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Democratic Lawmakers Ask NRA for Answers Over 2015 Moscow Trip and Alleged Russian Ties
Posted 7:41 PM, February 18, 2019, by CNN Wire, Updated at 07:39PM, February 18, 2019
A pair of House Democratic lawmakers is asking the National Rifle Association to answer questions related to potential ties to Russia, including on the gun rights organization's finances, a 2015 trip to Moscow attended by NRA backers and whether NRA officials communicated with Russian-linked individuals about attempts to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election.
The letter, dated Friday, is addressed to NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre and signed by Democratic Reps. Ted Lieu of California, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Kathleen Rice of New York, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee.
This isn't the first time the NRA has faced scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers.
Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon has sent multiple requests to the organization asking about its finances. And earlier this month, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Rep. Jamie Raskin, both Democrats, sent a letter to the NRA asking for information about donations the group funneled toward the Trump presidential campaign and GOP congressional candidates.
If House Democrats — who now hold a majority in the lower chamber of Congress — decide to make use of their subpoena power to target the NRA, that could create another headache for the gun rights group.
In response to a request for comment on the letter from Lieu and Rice, William A. Brewer III, who serves as counsel to the NRA, told CNN that the organization "has not yet received the letter," but intends to "respond to all appropriate information requests."
"Although the NRA has not yet received the letter, the Association, naturally, will respond to all appropriate information requests," said Brewer, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and counsel to the NRA, in a statement. "The NRA is working diligently to supply information in response to several requests for information, and will continue to do so."
Lieu and Rice write in their letter that they have become "increasingly alarmed" by what they describe as "the complex web of relationships between individuals associated with the NRA and highly influential Russian officials" and say that it is "imperative that Congress has a full understanding" of efforts by Russia to influence US elections.
ABC News was first to report on the letter.
2015 Moscow trip
The letter asks several questions about a 2015 trip to Moscow attended by NRA backers.
The 2015 trip was orchestrated by former NRA president David Keene and Maria Butina, a Russian native who pleaded guilty in federal court in December to conspiring to act as a foreign agent. As part of her plea, she admitted to attempting to infiltrate Republican political circles and influence US relations with Russia before and after the 2016 presidential election.
The agenda included events with Alexander Torshin, a Russian government official who was later sanctioned by the US Treasury Department, as well as former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who had already been sanctioned by the US government.
Butina worked closely with Keene and his wife to organize the 2015 Moscow trip. Keene used his NRA email address in making the arrangements as did another NRA staffer named Nicholas Perrine, according to emails obtained by CNN.
Among the attendees in 2015 were Keene, Dr. Arnold Goldschlager, an NRA donor; Joe Gregory, a prominent NRA fundraiser; Jim Liberatore, president and CEO of the Outdoor Channel; Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr., who was a prominent Trump surrogate during the campaign; and Pete Brownell, who would later serve as NRA president.
Goldschlager described the 2015 Moscow visit as a "people-to-people mission" in an interview with McClatchy last year and said, "The trip exceeded my expectations by logarithmic levels."
The letter asks, "What expenses did the NRA pay for the December 2015 trip to Moscow?" and "Did any NRA officials communicate with Torshin, Butina, or any other Russia-linked individuals about efforts to interfere in and influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election?"
It also asks, "Did the NRA facilitate any meetings or communications between Trump campaign associates and Torshin or any other Russia-linked individuals?"
The NRA has attempted to distance itself from the trip. In a statement to CNN earlier this month, Brewer said that LaPierre was "personally opposed" to the trip when he found out about the details of the visit.
"When he became aware of the details of the trip, Wayne was personally opposed to it," Brewer told CNN, adding, "In order that the group was not viewed as representing the NRA, Wayne spoke with several people about the excursion. As a result, Mr. Cors agreed not to make the trip. In addition, NRA staff members who were in Israel (for a trip that preceded the visit to Russia) returned home." Cors was NRA president at the time the trip took place.
But CNN has confirmed that NRA officials appeared to play a significant role in planning the trip.
At least one NRA employee assisted Butina in making travel arrangements for the delegation that would be visiting Moscow. At one point, the NRA employee even asked whether the NRA should be listed as the organization that was footing the bill for some of the NRA-affiliated attendees, according to emails obtained by CNN.
The letter references recent news stories on the origins of the 2015 trip, saying, "Recent reporting, however, suggests that the NRA was in fact involved. For example, the emails reviewed by reporters suggest that the NRA covered the travel expenses of some delegates and that NRA employees worked with Butina and other Russian individuals to make travel arrangements."
Lieu and Rice write, "We are disturbed by the lack of transparency the NRA has demonstrated surrounding the December 2015 trip to Moscow."
More questions about NRA finances and Russia
The letter asks questions related to the gun rights group's finances, including, "How much money did the NRA receive from Russia or Russia-linked individuals or entities during the 2016 election cycle?"
Lieu and Rice also ask, "Did the NRA use any of that money in their 2016 election campaign contributions?" and "Did any NRA officials discuss money laundering or the funneling of money from Russia to the NRA?"
After facing questions about whether foreign money could have been funneled through the group to boost the Trump campaign, the NRA has insisted that it did not use foreign funds for election-related purposes, but has acknowledged that it accepts money from foreign donors.
Wyden asked the NRA, which supported Trump during the 2016 election and spent millions of dollars to back his candidacy, in March if it can "categorically state" that "your organizations have never, wittingly or unwittingly, received any contributions from individuals or entities acting as conduits for foreign entities or interests?"
The NRA's secretary and general counsel John Frazer said in a mid-March response that the NRA takes pains to ensure money from foreign nationals isn't injected into political spending.
"While we do receive some contributions from foreign individuals and entities, those contributions are made directly to the NRA for lawful purposes," Frazer wrote. "Our review of our records has found no foreign donations in connection with a United States election, either directly or through a conduit."
While it's not illegal for the NRA to accept contributions from foreign donors, the group would run afoul of the law if that money were used for electioneering purposes. The NRA's political action committee, the NRA Political Victory Fund, is required to report its spending to the Federal Election Commission, but the group houses a number of other accounts that aren't bound by such transparency.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Description for Federal web sites.
NOAA's National Geodetic Survey (NGS) defines and manages a national coordinate system. This network, the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), provides the foundation for transportation and communication; mapping and charting; and a multitude of scientific and engineering applications.


