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ANALYSIS: European Sunday Weekly Rest Day Legislation Remains Unlawful
Posted by Brighton Kavaloh	/ April 29, 2009
This matter deserves a full debate engaging all the parties concerned and in particular the minority groups so that the legal position is made clear and that the possible future religious ramifications of this proposed Legislation are considered in light of the aims and objectives of the European Union." Special thanks to the late Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi who read the earlier RLTV post on the proposed legislation and put us in contact with Dr. Brighton Kavaloh, and to Dr. Kavaloh for sharing his timely research. Editor
Dr. Brighton G Kavaloh is a Postgraduate Law Researcher in European Legislative Studies in London, England and a Seventh-day Adventist minister.
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The main purpose for writing this article is to respond to the relentless attempts in recent times to legislate in the European Union, Sunday as an official weekly rest day. The lobbyists championing this cause have been among other associations, the Roman Catholic Bishops (COMECE), some Protestants church representatives and certain Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).[1] I will now provide a synopsis of the background on this issue1. The disputed point between parties in a lawsuit; 2. To send out officially, as in a court issuing an order. and show how it has developed to the present day.
The Working Time Council Directive 93/104/EC of 23 November 1993, Article 5, second paragraph stipulated that a minimum weekly rest period "shall in principle include Sunday."[2] Sunday as a weekly rest day was enshrined into European Community Law, but it was annulled by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) after a legal challenge from the United Kingdom government on 12 November 1996.
Based on the Court's application of Article 137 (ex Article 118a) of the Treaty of the European Union, it was concluded that in so far as the Council was concerned "the connection between the health and safety of workers and the requirement that the weekly rest period "shall in principle include Sunday" in the second sentence of Article 5 of the Directive, had not been established."[3] There was no satisfactory explanation given "why Sunday, as a weekly rest day, is more closely connected with the health and safety of workers than any other day of the week."[4] And accordingly the ruling was that the sentence be annulled.
In September 2004, the Commission submitted a proposal to review Council Directive 2003/88/EC. The European Parliament voted the submission at its first reading in May 2005. After a three year period of stalemate, an agreement was only reached in June 2008 at which seven MEPs supported by Catholic Bishops initiated an amendment aiming yet again at attempting to include a Sunday weekly rest day clause previously annulled. The new amendments were not entertained even after the first and the second reading in the House of Parliament due to procedural reasons.[5] And since then, five parliamentarians on 2 February 2009 launched a Written Declaration to lobby the House for its adoption. A majority of 394 MEPs need to sign, before 7 May 2009. The main purpose of the Declaration is to call on "the Member States and the EU institutions to protect Sunday, as a weekly rest day in the forthcoming national and EU working time legislation in order to enhance the protection of worker's health and the reconciliation of work and family."[6] I will now proceed to argue that the attempts to enshrine Sunday as a weekly rest day in the European Community remains unlawful, in spite of the launch of a Written Declaration initiative.
The European weekly rest day legislation initially was linked more to the health and safety measures of employees in the work place. The legal basis for it was the Treaty of the European Community Article 137 (previously Article 118a). The Community organisation was to support and complement the endeavours of the Member States to improving primarily "the working environment to protect workers" health and safety.[7] To accomplish its objectives, the Council was to "adopt by means of directives, minimum requirements for gradual implementation…"[8]
The Council of the European Community adopted a Resolution on 21 December 1987 entitled "Safety, hygiene and health at work."[9] There was no link made between the protection of the worker's health and safety and Sunday as a weekly rest day nor was it raised as an issue. This argument is supported by the Council's own affirmation when it officially adopted the measure as a formal Directive on 12 June 1989. It stated that "the objective of this Directive is to introduce measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work."[10] However, Sunday as a weekly rest day with a sociological connotation in Europe began to emerge when the Commission requested the Economic and Social Committee (hereafter ECSOC) to appraise the elements of the Community Charter of Basic Rights. [11] In order to expedite time, ECSOC's recommendation was for a list to be drawn of basic social principles to be enacted and adhered to by all Member States.
Furthermore, the Community Institutions were to "take the procedural steps necessary to ensure that the scope of these basic principles and rights is interpreted with due respect for the standards already recognised in other international social legal instruments."[12] The International Labour Conventions 14[13] and 106[14] were cited and reference was made to the weekly rest period but no particular day was suggested. Further, the Council of Europe, Social Charter, Article 2(5) stipulated that "The weekly rest period shall, whenever possible, coincide with the day of the week established as a day of rest by the traditions or customs of the country or district."[15] Article 2(5) again did not specify the actual week rest day but left it to each country to determine.
