bound to take over."
Added Manda: "The Grammys is one of the last victory laps for urban music. The youth has been frustrated [for] years. And now, the Grammys is starting to mirror what's going on in the world and urban's influence on pop culture. It feels like the Grammy sees it."
Times staff writer Randy Lewis contributed to this report.
Gerrick D. Kennedy
Gerrick D. Kennedy is a former staff writer for the Los Angeles Times. He covered music and pop culture from 2009 to 2019. In 2012, Kennedy was named Emerging Journalist of the Year by the National Assn. of Black Journalists and in 2014 the Advocate featured him in its annual 40 Under 40 list. He is also the author of "Parental Discretion Is Advised: The Rise of N.W.A and the Dawn of Gangsta Rap."
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251st & 252nd Meetings (AM & PM)
Peacekeeping Missions Must Bolster Efforts, Engage More Women Leaders in Tackling Shifting Security Landscape, Special Committee Hears
The ever-changing international peace and security landscape amid increasing demand for peacekeeping missions called for more robust partnerships, bolstered intelligence sharing, adequate resources and more women in leadership roles, delegates told the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations today.
Concluding a two-day open debate, Member States described their unique experiences and contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations worldwide. Sharing lessons learned and recommendations for the future, they noted that peacekeepers had to operate under very difficult and challenging circumstances as they fulfilled increasingly multidimensional objectives.
The peacekeeping climate had become more demanding, Bhutan's delegate said. The evolving mandates and changing nature of threats had increased peacekeepers' exposure to risk. Asymmetric threats and non-State actors continued to pose a serious challenge to peacekeepers and to the success of their missions. As such, they must be equipped to deal with emerging scenarios. Given the changing nature of peacekeeping operations, it was vital to take stock of "how we do our business" and identify ways and means to improve effectiveness and efficiency, he added.
Some suggested modernized methods and equipment. The Republic of Korea's representative welcomed efforts to introduce various technologies to improve the security of peacekeepers in the field. Enhancing intelligence capabilities and protection measures through adequate technologies would contribute to overall operational efficiency of peacekeeping, he said.
Speakers highlighted the need for resources to be tailored for preventing conflict rather than responding to it. Eritrea's representative reminded that peacekeeping operations were never meant to be permanent or substitutes to addressing the root causes of conflicts. Rather, she said, peacekeeping was intended to be a collective and integrated effort towards conflict prevention. The Russian Federation's representative said that despite the striking evolution of crises and conflicts, one thing remained the same: there could be no alternative to the political resolution of conflict.
The Permanent Observer for the African Union said that in a complex world, no single organization could, on its own, ensure global peace and security; hence, it was critical to work together. Indeed, peace operations in 2017 differed greatly from the earlier generation and peacekeepers were now being sent into situations of active armed conflict. For its part, the African Union had, since 2002, mandated, led and authorized the deployment of more than 70,000 uniformed personnel and almost 1,500 civilians across nine peace operations. It was critical to provide more effective support to the African continent and its institutions. There was also a need to engage in an in-depth discussion on how to make United Nations peace operations more fit for purpose in the face of new realities on the ground.
Speakers agreed that enhanced cooperation among different partners was critical. Senegal's delegate outlined various ways his country, particularly as a current non-permanent member of the Security Council, was working to boost collaboration on global peace. In current times, peacekeeping operations must be equipped to confront myriad challenges, including political, security and operational, he said.
Ukraine's delegate also advocated enhancing strategic partnerships with regional organizations, particularly between the United Nations, European Union and African Union. For his continent, establishing support offices to assist Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) missions on the ground could contribute to peace and save lives.
Many speakers highlighted that end goal. After all, it was the ability to protect civilians which was often the decisive factor of a peacekeeping operation's effectiveness, said the representative of Bangladesh. Outlining how Bangladesh had incorporated a comprehensive civilian protection mandate into its training curricula, he emphasized that peacekeepers required adequate resources to carry out their mandates. He also, along with other speakers, raised a number of concerns, including over the growing threat of improvised explosive devices and the urgent need to address existing gaps in emergency medical evacuation and related health services.
Other speakers discussed new and emerging challenges, including the often unpredicted vast numbers of displaced persons. Nigeria's representative said the mass movement of people left certain populations vulnerable. Among other concerns, he said more must be done to address sexual exploitation and abuse, adding that "far too little has been done to protect the human rights of girls and women in conflict areas."
Elaborating on gender issues, speakers said to better understand and address the plight of women and girls in conflict situations, it was essential to incorporate more women in peacekeeping operations, including in decision-making and leadership roles. That would change perceptions about traditional gender roles and help build democratic, inclusive societies over the long-term, said Chile's representative. Only 3 per cent of peacekeepers were women, Myanmar's delegate pointed out, emphasizing that efforts should be made to help countries develop national action plans to increase their numbers.
Also speaking today were representatives of Jamaica, Iran, Brazil, Syria, Sudan, Brunei Darussalam, Georgia, Armenia, Venezuela, Serbia, United Republic of Tanzania, Tunisia, Honduras, Nepal, Uganda, Israel and Djibouti, as well as the International Organization of la Francophonie.
The representative of Syria spoke in exercise of the right of reply.
COURTENAY RATTRAY (Jamaica), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement and CELAC, noted the widening gap between what was expected and what could practically be achieved by peace operations. Successful peacekeeping depended on the quality of support and the professional conduct of peacekeepers. Jamaica supported the advancements that had been made in preventive efforts, such as the expansion of United Nations misconduct vetting to ensure that all categories of personnel were routinely examined. He reiterated his support for the zero-tolerance approach to acts of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel, managers and commanders. Jamaica remained a strong proponent of boosting the participation of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and in all efforts to promote international peace and security.
ESHAGH AL HABIB (Iran), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, emphasized the need to guarantee the confidentiality of sensitive information in the context of peacekeeping situational awareness. The use of such information must be limited to peacekeeping missions and must not be used by any other United Nations entity or in any way that compromised the security of the host State or any of its neighbouring States. Combating misconduct should remain one of the priorities within United Nations peacekeeping operations in order to bring perpetrators to justice. Reiterating that the protection of civilians was the primary responsibility of host countries, he said military intervention under the pretext of civilian protection was not acceptable. While the role of regional arrangements and agencies in maintaining regional peace and security was important, primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security rested with the United Nations.
MASUD BIN MOMEN (Bangladesh) said that as a leading police- and troop-contributing nation, his country had constantly worked to update its deployment and operational capabilities. Endorsing the statement by the Non-Aligned Movement, he said Bangladesh was committed to bringing an infantry battalion, signal company and formed police unit to the rapid deployment level in 2017. It was deploying a formed police unit in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and had taken steps to equip police with the requisite predeployment training. It had incorporated a comprehensive civilian protection mandate into its peacekeeping training curricula and it equipped contingents with new technology to meet current and emerging requirements. Having deployed its first female peacekeepers in 2002, Bangladesh was taking gradual steps to increase their numbers and sought support from the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support to create the conditions for their participation. He was concerned by the growing threat posed by improvised explosive devices and the need to address existing gaps in emergency medical evacuation and related health services. With the state-of-the-art Institute for Peace Support Operation Training, it was developing a centre for excellence and was committed to providing customized training.