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Applications Now Open for New Students: M.A. in Applied Islamic Ethics
Current: Applications Now Open for New Students: M.A. in Applied Islamic Ethics
CIS: College of Islamic Studies
Are you interested in having Master of Arts (MA) degree in a pioneer field with great potential for both academia and the wider labor market? The Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE), and the College of Islamic Studies (CIS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), cordially announce the opening of online applications for the MA in Applied Islamic Ethics (AIE), the first program of its kind worldwide.
This pioneer program addresses how Islam, as a world religion with a rich moral heritage, engages with and contributes to the global moral discourse. Its strong interdisciplinary character combines in-depth knowledge of both theoretical and applied ethics rooted in the Islamic tradition. The program is consistent with the Qatar National Vision 2030 of developing a knowledge-based society and also with HBKU's mission to develop world-class interdisciplinary academic programs. For more information about the program, please read the attached brochure.
Graduates & Future
Graduates of this program will have the skills to continue their academic studies at the PhD level in the many fields covered in the program. They may also find work in professional environments to regulate ethical guidelines and policies. These may be in government and private institutions active in a wide range of areas, including biomedical sciences, engineering, business, politics, family, and human rights – in both Muslim and Western contexts.
Great Opportunities
Besides following courses, students of the AIE program get extra opportunities to improve their skills, knowledge and understanding. For example, they are able to participate in regular research seminars, the annual international conference, training sessions, public lectures and many other activities organized by the Research Center for Islamic Legislation & Ethics (CILE). During these activities, our students are in direct contact with renowned scholars and researchers from all over the world. Our students also have opportunities to work as Research Assistants in projects led by the professors teaching at the program and to present their research in international conferences inside and outside Qatar.
For more information about the application requirements, please visit:
CIS Admission Requirements
Interested applicants should register via this link and submit the following documents:
University transcripts
Qatari ID
Updated CV
Two recommendation letters
IELTS Certificate with 6.5+ score.
Please note that only documents submitted via this link will be considered.
Learn more from our professors about the courses taught within the program of Applied Islamic Ethics
Dr. Mohammed Ghaly, in charge of "Islamic Bioethics" courses
Dr. Rajai Ray Jureidini, in charge of "Ethics of Migration and Human Rights" courses
Dr Mu'taz A. Al Khatib, in charge of "Ethical Reasoning and Casuistry Ethics" courses
Master of Arts in Applied Islamic Ethics: Curriculum Structure
Application deadline for international applicants: February 1, 2022
Application deadline for nationals and residents of Qatar: March 15, 2022
For more information about the application process, please contact the College of Islamic Studies Admissions (admissions.cis@hbku.edu.qa)
For more information about the AIE Master Program, please read the attached brochure. If you have any further questions about the program, please contact the Program Coordinator Dr. Mutaz Al-Khatib (malkhatib@hbku.edu.qa)
About the Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE):
CILE aims to contribute to the reform and renew the Islamic thought by developing a contemporary vision guided by the fundamental principles of the Holy Qur'an, Sunnah and the higher objectives of Islamic Shariah. For more information, please contact: CILE Office
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Leicester Tigers have made three changes to the side that will face Gloucester in the Aviva Premiership at Welford Road on Saturday following the defeat at Northampton Saints in round two.
Flanker Brendon O'Connor, who has started the first two matches of the season, is ruled out with the hamstring injury he sustained at Franklin's Gardens.
Luke Hamilton, who started at blindside last week against Northampton, moves to the No7 slot with Mike Williams named on the blindside - his first start of the new season. Sione Kalamafoni completes the back row and will line up against his former club, as will winger Jonny May.
Tigers field a youthful second row with Harry Wells and Joe Maksymiw stepping in for the injured duo Graham Kitchener and Dom Barrow.
The backline is unchanged with Matt Smith continuing at outside centre in place of the injured Manu Tuilagi.
Tonga international forward Valentino Mapapalangi, who has started the first two games of the Premiership 'A' League season, is included in the matchday squad for the first time since his summer move to Welford Road.
Tigers: 15: Veainu, 14: Malouf, 13: Smith, 12: Toomua, 11: May; 10: G Ford, 9: B Youngs; 1: Genge, 2: T Youngs (c), 3: Cole: 4: Wells, 5: Maksymiw; 6: Williams, 7: Hamilton, 8: Kalamafoni. Replacements: 16: Thacker, 17: Bateman, 18: Mulipola, 19: Mapapalangi, 29: Ryan, 21: Harrison, 22: J Ford, 23: Tait.