The International Labour Convention 106 noted that "The traditions and customs of religious minorities shall, as far as possible, be respected."[16] The short guide to the Social Charter provided an addendum on respect of Article 2(5) that cited Sunday as the day which all states that had ratified the Charter should incorporate as an official day of rest. At this point, not all Member States had ratified the Charter and therefore the European Parliament could not legislate it. It was left to the discretion for each Member State to decide on the issue.
On 5 October 1990, the Council approached ECSOC for its opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on the organisation of working time. ECSOC made reference to health as defined by the World Health Organisation which was to be understood as signifying the physical, mental and social conditions and in so doing linked the worker's health and safety measure to Sunday as a weekly rest day."[17] In justifying this stance, ECSOC stated that "in countries with Christian traditions the day of rest has to be Sunday."[18]
The European Parliament debate on the subject of organisation of working time pertaining to Sunday as a rest day followed. I will now provide brief extracts of some arguments put forward by MEPs.
Van Dijk (NL) argued that "The premise that night work ought in principle to be forbidden is, in my opinion, much more important than preserving Sunday as a day of rest. After all, you do not get sicker through working during the day on Sunday than on Mondays, but the same cannot be said of about night work."[19]
Pronk [PPE]-(NL) said "It remains a day for the family. It is a day of rest in our increasingly hectic societies. We have tabled amendments on this point. We consider it important to preserve that day of rest. After all, one cannot sacrifice everything to society. Certain values remain that we always keep sacrosanct." [20]
And, Van Der Waal (NI)-(NL) said "I do not wish to plead for EC regulations of Sundays. Sunday legislation is eminently a matter for Governments of Member States and ought to remain so. But it would be important if, in the Directive before us, it were clearly stated that Sunday, as the Christian day of rest, as God's day, merited a place apart in the internal market."[21]
However, Papandreou, a Member of the Commission (GR) argued "I do agree, of course, that the week end is the usual acceptable time for rest but given that the proposal is concerned with the health and safety of workers and that there is no direct connection between heath and safety and the weekend. I do not think that we can rightly establish this assumption in the proposal."[22]
After considering all the arguments, Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted Directive 93/104/EC of 23 November 1993 inserting Article 5b which included the provision that the minimum rest period "shall in principle include Sunday".[23]
The Sunday weekly rest day in Europe was by law anchored into the European Union in 1993. It must be noted that recital 10 stated that "with the respect to the weekly rest period, due account should be taken of the diversity of cultural, ethnic, religious and other factors in the Member states."[24] It was "ultimately for each Member State to decide whether Sunday should be included in the weekly rest period, and if so to what extent."[25] Here again the issue of Sunday law legislation was left for the Member States to decide. But no sooner was the Council Directive in operation, that it faced a legal challenge from the British Government.
Legal Challenge
In March 1994, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland brought an action under Article 230 (ex Article 173) of the Treaty for the annulment of Working Time Council Directive 93/104/EC of 23 November 1993.[26] The UK Government requested the European Court of Justice to annul the Directive in its entirety or failing which in the alternative to repeal selected provisions which included Article 5, second paragraph (the minimum weekly rest period shall "in principle include Sunday"). However, the Council's rebuttal was that the UK application was unfounded.
The UK Government based its legal challenge on four pleas alleging, (1) defective legal basis (2) breach of the principle of proportionality (3) misuse of powers and (4) infringement of essential procedural requirements.[27] In the first instance, the applicant observed that "Directives adopted under Article 118a(2) of the EEC Treaty must have a genuine and objective link between health and safety, on the one hand, and the situation to be governed by those Directives, on the other."[28] However, it argued that "In the present case, the link between health and safety is too tenuous for the Directive to be properly based on Article 118a of the EEC Treaty. Thus, for example, the link between the rule of Sunday rest "on the one hand, and on the other, health and safety of workers is as remote as the link between the health of employees and generous conditions of pay."[29]
However, the UK and the Council of the European Union both recognised the social dimension of the Directive as it comes under the title of Social Policy. Whereas the UK saw a dichotomy between Article 118a, health and safety on the one hand and the social dimension on the other, the Council did not. The UK argued that "the legislator should explain that numerous elements of the Directive were concerned with improvement of the living and working conditions of employees and/or with the social dimension of the internal market rather than with health and safety considerations."[30] The Council stated however that "any measure adopted on the basis of the Article 118a will thus necessarily pursue a 'social' objective" due to Chapter 1 of Title VIII of the Treaty which includes Article 118a.[31]
The most crucial point to bear in mind, especially as relates to the current debate to legislate Sunday as an official weekly rest day by the European Parliament is to seriously consider the legal reasoning and subsequent judgment of the Court of Justice delivered on 12 November 1996.