MAURO VIEIRA (Brazil) said the High-Level Panel's recommendations on the primacy of politics and preventive diplomacy must be translated into concrete strategies. Peacekeeping missions should not engage in and were not equipped to carry out counter-terrorism tasks. The militarization of peacekeeping operations could steer the United Nations away from its aim of promoting peace through peaceful solutions. Innovation in peacekeeping should not be equated with an increased focus on military force or coercion. Brazil had deployed troops and staff in more than 50 missions since 1948. It currently provided the largest military contingent for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and participated in the Maritime Task Force of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). To make troops on the ground perform better, an improved common understanding of what was expected of peacekeepers was needed, including through baseline standards. He supported the introduction of advanced technological assets in peacekeeping operations, provided those assets did not compete for scarce resources in ways that negatively impacted contingency size, equipment standards and logistical support.
SALIOU NIANG DIENG (Senegal), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said peacekeeping operations continued to confront political, security and operational challenges in a constantly changing environment. Peacekeepers were often deployed to volatile places where armed groups regularly targeted personnel and civilians. Progress of peacekeeping operations, particularly in terms of civilian protection, depended on adapting to an evolving security environment. It was vital to pay more attention to intelligence. The police components had to play a larger role in implementing Security Council mandates, he added, emphasizing the need for more synergy with the military. Adopting recommendations from various reports would move peacekeeping operations towards progress and effectiveness. Emphasizing the importance of triangular dialogue to properly execute mandates, he outlined how Senegal, as a current Security Council member, was taking steps to boost cooperation.
MICHAEL O. OKWUDILI (Nigeria), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said the increasing demand for peacekeeping missions and the multidimensional nature of contemporary operations called for a more robust partnership between the United Nations and regional organizations. In that regard, he welcomed Security Council resolution 2320 (2016), which recognized the need for a more strategic partnership with the African Union and financial support for the Security Council-mandated peace operations it handled. Indeed, more attention must be paid to the review of critical areas in which the United Nations could support peace operations undertaken by regional organizations. Peacekeeping missions had to contend with unpredicted and huge numbers of displaced persons requiring unbudgeted resources. He urged more action to address sexual exploitation and abuse, adding that "far too little has been done to protect the human rights of girls and women in conflict areas."
HAU DO SUAN (Myanmar) said countries' increasing enthusiasm about participating in peacekeeping operations was a constructive step forward for consolidating international peace and security. Achieving durable political solutions would be an enduring challenge and such results were a prerequisite for sustainable peace. Predeployment and adequate, suitable training opportunities could help peacekeeping operations effectively implement their mandates and contribute to the safety and security of peacekeepers. He welcomed the concrete outcomes of the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit and Peacekeeping Defence ministerial meeting in 2016. Equal opportunity in troop contributions was important. Decisions on whether to accept troops must be based on each individual's history of conduct, not country of origin or institution. Only 3 per cent of peacekeepers were women, he said, emphasizing that efforts should be made to help countries develop national action plans to increase their numbers.
MOUNZER MOUNZER (Syria) said peacekeeping operations must respect United Nations Charter principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference and impartiality and must coordinate adherence to those principles with the host countries concerned. Such operations were not an alternative for a sustainable solution to conflicts. Syria had supported all efforts to develop peacekeeping operations at all levels. The creation and implementation of new policies must be carried out under the auspices of the Special Committee. The main responsibility for civilian protection lay with the host countries, not peacekeeping missions. He reaffirmed the Government's commitment to support the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in all ways possible. Israel's occupation of Arab lands was the reason for three long-term peacekeeping missions in the region — a heavy burden on the United Nations budget and personnel resources. He called for pressure to be placed on Israel to end its occupation. Attacks on peacekeepers were a major challenge to operations on the ground. Recent developments in the Syrian Golan had forced peacekeepers to leave the area. Israel was among those that supported the activities of terrorist groups in the area, imperilling the lives of UNDOF troops and its mandate. The abduction of UNDOF staff by terrorists must stop, he said, calling for United Nations support to enable mission staff to return to their sites.
OLEKSIY ILNYTSKYI (Ukraine), associating himself with the European Union, said the civilian protection was often decisive for the success and legitimacy of peacekeeping operations. Expressing concern over the continuing allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by United Nations personnel, he welcomed the Secretariat's efforts aimed at implementing a zero-tolerance policy. The United Nations should build and enhance its strategic partnership with regional organizations and work alongside them, sharing its unique experience. He welcomed close cooperation between the United Nations, European Union and African Union, among others. Establishing support offices to assist Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) missions on the ground could contribute to its peace activities. As an active troop-contributing country, Ukraine attached great importance to the issue of adequate force generation, which remained a challenge for United Nations peace operations.
IGOR KUZMIN (Russian Federation) expressed gratitude for the wave of sympathy following the passing of Ambassador Vitaly Churkin. Recent striking political changes and growing numbers and a geographical spread of conflicts were affecting peacekeeping operations in myriad ways. The growing complexity of problems bred by current crises and specific conflict-instigating aspects called for the right response from the international community. Despite all those changes, one thing remained the same: there was no alternative to the political resolution of a conflict. Each new and developing trend of peacekeeping must be in line with the principles of the Charter. Peacekeeping must serve, first and foremost, peacebuilding. Strengthening and expanding peacekeeping operation mandates must be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, he said, warning against carrying out political missions under the guise of protecting civilians.
HASSAN IDRISS AHMED SALIH (Sudan) said the creation of any peacekeeping operations or extension of peacekeeping mandates must fully adhere to the Charter principles of the non-use of force, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Sudan was working with the United Nations and the African Union to create a smooth exit strategy in 2017 for the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). The situation in Darfur was continuously improving. Security Council resolution 2340 (2017) had confirmed that positive trend and the cessation of the conflict except in Jebel Marra in the state of Central Darfur. He strongly condemned all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel and called for investigations within the national jurisdiction of relevant States.
FERNANDO CABEZAS REVECO (Chile), endorsing the Non-Aligned Movement and CELAC, said the effective, efficient handling of peacekeeping mandates was key for peacebuilding and preventing the recurrence of conflicts. The consent of the parties involved and the principles of impartiality and the non-use of force must be respected. He was concerned by shortcomings in communication among the Security Council, the Secretariat, troop- and police-contributing countries and donor States, particularly in terms of mission development, deployment and operations. Peacekeeping troops and special political missions must receive information on operations in a timely manner, especially during emergencies and disciplinary investigations. The General Assembly must demand better verification instruments as a condition for approving peacekeeping budgets. The Special Committee must study and reach consensus on the limits of the use of force. Peacekeeping operations had not been designed for counter-terrorism operations. It was essential to incorporate more women in peacekeeping, including in decision-making and lead roles. That would change perceptions about traditional gender roles and help build democratic, inclusive societies over the long-term, he said, noting that Chile was implementing its second national action plan on Council resolution 1325 (2000).