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Q: resizing windows forms elements i have a form with few panels docked to top,left and fill... And there are two buttons inside a panel...  i want to resize the button which should not overlap when form is resized

A: I you are inside Windows Forms, then this supports obvisouly control nesting.  So as you have added and docked your three panels you can then add buttons to these panels and Dock any child elements inside.
For example, if we take what you have described, if we focus on your panel which is Dccked on the left, you could then add the follwing:
ParentPanel = parentPanel1

*

*Add a Child Panel chdPanel1 to parentPanel1 - Dock Bottom, Padding : All 5

*Add a Child Panel chdPanel2 to parentPanel1 - Dock Fill, Padding : All 5

*Add a Button btn1 to chdPanel1 - Dock Fill

This is just an example, but if you continue with control nesting and docking correctly, you should have no problem in positioning your controls
Andrew

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Arsenal legend Thierry Henry could be appointed as the new manager of Monaco as early as Monday, as he is reportedly set to leave the Belgium coaching set-up for the last time on Saturday.
According to L'Equipe, Henry will continue in his role as Roberto Martinez's assistant until the conclusion of Belgium's UEFA Nations League clash with Switzerland, but will depart immediately afterwards as he heads to France to take over from Leonardo Jardim.
Jardim was sacked earlier this week with the club sitting 18th in Ligue 1, having won just once in the league so far.
They qualified for the Champions League after finishing second to PSG last season, but a win over Nantes on the opening day remains their only league victory so far, and defeats to Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League didn't help matters, as the club eventually deemed that enough was enough - despite Jardim leading them to the Ligue 1 title two years ago.
They were champions of Ligue 1 two years ago, but Monaco are currently 18th in the table right now.
A shortlist of potential replacements reportedly included former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, but it's now expected that Henry will get the job in a matter of days.
Henry been assistant to Roberto Martinez since 2016, and saw his side reach the semi finals of the 2018 World Cup, beating England in the third place playoff.
His coaching performances have earned him some flattering glances, and he was reportedly a target to replace Steve Bruce at Aston Villa, but opted not to leave his post for that job.
Instead, it now looks like he will take charge of the club at which he started his professional career back in 1994.