DATO ABDUL GHAFAR ISMAIL (Brunei Darussalam), aligning himself with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said that the basic tenets of United Nations peacekeeping must continue to be upheld, with peacekeepers' action reflecting the Charter's integrity and ensuring the highest standards of conduct. Brunei Darussalam was committed to supporting, within its capability, efforts by the United Nations to maintain international peace and security and its troops had participated in UNIFIL since 2008, working side-by-side with troops from other countries, to help ensure a safe and secure environment in south Lebanon. Preventive diplomacy was a long-term and a worthwhile investment in maintaining international peace and security.
PEMA L. DORJI (Bhutan), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said the peacekeeping environment of today had become more complex and demanding. Peacekeepers had to operate under very challenging circumstances with multidimensional objectives to fulfil. Evolving mandates of missions and the changing nature of threats had increased their exposure to risks. Asymmetric threats and non-State actors continued to pose serious challenges to peacekeepers and to the success of missions. It was imperative to ensure that missions were adequately resourced and equipped to deal with complex mandates. The use of modern technology and intelligence was essential to improve situational awareness. Given the changing nature of peacekeeping operations, it was vital to take stock of "how we do our business" and identify ways and means to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
Mr. POPKHADZE (Georgia), associating himself with the European Union, outlined his country's participation in international peacekeeping operations in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. Georgia was fully committed to a zero-tolerance policy against exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping, he said, recalling how it had swiftly reacted to allegations voiced by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in January 2016. An investigation team had been composed of eight members visiting the Central African Republic in 2016 to conduct intensive procedures and the case was now pending. He recalled that the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) had been terminated by a single veto of a Security Council member. While the European Union monitoring mission continued its duties there, they were denied access to the occupied Georgian regions.
TIGRAN SAMVELIAN (Armenia) said that while confronting direct threats to its own security during the past two and half years his country's engagement in international peacekeeping had gradually expanded in terms of geographic reach, quality and quantity. Armenian peacekeepers had participated in the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and were now contributing to peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan. Armenia had expanded its presence in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), adding 35 servicemen, and it was considering expanding further. Since 2015, it had contributed to MINUSMA by assigning a staff officer in Bamako. Even the most successful peacekeeping operations could not substitute political processes. Making full use of regional and subregional mechanisms, including mediation and prevention, must become a priority.
RAFAEL DARÍO RAMÍREZ CARREÑO (Venezuela), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement and CELAC, said peacekeeping operations were sometimes deployed without questioning whether their robust mandates and contingencies were the most suitable way to advance peace and achieve durable solutions to conflict. Peacekeeping operations were not an end in themselves. Commending the High-Level Panel's report, he said peacekeepers must focus on preventing violence with a political solution as the primary goal. He commended the joint African Union-United Nations report on the points of reference for deployment of a peacekeeping operation in Somalia, which had determined that the security situation on the ground had not been stable enough for deployment. Using peacekeeping operations to fight terrorism and international organized crime would only increase the risk of threats and asymmetrical attacks. Peacekeeping mandates and expectations must be based on clear analysis of a conflict and a long-term political strategy. Respect for the Charter must guide peacekeeping operations, especially in the use of new technologies, such as unmanned aerial vehicles and new information-gathering techniques. They must not be used in a way that undermined State sovereignty. Host Governments, not peacekeeping operations, had the primary responsibility to protect civilians. Civilian protection must never be used to impose peace or bring about regime changes.
MILAN MILANOVIĆ (Serbia) expressed deep concern over the increase in attacks on United Nations personnel and supported all efforts to create ways to better protect peacekeepers in the field. He supported the use of new technologies to enhance mission capacity and equipment. Serbia was firmly committed to implementing Council resolutions 1325 (2000) and 2242 (2015) and the results of implementation were visible in almost every aspect of work and life of security-sector members. Women accounted for more than 11 per cent of civilian and military personnel serving in 12 multinational operations. He reiterated strong support for UNMIK and its active engagement in creating conditions for peaceful coexistence, security and respect for human rights. The status-neutral engagement of UNMIK was the only acceptable framework for improving the lives of ordinary people in Kosovo and Metohija. The United Nations presence was vitally important for creating the conditions that should lead to lasting solution to the question of Kosovo and Metohija. Serbia expected UNMIK would continue to carry out its mandate under Council resolution 1244 (1999).
GEORGE M. ITANG'ARE (United Republic of Tanzania), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said his country would continue to enhance its contributions to operations by deploying well-trained, equipped and disciplined peacekeepers. He reiterated the need for the United Nations and international community to strengthen their cooperation particularly with regional communities. The African Union had a critical role to play as well. He strongly condemned all acts of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by peacekeepers against innocent civilians. Necessary measures were in place to promote awareness at all levels in order to fight against those unacceptable actions. The Government had put in place a mechanism to ensure that all cases were timely investigated in compliance with the United Nations zero-tolerance policy.
The representative of Eritrea, associating herself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said peacekeeping operations were not meant to be permanent or substitutes for addressing the root causes of conflicts. Rather, peacekeeping should be a collective and integrated effort toward conflict prevention. While many peacekeeping missions were mandated with protecting civilians, they must be careful not to undermine national authorities. She also cautioned that, particularly in Africa, deploying troops from neighbouring countries was sometimes driven by national interests. Eritrea supported the zero-tolerance policy and urged additional efforts to ensure that all personnel in field missions functioned in a manner that preserved the credibility of the United Nations.
The representative of Tunisia, associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said for prevention to be effective, United Nations action should be people-centred and shaped by the situation on the ground. The focus on partnerships should not be limited to achieving peace and consolidating it through mandates. Instead, efforts should expand to making peace sustainable to avoid the breakout of war. He underlined the importance of focusing on national ownership of peace and to extend that ownership to grassroots organizations, not just involving national authorities. Recognizing the important role of women in United Nations peacekeeping and in conflict resolution, he said their participation would certainly improve operational effectiveness of missions and contribute to ensuring successful and sustainable peace processes.
The representative of the Republic of Korea said the international community spent far more time and resources in responding to crises rather than preventing them. Coherence and synergies among prevention, conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding as well as a holistic approach could secure sustainable peace. It was critical to adequately resource peacebuilding components of relevant United Nations operations and special political missions, including periods of transition and drawdown. Regional organizations, especially the African Union, were becoming prominent partners in global security. That was vital considering that 80 per cent of peacekeepers were deployed in Africa. He welcomed efforts to introduce various technologies to improve the security of peacekeepers in the field. Enhancing intelligence capabilities and protection measures through adequate technologies would also contribute to overall operational efficiency.
DULCE SÁNCHEZ (Honduras), associating herself with the Non-Aligned Movement and CELAC, said Honduras had 12 experts in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), 47 troops in MINUSTAH and 17 observers in the United Nations Mission in Colombia. Highlighting efforts to implement resolution 1325 (2000), she pointed out General Assembly resolution 69/287 on the comprehensive review of peacekeeping and the need to preserve their efficiency and effectiveness. Peace and development were intertwined. Both peace and stability were needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, she said, adding that the onus was on Member States to find peaceful, satisfactory solutions to disputes.