We've got something we'd like to talk to you about – gin. Mmmmm. Gin. Sweet, lovely gin. Mmmm…oh, shoot. Got a little sidetracked there. In case you can't tell, we're big fans of gin, which is why we're excited about this one. You'll be greeted with a No 3 G&T on arrival, followed by a gin Old Fashioned, Dry Martinis made with mixed vermouth, atomisers to make your own martini and a Bees Knees cocktail to finish. Canapés will be offered with each cocktail. Check them out below: - Gillrays crab cakes with a coriander and lemon mayonnaise - Juniper and ginger crusted beef fillet with mini yorkies - Avocado Cornetto with juniper and cardamom tomato jelly And, just for you lucky punks, we've managed to wangle you 20% off at Gillray's Steakhouse. Just mention "YPlan Special". Over 18s only. Valid ID required.


New window curtains or drapes can change the look of a room, but remember to consider new mounting hardware (the things that curtains hang from), as well. Curtain rods, poles, finials, brackets, and rings are available in both modern and traditional styles to complement your decor..
Drapery hardware isn't an afterthought of window design, but rather an integral part of your window treatment and another decorative element with which you can create your final look. For example, if you have your heart set on tab curtains, you need to plan for the right kind of rod to use at the same time you're thinking of your treatment, because the rod will show and become part of the overall look. For a swag-style treatment, much of your pole will show as well.
You also need to consider whether your window treatment has to move or not. Are you treating a wide bank of windows that you want fully exposed by day? You can consider a metal pole with metal rings for easy movement. For a small window where one-panel fabric treatment can be easily pushed back, try a swag holder mounted on one side.
Rods or poles: You use either a rod or a pole to hang most window treatments.
• Rods are made of plastic or metal and usually are adjustable, and they come in many different finishes including brass, gold tone, brushed metal, wrought iron, and polished metal. They come in many shapes: fluted, twisted, rounded, square, and many more.
• Poles, on the other hand, are usually made of wood, bamboo, plastic, or metal, but aren't adjustable. Wooden poles come in many types. Pine and birch are the most common types, and you can usually paint or stain them if they're untreated.
Brackets: Brackets are the supportive holders that keep rods and all poles in place. They can mount onto walls, window frames, or even ceilings. Some brackets are purely functional, while others have a decorative life all their own. Most inside-mount rods (rods that mount inside the window frame, such as tension rods) don't need brackets, so this piece of hardware isn't always necessary.
If you're working with an outside-mount rod and you decide on ornate brackets, let your finials match their style exactly, or else let the bracket shine. You don't want too many clashing styles to distract from your window treatment.
Rings or clips: The last element to add is rings or clips that attach to the fabric at the top of your treatment and go over your rod or pole.
• Curtain rings have smaller rings at the bottom (where you can sew your curtain ring to your fabric or add a small hook) or tiny internal clips (for grabbing onto the fabric). They come in many finishes to complement your other hardware elements.
• Cafe clips, sometimes called rings with clips, have tiny clips at the bottom that are often disguised by a pretty decorative motif, such as leaves, stars, or other shapes.
Many housewares stores that sell hardware also carry rods, brackets, and finials in sets, but you can still mix and match if you want. Buying the sets takes most of the guesswork out of hardware, but doesn't allow for a lot of creativity. If you choose to mix and match, be sure everything works together and complements each other.
Test your rings to ensure they fit over your pole or rod and check that your finials fit your pole or rod. Also check to see if your choice of mounting hardware complements a dominant motif of your room or window treatment. For example, if your damask fabric features a scroll design, see if you can find a wood or iron bracket that has a similar scroll design. Just remember: Your hardware elements need to look great and fit great together.


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De Deccan Traps is een vulkanische vlakte die het tegenwoordige Dekan-plateau in West-India vormt. Het is qua oppervlakte een van de grootste vulkanische fenomenen op aarde. De Deccan Traps bestaan uit een meer dan 2 kilometer dikke opeenvolging van gestolde basalten, over een oppervlak van 500.000 km².