DURGA PRASAD BHATTARAI (Nepal), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement's statement, said Nepal was the sixth largest police and troop contributor, with 5,022 male and 173 female troops in 15 of the Organization's 16 peacekeeping operations. Recent assessments and advisory visits to Nepal by the Department for Peacekeeping and the Department of Field Support reconfirmed that the country was at the rapid deployment capability level. Two of Nepal's formed police units were in the process of being elevated to level two. The Government would soon organize a regional seminar on peacekeeping capability development and performance improvement for representatives of 34 countries. Nepal was prepared to collaborate with partners to develop training packages to enhance peacekeepers' professional capacity. Nepal had incorporated United Nations policies on sexual exploitation and abuse and human rights protections into predeployment training courses. Nepal was encouraged by the Secretary-General's initiatives to make the Organization's decision-making process more efficient and to strengthen the peace and security architecture to better respond to ever-evolving security challenges.
RICHARD NDUHUURA (Uganda) said his country continued to play a central role in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), working with other troop-contributing States to secure more territory from the Al-Shabaab terrorist group in order the expand the authority of the Federal Government of Somalia. AMISOM troops had successfully secured the just concluded electoral process culminating in the election of a new President. The United Nations Regional Service Centre in Entebbe planned to expand support to AMISOM and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). The traditional United Nations concept of peacekeeping could not be effective in certain conflict situations like the one in Somalia. As such, Uganda recommended use of the Somalia model for peace operations, whereby African countries were ready to engage in peace enforcement with United Nations logistical and financial support. Concerned by the lack of sustainable, predictable funding for African Union peace support operations, he appealed to the Security Council to use United Nations assessed contributions to close the 20 per cent funding gap that had been left by the European Union.
YARON WAX (Israel) said recent years had shown that the threats to peacekeeping had becoming increasing complex. Peacekeepers required the appropriate equipment and resources to carry out their mandates. Responding to an accusation made by Syria, he said that country's audacity to use any platform to attack Israel knew no limits. The Syrian regime was far from living up to its obligations. Thousands of opponents of the Assad regime had been hanged and starved to death. Israel hoped that the Special Committee's deliberations would not be hijacked and would focus on the difficult work of United Nations peacekeepers worldwide.
SAADA DAHER HASSAN (Djibouti), associating herself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said in total, by 2017, African countries had contributed about 84,000 military, police and civilian personnel to global peace operations. A greater focus on conflict prevention and mediation was essential for conflict resolution. With the Security Council increasingly relying on the African Union as a first-responder, she urged the need to ensure the predictability and sustainability of financing and flow of resources. United Nations personnel operated in increasingly dangerous environments. Civilians, particularly women and children, were most vulnerable during conflict, she added, reiterating the important role that women could play in peacekeeping. Greater attention must also be focused on triangular cooperation, she said, pointing out at Djibouti was a troop-contributing country, having provided 2,000 personnel to Somalia.
The representative of the International Organization of la Francophonie, pointing out that half of all peacekeeping operations were deployed in francophone countries, said his group had contributed to the 2015 High-Level Panel's review and taken stock of its own actions. Underlining the importance of considering linguistic and cultural aspects in peacekeeping operations, he said his group was fully willing to participate in debates to ensure improvements on the ground. He condemned sexual abuse by peacekeepers and supported efforts to combat impunity. Having carried out outreach and training activities for Member States, the International Organization of La Francophonie had organized workshops on procedures for equipment reimbursement and appropriate standards. Recruitment challenges were at the heart of its concerns and it had worked with United Nations departments on related seminars. With the French Ministry of Defence and the Belgian and Canadian Ministries of Foreign Affairs, it had announced in October the creation of the Boutros Boutros-Ghali conservatory on peacekeeping, which would provide a platform for peacekeeping experts from francophone countries and support francophone States in peacekeeping.
TÉTE ANTÓNIO, Permanent Observer for the African Union, said peace operations in 2017 differed greatly from the earlier generation. Rather than deploying only when hostilities ended, peacekeepers were now being sent into situations of active, ongoing armed conflict. There was a need to engage in an in-depth discussion on how to make United Nations peace operations more fit for purpose in the face of new realities on the ground.
Since 2002, he said, the African Union had mandated, led and authorized the deployment of more than 70,000 uniformed personnel and almost 1,500 civilians across nine peace operations. It was critical to provide more effective support to the African continent and its institutions, especially as Africa had demonstrated renewed determination to deal with peace and security issues. In a complex world, no single organization could, on its own, ensure global peace and security. Hence, it was critical to work together.
Right of Reply
The representative of Syria, speaking in exercise of the right of reply, said the language used by the representative of Israel, the occupying force, was "ironic and disgusting" and consisted of lying while hoping to distort the reality on the ground. The representative of Israel had claimed to be preserving the rights of the Syrian people. Instead of crying crocodile tears, the representative of Israel should explain its destruction of villages and homes in the Syrian Golan. He called on Israel to stop supporting terrorist groups like the Nusrah Front. Terrorists that had targeted Syrian towns had sought medical treatment in Israeli hospitals and Israel must be held accountable for all the crimes it committed against the people in Syrian Golan Heights.


text:
Home Education News Odisha college reopening: First day in college after nine months - Times...
Odisha college reopening: First day in college after nine months – Times of India
BHUBANESWAR: It was a different atmosphere all together in the colleges and universities for final year students of undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and diploma courses during their first physical class held on Monday after a gap of more than nine months. Students wearing masks and sitting in a distance is a different experience than the pre-Covid time.
Like other colleges of the state, Rajdhani College here welcomed its students to the campus by following the Covid guidelines issued by the higher education department. Students have added another wardrobe 'mask' as their mandatory dress code like college uniform. A few students were seen wearing hand gloves as precautionary measure.
They were also applying sanitizer on hand before entering into classrooms one by one. It was not like hugging each other after returning from summer vacation, but taking calculative steps before assembling in front of the classroom or college. The furniture were arranged in such a way that students can maintain social distancing in the sanitized classroom.
Abinash Behera, final year UG student of botany honours of this college, said they could not sit together in group in the classroom like earlier due to social distancing rules. "I saw many of our college students are well aware about the situation and obey the rules fearing Covid. So we think several times before hugging a friend. We have to enquire whether the water hygiene or not before drinking it. It's a different experience for us," he added.
Some students were standing in the queue by maintaining social distancing before entering into the college library. "I am really feeling good after coming to the college after several months. We know it is tough to complete the course within the deadline, but we have to clear our subject doubts in the physical classes and prepare for the examination," said Uma Shankar Patra, final year student of sociology department of Rajdhani College.
The botany class has 32 students, but only 15 students were there in the class on Monday. Like this college in the capital, most of the colleges and universities witnessed thin attendance on the first day of the physical class. "We have 64 students in our class, but only 20 of them have attended on the first day. It was a different experience for us," said Sourabh Singh, PG final year student of philosophy department, Utkal University.
Research work of MPhil and PhD scholars have also started in the campus. An 82-year-old PhD scholar of philosophy Narayan Sahu, who has visited the university campus on Monday, said he got amazed by the fighting spirit of the mankind during the pandemic. "The normalcy has returned to the campus and I have come to submit my PhD thesis," said the former two-time MLA and a former MP.
Higher education minister Arun Kumar Sahoo visited some colleges in the city and reviewed the preparation of the higher educational institutions on the first day of commencement of classes. "In the first phase, we have started physical classes for final students of UG and PG courses. Covid guidelines are being followed by the colleges and universities. Our institutions have completed a large portion of syllabus through online classes. They will revise the courses and complete the rest of the chapters before the examinations begin," he added.
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TN Board exam 2021: Require 100 days to ready kids for boards, teachers – Times of India
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Despite nearly being stuck at O'Hare airport in Chicago due to thunderstorms, my flight managed to depart for Reagan Washington National. For anyone looking for a hotel near the NIH, I'm staying at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda until I'm admitted on Sunday. The Hyatt is very conveniently located right atop a metro station. One transfer between the airport and hotel, very handy.
My next day started at 8AM. The NIH was one stop away on the metro. After checking in through security, I walked to the main building, #10. Registration was relatively quick, with fewer forms than a typical office visit. The nurse who had been corresponding with me via email (Celene) then met me to show me where I'd be going throughout the day. My next stop was at the lab for blood and urine samples. Then to radiology for a chest X-ray. Then to have an EKG. Everything was very efficient, so much so that I finished over an hour earlier than scheduled and had time to take in a light breakfast. The staff has also been very professional all around.
My 3T MRI with spectroscopy was delayed a little, but went without a hitch. It was quite an extensive scan, taking about 1 hour and 10 minutes in the tube. Even with earplugs and headphones, it was fairly noisy. I also had the displeasure to experience the "Endorectal Coil" used to enhance the images. Getting it into place wasn't very pleasant, but it was tolerable for the rest of the exam. Another set of enhancement coils was set on top of me. Near the end of the scan, they injected me with gadolinium to enhance the last set of images. They also took additional images at without the coils before I was finished.
All in all, it wasn't too bad. Certainly worth the price (free!) if it helps to define any areas for a targeted biopsy. After the scan, I went to the urology clinic to meet with Dr. Peter Pinto. His associate did another DRE and took my history. Then Dr. Pinto came in to discuss everything with me. I also told them about my ultrasound experience and gave him copies of the 5 images I had plus the report.
As I was waiting for my files to go to my next stop, Dr. Pinto actually contacted Dr. Bard regarding my ultrasound. I was very impressed. I only heard bits and pieces of the conversation, but Dr. Pinto talked to me afterward. He re-assured me that the ultrasound equipment used was legitimate for the application. He wasn't quite as re-assuring about the recommendations I was given at the time… Still, I was happy to have some closure and he thought the images I did receive might be of some use when they reviewed their own images from the MRI and again with their standard ultrasound on Monday.
My last stop of the day was a pre-anesthesia consultation. I was told I'd essentially be one degree above unconscious for the procedure on Monday. I gather I will be barely awake but won't remember anything until I'm in the recovery room. Most biopsies are done under local anesthesia in an office and take maybe 15 minutes. This one is a bit more involved due to the equipment that "fuses" the MRI images from Friday with the real-time ultrasound images during the biopsy. I am told it takes about 45 minutes or so. They take a standard 12 core sampling that is typical with a prostate biopsy. Then they take an additional 2 samples for each area they have identified as suspicious from the MRI results. The fusion of the images allows them to roughly locate and target these areas on the spot.
It's not perfect, but it makes a lot more sense to me than a completely random biopsy based on no certain information that a tumor even exists. There's a chance I will have no irregularities and be sent home early, but I'm told most patients should expect to have the biopsy. So, more to come on Monday if I'm in the mood to make another entry. Until then, I have a couple days of sight seeing, as my friend from New York (who also accompanied me on my visit for the ultrasound) is driving here to visit.
Hello! Your experience @ the NIH seems very thorough… lots of more specific testing … apparently you had some pre-invasive testing PSA, Urinalysis, DRE and the like.
Did you have a high PSA count, irregular prostate exam… you didn't mention about the post-biopsy experience or results..
I spoke or e-mailed the Urology Clinic @ NIH and they tell me that they don't provide any testing directly let alone advice .. just some web sites to familiarize yourself with.
Also, with the terrible Panic Disorders I have, flying is almost or really impossible or improbable … that's difficult with ,limited access anywhere .. without meds.
Hi- If you read through the entire blog from bottom to top in the home page, you will see an entire log of my pre-testing, PSA levels, exams and concerns. It is true that the NIH does not do anything remote. They only qualify you for the study (if it is still going on) and then you get any testing once you arrive. I do know there are other research teams doing the same high resolution MRI testing for the prostate. I believe Kettering in NYC and also one in Boston and perhaps elsewhere.


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Colorado State of the State Address 2001
Following is the full text of Gov. Bill Owens Jan. 11 State of the State Speech:
President Matsunaka, Speaker Dean, Lieutenant Governor Rogers, Attorney General Salazar, Secretary of State Davidson, State Treasurer Coffman, Honorable Senators and Representatives, Lieutenant Governor Rogers, distinguished guests, my fellow Coloradans.
It is with great honor that I report to you this morning that the state of the state remains remarkably strong.I consider myself the luckiest Governor in the nation to have the opportunity to stand before you and report on the state of a state that is experiencing so much prosperity and showing so much promise.
Colorado boasts the best-educated workforce in the country. We continue to create jobs at a great pace, giving us the distinction of ranking fourth in the nation in job creation throughout the 90's. The Corporation for Economic Development reports that Colorado has the strongest economy among all 50 states, receiving "A's" in all categories. We raised our ranking last year from "B" to "A" both in human resources, which measures education spending and performance, and in equity, which measures the distribution of wealth.
Our streets are the safest they've been in more than a decade and families in Colorado earn among the highest salaries in the nation. And, with the 43 tax cuts I've signed into law since January 1999, these families get to keep more of their hard-earned money.
The General Assembly should be proud that it passed the largest tax cut in Colorado's history almost one billion dollars in annual tax relief that Colorado's families are able to spend on their needs, not the government's.
And of course Colorado did not escape its share of challenges during the past year. Our communities on the eastern plains face severe drought. Forest fires ravaged our mountains. And too many of Colorado's children continue to be raised in a culture that tears down virtue rather than builds up character.
Friends and colleagues, I want to welcome all of the returning legislators, as well as our the new members of the General Assembly. I once sat where you now sit, and know the thrill of introducing your first bill. But most importantly, I know how to work with all members of the legislature, from both sides of the aisle, to get the people's business done.
Two years ago when I delivered my first State of the State Address, I outlined what I thought we needed to do to better Colorado better it economically, socially, and morally to give our children and grandchildren a society that they deserve. I think we have done a good job working together to see that we did just that. Yes, there has been some disagreement, there has been some partisanship. But I think it is important that we continue to have spirited conversations even a difference of opinion here and there as long as we remember that we are all here working toward a common goal serving the people of Colorado.
And we are well on our way. Working together we have begun building our transportation future while providing economic opportunities for the entire state. We have done this by passing our billion dollar bonding proposal through this legislature and then seeing it overwhelmingly approved by the people, and also by committing $50 million dollars from last year's general fund to improving the state's roads and highways. And we have done all of this without increasing taxes. Of course, not everything was that easy. I understand that what is often characterized as politics as representing a political disagreement really reflects honest differences of opinion over policy.