Ouderdom en grootte
De Deccan Traps werden gevormd van 68 tot 60 Ma, dat wil zeggen in de periode van laat-Krijt tot vroeg-Paleogeen. De oorspronkelijke oppervlakte van de basaltuitvloeiingen, voor erosie en andere post-uitvloeiingsprocessen, wordt geschat op 1,5 miljoen km², met een volume van 510.000 km³. De ontgassingen en uitbarstingen van deze enorme hoeveelheden basalt hebben volgens sommige geleerden de Krijt-Paleogeen-massa-extinctie veroorzaakt, al dan niet samen met enkele grote meteorietinslagen die onder andere een krater nabij de Deccan Traps hebben gevormd. Deze krater is waarschijnlijk ontstaan na een inslag van een meteoriet met een diameter van 40 kilometer.

Geologische verklaring
Verondersteld wordt dat de Deccan Traps het gevolg zijn van een mantelpluim of hotspot. Deze hotspot, bekend als de Réunion hotspot zou zowel de uitbarstingen van de Deccan Traps als de opening van de rift tussen India en de Seychellen veroorzaakt hebben, hoewel het laatste ook kan zijn veroorzaakt door de eerder genoemde meteorietinslag. Bij de geologisch snelle noordwaartse beweging van de Indische plaat over de Réunion hotspot zouden de basalten uitgevloeid zijn op het Indisch Subcontinent. De huidige positie van de hotspot is onder het eiland Réunion in de Indische Oceaan.

Zie ook
 Large Igneous Province

Externe link
 Mantelpluimen

Geografie van India
Vulkanologie

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Unitil earnings set record
Net income at Unitil Corp. rose to $18.1 million last year, the highest in company history, even as the utility dealt with unusually mild weather.
Unitil, which operates Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Co., said earnings increased 11 percent, from $16.3 million in 2011. Earnings per share fell to $1.43 in 2012, from $1.50 in 2011.
The utility said higher distribution rates and new customer growth, especially in the natural gas business, helped earnings in 2012. It estimated that last year's warmer-than-usual weather negatively affected earnings by $1.7 million.
Unitil reported an increase in natural gas sales margins from $67.9 million to $76.2 million; and an increase in electric sales margins from $67.6 million to $71.9 million.
After adding more than 2,000 gas customers in 2012, the company said it plans to add another 4,000 customers this year.
� Priyanka Dayal McCluskey
© Copyright 2006-2019 GateHouse Media, LLC. All rights reserved • GateHouse Most Recent