There is no question that one of the most important and indeed debated package of bills to come before the legislature last session was our public school reform plan. Education is an emotional issue one about which every person in this room cares deeply. And, there is also no question that on some of the details of the plan there was division primarily along party lines. But I want to specifically single out Senators Jim Dyer and Rob Hernandez, former Senator Gloria Tanner and Representatives Abel Tapia and Frana Mace for their constant efforts to reach common ground and who kept in mind that making our schools better for our children is what this debate is all about.
It was on November 19, 1863 that Abraham Lincoln surveyed the wreckage of the Civil War battle at Gettysburg. Looking around that battlefield, where and, looking about the ground that had seen brother fought against brother and neighbor against neighbor, he didn't see a people divided, he saw unity. He didn't see hopelessness, he saw hope. He didn't see emptiness, he saw opportunity. Abraham Lincoln saw what he called "a downpayment on a new birth of freedom."
Across America this past fall, hard fought elections took place, from the presidency to the state house. But the time for partisan politics is past. If Abraham Lincoln could see opportunity coming from civil war, I know that we in Colorado can unite around the opportunity of a future bright with hope. Let's focus on what Lincoln called "the better angels of our nature."
Let us work together to protect Colorado's precious natural landscapes, and manage our growth wisely. Let's work together to ensure that Coloradans' hard-earned tax dollars are spent efficiently and not wasted. Let's work together to see as we face redistricting that the end result is seven districts that are as competitive as our state's demographics and the federal constitution allow. And let us work together to put children first when spending tax dollars on education. To quote our sixteenth president, "...Let us, as Lincoln said, "have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.""
Working together, we must address an issue of critical concern to every Coloradan how our state can continue to prosper and grow in a manner that protects our quality of life. When we look back on what we have accomplished, central to our heritage will be our stewardship of Colorado's natural landscapes our forests and rivers, our mountains and valleys.
Friends, last year I discussed some steps along the path of Smart Growth we needed to take. I am pleased that the legislature took many of them. We created the Office of Smart Growth and provided grants for regional planning around the state. We approved tax credits to encourage building more affordable housing. We put in place incentives to encourage development within our already developed cities and towns rather than more sprawl.
We must continue along this path. We must respect Colorado's longstanding tradition of local communities controlling their own destiny. We must recognize that parts of Colorado are booming while other communities are losing population. And it is time that we finally pass major reform of our land use laws.
We know that all sides of the growth debate must work together and, yes, all sides must compromise. Senator Ed Perlmutter and Representative Joe Stengel continue to bring all sides together, and I look forward to working with them on growth reform. We must also require comprehensive planning in our high growth and high population areas. And these plans must be enforceable. It is time for us to be creative and find alternatives to resolve the issues that arise when two cities or a city and a county have plans that don't mesh. Neighboring jurisdictions should work together on their plans, and if they come to a stalemate, it is proper for the state to provide mediation. But friends, let me be very clear. Our local communities must plan for their growth while protecting private property rights.
Friends, last summer I asked a blue ribbon panel of Coloradans to examine what more we should do to better protect Colorado's open spaces, farms and ranches. You have seen their report. They made some important recommendations that I ask the General Assembly to act on, including strengthening the conservation easement tax credit, so that we encourage the private preservation of valuable ranches. Legislation sponsored by Senator Dave Owen and Representative Lola Spradley will make the conservation easement an even more valuable preservation tool, while also respecting private property rights.
We must create a pilot program for water trading, banking and exchange in Colorado. Representative Diane Hoppe is carrying a bill that will allow farmers and ranchers to lease their water rights, thereby realizing some of the value of their assets without permanently severing this water from the land. I support this bill and hope the legislature will as well.
And this legislature should seriously examine whether or not the voters should be asked to give Great Outdoors Colorado the authority to bond. This option would give GOCO the flexibility it needs to act quickly on once-in-a-lifetime land preservation projects. We all know why it is so important to grow, but grow responsibly. It is because we want to leave our children and grandchildren a prosperous state that retains all of its natural beauty and wonder.
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN/HEALTH CARE
Friends, we will make decisions this year that will affect the lives of our children for decades to come, and we must take this responsibility seriously. That is why last September General Colin Powell and I signed Colorado's Promise. We are one of only three states in the nation to be a model America's Promise state. General Powell was joined by five U.S. Presidents of both parties to rally America behind five promises for our children promises which ensure that children have:
caring adults in their lives as parents, mentors, tutors and
coaches;
safe places with structured activities in which to learn and grow;
a healthy start and healthy future;
an effective education that equips them with marketable skills;
and an opportunity to give back to their neighborhoods through community service.
In each of these areas Colorado is making progress, but we still have more to do.
We must focus on the well-being and stability of families in Colorado. At the same time, we must recognize that too many children are growing up without a family without stability. Thus, I support Senator Marilyn Musgrave's efforts to work with state agencies to find alternatives to the foster system alternatives that would provide these children with the safety and stability they so desperately need.
As part of our efforts to ensure that children have a healthy start, I began the process of reforming the Children's Health Insurance Program. This is an important part of Colorado's safety net for low-income children, but it wasn't working well. In August, with the concurrence of the Joint Budget Committee, I announced a premium holiday. This action gave us time to implement a more effective premium structure that encourages increased enrollment. Today, CHIP is more affordable and easier to enroll in than ever before, resulting in a significant increase in applications over the last year. And with new easy-to-understand applications in English and Spanish, we've further reduced the barriers to providing health insurance for low-income children. I look forward to working with Senator Doug Linkhart on improving CHIP and seeing that Colorado's low-income children have access to affordable health insurance.
Another problem we are running into is the fact that state mandates placed on health care policies continue to cause health care costs to rise. I want to thank Senator Mark Hillman for his efforts on a bill that will allow insurers to offer more affordable policies, free of costly state mandates.
While working to improve health care for our children, we also must work to improve their mental and emotional well being. It was William James who said, "The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude." This is a lesson that we need to teach our children especially those who are at such an impressionable age. We have made important strides in involving the faith-based community in strengthening families by convening a faith-based summit on charitable choice a program that gives families on welfare more options when reaching out to the community for help. I strongly believe that Colorado should continue to enlist the faith-based community to help provide cost-effective social services that work.
CRIME/JUDICIARY
A large part of our families and children agenda is ensuring that all Colorado families feel safe. Since taking office, I have signed a number of public safety bills including a "two strikes and you're out" rule for child molesters, DNA testing of all felons, and a new law that immediately revokes the parole of a parolee caught carrying a gun.
I believe we should do more. DNA testing today allows us to solve murder, rape and other violent crimes decades after the crime is committed. It is time to remove the statute of limitations on such crimes. We should do all we can to catch, prosecute and lock-up rapists and other violent criminals, whether they committed the crime ten days ago or ten years ago. We must also take steps to increase the penalties for those who engage in identity theft. Crucial to our prosperity are the economic opportunities created by on-line commerce and the Internet. Our citizens must feel safe that they can conduct business on-line without people stealing personal information. I believe we must also do more to protect our children from hate, pornography and violence on the Internet. It seems clear to me that any computer used by a child in a Colorado public school or public library should include filtering software to limit our children's access to hate, pornography and violence on these publicly-funded computers. Our libraries don't use taxpayer funds to buy hate magazines or pornographic magazines they shouldn't use taxpayer funds to allow access to the same material on-line.