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Home UK News Conservative Party News Tories 'broke UN law' over decision to ban UK mental health groups...
Tories 'broke UN law' over decision to ban UK mental health groups from World Mental Health Summit in London
Last week saw the observation and recognition of World Mental Health Day across the globe. Coinciding with this annual event was an international two-day mental health summit held in London. However, one key group appears to have been "blocked" from having any meaningful involvement in the event. Yes, you've guessed it. The Tories decided to completely shut out mental health patients and user-led UK mental health organisations from their own summit.
The Disability News Service (DNS) reports that two open letters have scalded the way in which the Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit was organised by the Conservative Party.
Along with severely criticising the Tories for excluding them, multiple mental health user-led and survivor groups noted the brazen hypocrisy of the event being hosted by a UK government who, barely over a year ago, were severely criticised for their shameful record on disability rights by a UN committee.
Speakers at the summit included: Tory Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Tony Blair's former Spin-Man Alistair Campbell, as well as politicians from around the world, such as the Canadian Health Minister.
As you would expect, representatives also came from the medical profession, such as the National Clinical Director for Mental Health Tim Kendall, and Helen Herrman, the President of The World Psychiatric Association.
However, also speaking was Richard Curtis – a man you may remember as one of the people who wrote the classic BBC comedy, Blackadder.
Yes, despite the lengthy guest-list, it seems that both mental health patients and user-led groups were, for whatever reason, not deemed as important as people like Hancock, Campbell, or indeed one of the people who once wrote a popular television series.
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The Tories' unprecedented decision to exclude all of these crucial groups from the list of speakers was furiously attacked in two open letters to the organisers of the Summit.
The letter was signed by over 100 organisations and individuals, including mental health service users, survivors, user-led networks, academics, as well as mental health professionals from more than 20 countries, including Argentina, Peru, India, Chile, Columbia, Japan, Kenya, Estonia and Hungary.
The letter says that there was little to no communication with user-led disability organisations in planning the summit, and also notes that the Tories' decision to exclude them entirely was a blatant breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The letter also touches on the shameful attempt by the Tories to position themselves as a supposed world leader on mental health when the UN committee on the rights for disabled people has repeatedly found that their policies are in severe breach of disability rights – with one UN report in 2016 finding the Tories guilty of "grave and systematic violations" of the convention.
Also noted within the letter were the levels of discrimination within UK mental health services faced by black and minority groups, including "high levels of misdiagnosis, compulsory treatment, over-medication, community treatment orders and culturally inappropriate treatment".
The letter then goes on to warn that the mental health service-user and survivor groups in the global south have objected to attempts – led by our atrocious Tory government – to import "failed western models of mental health care" into their countries."
It also calls out the government for their sickeningly "hypocritical" attempt to take the lead in creating a "global declaration on political leadership in mental health".
Those signing the heavily supported letter finished by demanding that the government commits to putting forward any declaration that comes out of the summit out for consultation, and then ratification, by a wide range of international and domestic user-led disability organisations.
The second letter was headed by the national service-user network, Shaping Our Lives (SOL), and was signed by NSUN and many other user-led grassroots organizations including the Mental Health Resistance Network, Disabled People Against Cuts and Recovery in the Bin – all of whom had also signed the first letter.
The later letter expresses severe concerns that the summit would "seriously misrepresent the issues and problems of mental health and mental health service users globally" due to the "systematic exclusions" of representatives of user-led and survivor organisations.
It also states that the summit's organisers blocked attempts by multiple user-led and survivor groups, including the European Network of (Ex) Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (ENUSP) and the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (WNUSP), from securing either invitations or representation of their organisations at the event.
The Disability News Service (DNS) reports that they have seen a letter from ENUSP to a Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) civil servant which was sent after both groups failed to receive invitations to take part in last week's summit.
ENUSP made suggestions about a range of elected representatives from member organisations across Europe who could attend, and pointed out that it was "the only grassroots, independent representative organisation of mental health service users, ex-users and survivors of psychiatry at a European level since 1990".
NUSP stressed the importance of having "representative people with lived experience at the Summit", however, shockingly, the civil servant turned down the offer, saying there were only spaces left for representatives to take part on the area of finance and investment at the summit.
However this is a specialist area where ENUSP representatives clearly wouldn't be able to make any significant contribution.
Reflecting this fact, the SOL letter stresses that:
This failure to enable involvement also reflects wide and growing concerns about the inadequacy of and crisis in UK mental health policy and provision and the failure to listen to service users, their families, communities and organisations in both mental health and welfare reform policy, both of which are having catastrophic consequences for many service users, their families and communities.
When asked to comment on the two letters by the DNS, a government spokeswoman said:
All dialogue on mental health is key; we have invited a range of people from those with lived experience, to civil society, academics and policy makers who represent more than 65 countries from around the world.
We have ensured that the involvement of people with lived experience has run throughout our work on the summit, with their experiences at the heart of our advisory panel and in every workstream.
Those with personal experience attending were nominated by representative groups of people with lived experience – this group of consultees include the convener of this open letter and the signatories include people who are attending the summit.
We recognise there is further work to do for all countries on mental health which is exactly why this summit is such a vital step.
However, the spokesperson declined to say whether any declaration from the summit would be put forward for consultation and ratification by user-led organisations as disability rights groups had suggested, or whether the government would commit to leading by example by changing its discriminatory laws.
Notably, one of the authors of the SOL letter, Jasna Russo – a survivor-researcher from Germany and a member of ENUSP – explained that she was initially invited to attend the summit as an individual with lived experience, but after she asked if she could attend as a representative of ENUSP, her request for funding was rejected.
Jasna told DNS:
Regardless of how many countries they come from, there is a big difference between inviting persons with 'lived experience' and representatives of international grassroots organisations who are working on the summit's topic for many years putting forward independent advocacy for users/survivors and people with psychosocial disability.
This gathering was simply not interested in such perspectives. As in many other involvement initiatives – people subscribing to the medical model of mental illness are far more attractive partners than those bringing in political and socio-economic issues.
Adding that:
Even though this summit talks about poverty in relation to mental health it seems much more focused on how to make the Western biomedical psychiatry go global.
It's clear that, in a shameful attempt to hide their own horrific record on disability, our callous Tory government intentionally excluded ordinary disabled Brits from their own summit. How low can this shambles of a government possibly stoop.
Evolve Politics can only continue publishing our truly independent journalism because of the financial support of our readers. If you value our work, please consider subscribing or donating any amount you can afford. Every penny you contribute goes directly to our writers for their work.
Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit
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Kelly Clarkson: "I'm Long-Winded. You're Welcome."
Her Miracle on Broadway Concert Raises $400,000 for Charity
by Alison Bonaguro 12/23/2014
One reporter made Kelly Clarkson cry. Another made her laugh. The rest just asked her questions. And Clarkson just kept on answering.
"I'm long-winded. You're welcome," she joked to the crowd of reporters who gathered to hear about Clarkson's first Miracle on Broadway benefit concert Saturday (Dec. 20) at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.
The charity show raised $400,000 and featured guest appearances by Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, Meghan Trainor, Kacey Musgraves, Martina McBride, Nashville's Charles Esten and Paramore's Hayley Williams.
In visiting with the media during Thursday's press conference promoting the concert, Clarkson didn't hold back. She didn't give cookie-cutter answers. She talked and talked and talked for about 45 minutes.
About how she is raising her daughter River: "We grew up in a duplex in a trailer. It's always our thing to make sure our kids know we don't want to punish them for being born into a family that has money. But you can't grow up in your own little world. There's a whole world out there, and there's people who are in need.
About getting emotional talking about her baby: "Seriously. It's like I'm pregnant again. I used to be more badass."
About trying to recruit Dolly Parton after her husband suggested it: "'Yeah, I'll just email Dolly Parton,'" she said she thought at first. But then she went through with it, and Parton responded — just not via email. "First of all, I love her because she doesn't email," Clarkson said. "She faxes. Which makes me love her. You don't understand. The fax? I'm actually framing it and putting it on my wall."
About speaking in front of reporters: "This is not my thing. If I could sing right now, I would be so happy. I hate talking in public. I've never emceed a show. This could completely bomb. But I think you get old enough to where you go, 'This is not about me.'"
About recruiting big stars to perform at the show: "I basically guilted people into it. I've never asked an artist to do anything, except for sing with me, which a lot of people say no, and it hurts my feelings. So it was a very brave thing for me."
Of the $400,000 raised at the concert, half was raised through donations and ticket and merchandise sales. Garth Brooks and Yearwood matched that $200,000 with another $200,000 of their own. The proceeds will go to benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Monroe Harding Children's Home, Second Harvest Food Bank and Thistle Farms.
Alison Bonaguro
Alison makes her living loving country music. She's based in Chicago, but she's always leaving her heart in Nashville.
@alisonbonaguro
Tags: Charles EstenDolly PartonGarth BrooksHayley WilliamsKacey MusgravesKelly ClarksonKix BrooksMartina McBrideMeghan TrainorRonnie DunnTrisha Yearwood


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Tony Washington(High Point Andrews) was last week's SoCon special teams POW, but Kasey Redfern(Ragsdale) was right there with him
On 'Kasey the Kicker' from Ragsdale High School, at Wofford down in Spartanburg, S.C., where the Terriers host The Citadel today…Post from Todd Shanesy at GoUpState.com….
All things considered, maybe Kasey Redfern(Ragsdale HS) of Wofford should have been the Southern Conference special teams player of the week.
Tony Washington(High Point Andrews) of Appalachian State got the honor for his 99-yard yard kickoff return against the Terriers. That was a big play, no doubt, and put Washington in the Mountaineers' record book.
But consider what Redfern did in the 38-28 win by Wofford. Already the punter and kickoff specialist, he was pressed into duty on extra points and field goals because of an injury to Christian Reed the night before the Terriers were to board the buses for Boone, N.C.
And then ponder the fact that Redfern played with a severe case of what is believed to have been food poisoning. The junior from Jamestown, N.C., got sick Friday night and wasn't much better on Saturday afternoon. Reed, the school's all-time leader in kicker points, was back in Spartanburg with a pulled muscle in his leg.
Redfern made all five of his extra-point attempts Saturday and also made the only field goal attempt of his career, a 29-yarder in the second quarter.
"I thought Kasey did an unbelievable job," Wofford head coach Mike Ayers said. "He made all the PATs and that field goal ended up being huge."
Read all on Kasey the kicker, from Ragsdale High School when you CLICK HERE….From GoUpState.com….
Published October 27, 2012 By Andy Durham
Categorized as College, High School Tagged Kasey Redfern, Ragsdale HS, Wofford
Local College Football Today:HOMECOMING GAME this afternoon at N.C. A&T
High School Football Saturday Morning rewind:Playoff Brackets and Pairings will be up later on this afternoon