In my first State of the State address, I promised to take steps to reduce the amount of bureaucratic red tape in Colorado's judicial system. Last year, my Task Force on Civil Justice Reform reported that Colorado's judicial system is approaching a crisis due to a serious shortage of trial court judges. Case filings in Colorado's trial courts have grown by 85% since 1980, yet the number of new district court judges has increased by only 12%. Some judges now routinely decide more than 400 cases in a single year. And it can take four years or more for the parties in a civil lawsuit to get a jury trial. For a growing number of Coloradans, justice delayed is indeed justice denied. That's why I support legislation to create 24 new District Court judgeships. I want to thank Senator Ed Perlmutter and Representative Shawn Mitchell for sponsoring this legislation.
Besides strengthening our courts, it is time to reform Colorado's administrative law system. Administrative Law Judges or "ALJs" decide regulatory, workers compensation and other disputes between private citizens and state government. Coloradans depend on ALJs to protect their civil rights. Yet the current system suffers from chronic budget problems that are seriously undermining public confidence in our administrative law system. That is why I support legislation sponsored by Senator Andy McElhany and Representative Tambor Williams to consolidate ALJs into a new Division of Administrative Justice where they can be better trained and more accountable to the public. Let me also thank Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey, the Colorado Supreme Court, and the State Judiciary for all they do to bring justice to Colorado.
Since becoming Governor I have made 33 judicial appointments. These are tough judges who care as much about the victims' rights as those of the criminals. While these appointments do not require Senate confirmation, I have more than one hundred other confirmations awaiting action in the Senate. I have nominated men and women to the state's boards and commissions who will work hard for all Coloradans. When I was in the state senate, I took seriously my responsibility to confirm appointees. But I also as a Senator acknowledged that it is the Governor who appoints. That is why in the six years I served in the Senate I voted to confirm 264 of Governor Romer's appointees, while voting against only two. I trust that the Senate will extend to me the same courtesy I extended to Governor Romer.
On another subject, several years ago, the General Assembly allowed elected officials to have a choice in our state retirement plan, choosing from either PERA or a defined-contribution plan. Many of you who are new legislators have just made that choice for the first time. However, that choice is denied to all but a few of us in Colorado state government. If it is good enough for us, why isn't it good enough for all state employees? Therefore, it is time to provide persons newly-hired in state government with the same choice in retirement plans we enjoy. Passing laws only for ourselves while not extending the benefit to other state employees is wrong. I look forward to working with Senator Dave Owen on this important legislation.
Now I would like to turn to the issue of tax relief for Colorado's families. I am very proud of our record in providing tax relief. Since becoming Governor, the legislature has passed and I have signed the most important tax relief package in Colorado history. Coloradans today are paying nearly a billion dollars less in taxes annually than they were two years ago. We have permanently cut the income tax rate twice while also permanently lowering the sales tax rate. These cuts of the income and sales taxes accounted for 86% of the permanent tax relief taxpayers received from their legislature and their governor. In addition, we have eliminated the marriage penalty, lowered vehicle registration fees, increased the elderly pension exclusion, and provided an income tax credit for long-term care insurance all while we have twice increased the earned income tax credit for low-income Coloradans.
This tax relief was broad-based, fair, and good for all Coloradans. I worked hard for this tax relief because I firmly believe that this is the people's money. They earned it. We did not. Coloradans should be given the opportunity to save, invest or spend those dollars, because it is their money not ours. Now some have said that we cannot provide more tax relief. With the passage of Amendment 23 and its effect on the capital budget, many assume tax relief is off my agenda for this session. This morning I am putting tax cuts back on the agenda.
Each year, the state uses estimates from the Census Bureau to determine the population growth rate in order to calculate the state's TABOR tax revenue limits. After an actual count during the 2000 Census, we've discovered that they undercounted the state's population throughout most of the nineties.
What does this mean for the budget? It means that we suddenly have almost $300 million dollars available for spending next year. The state is receiving this windfall only because of a change in Census Bureau estimates a change that gives us an opportunity to provide more much-needed taxpayer relief to all hard-working Coloradans, while also investing in our critical transportation infrastructure. I am therefore calling on the legislature this year to continue to provide tax relief. I will leave it up to you to decide which taxes to cut, as long as they are broad-based and fair to all Coloradans.
On the subject of saving money, I know that everyone has been affected by the recent increases in heating bills. Those being most hard hit are our low-income citizens who are struggling to live on a strict budget and cannot afford a heating bill that goes from $50 to $100 to $200 or more in one month. Efforts are underway across the country at every level of government to do something about these increases for the long term. I look forward to working with this legislature, the Public Utilities Commission and our counties and municipalities to explore options with regard to power plants and transmission facilities that we need in the future so that all families in Colorado will not be saddled with out-of-control energy bills.
Colorado must have the energy infrastructure in place sufficient to ensure reliable and affordable energy to meet our current and future needs. But there are steps that can be taken in the short term to help Colorado families who are struggling the most. We should use a portion of our Severance Tax Trust Fund surplus on a one-time basis to help offset utility bill increases for low and middle-income families through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. I want to thank Senator Rob Hernandez and Representative Jim Snook for spearheading this effort, which will help offset high heating bills for 70,000 struggling families in Colorado this year.
Ladies and gentlemen, the most important issue facing us is the last issue I want to discuss with you this morning. That issue is how best to improve our public schools so that every child is guaranteed what I regard as a civil right the right to a quality education that ensures that no child is left behind.
I have visited scores of public schools since being elected Governor, in all parts of our state. This has given me an opportunity to listen to teachers and principals, most of who recognize that education reform is necessary, but not always easy. It is, in fact, usually difficult, or it would have been done long ago. Friends, I believe that our public schools are well on the way to improving. I have heard many times from educators and parents across the state that standards and accountability are already working. Why? Because we've made it perfectly clear that every Colorado child has a right to an education that includes being able to read, write and do basic mathematics.
Unfortunately, we still have too many of our young people who cannot read at grade level moving through our schools. We have too many students who cannot write and who cannot grasp the fundamentals of math, much less understand how all three will impact everything they do for the rest of their lives.
Let me share with you a few numbers that prove this point. Based on the CSAP tests given to date tests written right here in Colorado, by Colorado educators, based on Colorado standards we now know that almost one third of our third graders are not proficient in reading. We know that 60% of our fourth graders are not proficient in writing, and more than half our eighth graders are not proficient in science. We also know that 51% of our fifth graders and an incredible 65% of our eighth graders are not proficient in math.
We need to look at where we were, where we are and where we are going. It is a struggle, there is no doubt about it the contrast between the old education system and the new, between passing and failing, between ignorance and education. Yet this is a struggle we must confront head on. It is not going to be easy. There are those who are well meaning who simply do not understand that in a changing world, only those who are prepared academically will be successful.
On January 14,1993 then Governor Roy Romer stood at this very podium and stressed the importance of standards and accountability for our public schools. Governor Romer said, "Each year no issue is more difficult for all of us than the funding and reform of our public schools. Perhaps that is because there are no simple solutions. We have to start with setting clear standards for what students should know and be able to do. This is the most important step we can take, because it drives everything else in educational reform."
On January 13, 1994 Governor Romer again at this very podium renewed his call for standards saying, "Standards are particularly important because they give parents and students a yardstick to measure their academic progress, and they give all of us the ability to hold schools accountable for making sure students are learning."
And in 1995 Governor Romer told those of us in the legislature that the best way to improve the productivity and results of the public education system was "to maintain our commitment to clear, rigorous standards for student performance."
From this call to arms during Governor Romer's tenure came the creation of the Colorado Student Assessment Program CSAP and the beginning of more accountability for our public schools.
I took up the banner when Governor Romer left office. Last year, at the urging of 37 school superintendents whose districts educate three fourths of the children in Colorado's public schools, the legislature expanded CSAPs to test reading and writing each year in grades 3-10, and math each year in grades 5-10.
The keystone of my education reform plan was based on a simple premise seeing that every child in Colorado has a right to a quality teacher, a safe school and an education that prepares them to succeed. You have heard me say it many times we must leave no child behind. That is why I insisted that a large share of Colorado's tobacco settlement be devoted to elementary school literacy. Through Read to Achieve sponsored by Senator John Andrews and Representative Abel Tapia we are beginning the largest literacy effort in Colorado history. Our goal is to make sure every child can read at or above grade level when they enter the fourth grade.
Just last month I announced that 408 elementary schools would be receiving $27 million dollars in third-grade reading grants from Read to Achieve. And let me tell you something that I found interesting one school received a grant to fund a single student. That truly sums up what I mean when I say that every child counts. This year we must stay the course. This year we will stay the course. While there are a few technical changes we need to make to last year's school reform package, the plan itself is not only sound, it is essential if we want to change a school system where too many of our children are left behind.
Annual testing makes sense. Giving schools three years to improve before requiring new management makes sense any longer and a child's elementary school years may be lost. And accountability makes sense. Parents want to know about the academic performance, teacher quality, safety and use of taxpayer dollars at public schools.
Ten or fifteen years from now I don't want another Governor standing here delivering a state of the state address saying we have to deal with an education crisis because his or her predecessors didn't act. Friends, there is one person in particular who did act and I want to take this opportunity to thank Senator Norma Anderson for her leadership on education. It is not news to anyone in this chamber that Norma fought what was, at times, a tough battle. Norma, thank you for all you have done for Colorado's children.
Of course, unless schools are given the resources to do their job, accountability means little. That is why I am proud that the budget I have submitted to the General Assembly included full funding for K-12 education. My budgets have increased education funding by more than $590 million dollars. And you know, fully funding education has not been easy. In fact, it had not been accomplished once in the entire decade prior to my Administration. And yet, the three budgets that I have submitted not only fully fund K-12 education, but have enough additional dollars for our schools that we have made up a significant portion of the K-12 funding shortfall of the previous decade. Ladies and gentlemen, we should be proud of this record. But with this new investment in our schools must come change. Coloradans are investing more than ever before in our schools, and we have a right to expect even to demand an improved educational system for our children.
With the passage of Amendment 23, voters have said they want us to continue on this course. But the amount of money we provide to K-12 education is not the sole yardstick by which our commitment should be measured. It must also be measured by how this funding can best be used to improve education without adding to the education bureaucracy. Amendment 23 requires per pupil base funding and categorical funding to increase by inflation plus one percentage point over the next ten years.
In addition to this spending, all other new monies provided by the Amendment, can only be used for "accountable education reform, for accountable programs to meet state academic standards, for class size reduction, for expanding technology education, for improving student safety, for expanding the availability of preschool and kindergarten programs, for performance incentives for teachers, for accountability reporting, or for public school building capital construction."
Friends, those words are now in our state Constitution. As elected officials we swore to uphold the Constitution. Therefore, we have a responsibility to ensure that money from Amendment 23 is spent in these categories. That is the will of the people. When those who supported Amendment 23 took their case to the voters, they didn't say "give us these dollars and we'll just pass them along to fund business as usual." They didn't say, "give us these dollars and trust us," and they certainly didn't say, "give these dollars to the school bureaucrats and hope for the best." No, ladies and gentlemen, the proponents were very specific with the language of the ballot initiative passed by voters, clearly spelling out particular areas where those new funds should be spent. Therefore, I ask this General Assembly to pass responsible, targeted increases in education funding that will actually help the children though not necessarily the administrators.
I support local control and my proposals with the exception of reducing class size and special ed funding give the funds directly to school principals to decide how best to use them. What could be more local than that? We must provide schools with funds to purchase new textbooks so that every child has reading, math and science books that are accurate and up-to-date, while also freeing parents from burdensome textbook fees. We must give a helping hand to our lowest-performing schools that are trying to improve by providing them with grants to help in their turnaround efforts. We want all children to go to school ready to learn so we must measure the effects of full-day kindergarten on the achievement level of low-income children. I am pleased to be working with Senator Rob Hernandez on a bill to establish full-day kindergarten pilot programs at our most challenged elementary schools.
We must also address the inequality that exists between children who attend public neighborhood schools and children who attend public charter schools. It is simply wrong that children who attend public charter schools must have their buildings paid for out of their school's operating funds, while children in public neighborhood schools have their school paid for out of additional, separate, capital funding. We have two unequal standards at work here and this session we must begin the process of giving our charter students the equality they deserve.
I am proud to say that, because we have demanded excellence, Colorado's teachers are today preparing our children to reach the highest academic standards in Colorado's history. It is time to build on these achievements and keep outstanding teachers at the he
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What Are The Chances? Houston And The No. 1 Overall Pick
What are the chances that Houston could land the top pick in the 2012 draft? Pretty good...
By David Coleman Aug 8, 2011, 11:21am CDT
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In this season for the Houston Astros, we have 48 games left before the merciful end of things. As the Astros sit with worst record in the majors, the big question is whether they will hold onto it for the first overall pick in the 2012 draft.
If they do, it'd be a bit of fortuitous timing, since the Astros last had that pick 20 years previously. The only time Houston had the No. 1 overall pick was in 1992 after a disastrous '91 season. But, if we look at where Houston was in '91 through 114 games (which is where this current Houston team sits), they did not hold the worst record in baseball. In fact, because of a nine-game winning streak a few games earlier, Houston had the fourth-worst record in the majors and were 11 games ahead of the Cleveland Indians for that first pitch. Houston collapsed from there, however, winning just 17 of their last 31 games, including a 10-18 record in September.
The Astros never caught the Indians for the worst record in baseball, but they didn't have to. See, back then, the two leagues alternated the No. 1 overall pick, with the worst team in the National League guaranteed the top spot. So, all Houston had to do was catch Montreal for the worst record in the NL, which they did on Sept. 1.
This season, obviously, the Astros have been much, much worse, holding the worst record in either league since July. Looking at Cool Standings, there is only one team with a chance to lose 100 games other than Houston. That's the Baltimore Orioles, who are projected to lose 100 games. Baltimore is still seven games ahead of Houston in the standings, meaning the Astros will have to start winning many more games than they have to get caught.
Basically, it's going to take a big finishing kick by the Astros for any team to catch Houston for that first overall pick. Unfortunately, there isn't a Anthony Rendon, Gerrit Cole, Bryce Harper or Stephen Strasburg in next year's draft class. That's bad news for Houston and new owner Jim Crane.