The European Court of Justice in this leading case considered both arguments and counter arguments from the UK (applicants) and the Council of the European Union (respondents) respectively. It summed up that "In order to deal with those arguments, a distinction must be drawn between the second sentence of Article 5 of the directive and its other provisions."[32] There was a clear intention by the Court to seek to separate Article 5 second sentence.
The Court concluded in its judgement as follows:
"As to the second sentence of Article 5, while the question whether to include Sunday in the weekly rest period is ultimately left to the assessment of Member States, having regard, in particular, to the diversity of cultural, ethnic and religious factors in those States (second sentence of Article 5, read in conjunction with the tenth recital), the fact remains that the Council has failed to explain why Sunday, as a weekly rest day, is more closely connected with the health and safety of workers than any other day of the week."[33]
Based on the above the Court upheldThe appellate court agrees with the lower court decision and allows it to stand. the UK government's alternative claim and annulled the second sentence of Article 5.
Article 5b Annulment and its Compliance
Subsequently, the European Community institutions immediately complied with the judgment of the Court of Justice. At its sitting, the European Parliament on Thursday, 12 December 1996 adopted a Resolution on Sunday work. The adopted measures called:
"Member States and social partners in their transposition of the working time Directive to pay due regard to the traditions and cultural, social, religious and family needs of their citizens and to recognise that special character of Sunday as a day, as usually all family members are free on that day; reaffirms the right of workers to a weekly day of rest…" And also "Member States to recognise that in a multi-cultural society there are also religious communities who may have preference for an alternative rest day."[34]
Here again, it is important to note that the European Parliament reiterated the discretion of Member States but significantly stated it was imperative that each Member State in their consideration of Sunday as a weekly rest day should take due regard to minority religious groups who may have an alternative rest day.
The Commission concurred with the European Court of Justice for it noted "Article 5 (weekly rest): the second sub-paragraph of Article 5, which refers to Sunday rest, is deleted. This formalises the decision of the European Court of Justice."[35]
Directives 93/104/EC and 2000/34/EC were both codified.[36] The changes came into force on the date of the Directive's publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities."[37]
Attempts to reinstate Article 5b of Directive 93/104/EC
Directive 2003/88/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 4 November 2003 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time without Article 5 subparagraph two was in operation. In 2008, during the revision of the Working Time Directive 2003/88/EC, seven MEPs supported by Catholic Bishops (COMECE) initiated two amendments aiming at including a Sunday weekly rest clause.
The first amendment was a new recital (6a) which sought to explain that "the likelihood of sickness in companies that require staff to work on Sundays is greater than in companies that do not require staff to work on Sundays. The health of workers depends, among other factors, on their opportunities to reconcile work and family to establish and maintain social ties and to pursue their spiritual needs. Sunday, as the traditional weekly rest day, contributes to the objectives more than any other day of the week."[38]
What then followed was the current proposal amending Article 5(2a) to include "The minimum rest periods referred to in the first paragraph shall in principle include Sunday."[39] It should be noted this would constitute the introduction of the previously annulled Article 5(2). The justification for these amendments lay in "'Eurofound findings demonstrate that absenteeism and sick-leave increase significantly in companies working on Sunday…""[40]
The amendments aimed at including the protection of Sunday as a weekly rest day were neither debated nor voted on by the European Parliament for procedural reasons.[41]However, the Catholic Bishops appealed to churches and various organisations to stay mobilised on the Sunday issue.
Law Infringement
On 31 January 2000, Jorge Hernandez Mollar (PPE DE), a European Member of Parliament in a written question (E-0170/00) to the Commission sought clarification on the Community's position on the subject of weekly rest days on religious grounds.
Given the influx of immigrants from Maghreb countries working in various EU states, inquired what provisions were in place considering that "the rest days generally given are Fridays and Saturdays, allowing them to keep these days sacred."[42] And furthermore, that they be the opportunity "to extend the regulation of weekly rest days on religious grounds and introduce the necessary coordination with the practice usually followed in the Member States of the EU of keeping Sunday as a day of rest."[43]
The legal response from Mrs Dianantopoulou on behalf of the Commission on the 15 March 2000 reiterated that it was not for the European Parliament or Council to legislate but rather to support and complement Member States.[44] . To the contrary, the Commissioner underlined legal obligations the European Community was expected to adhere. She wrote:
"On 25 November 1999, the Commission adopted a package of two legislative proposals and a proposal for a programme to combat discrimination in the Community based on Article 13 (ex Article 6a) of the EC Treaty."
"One of these initiatives is a proposal for a horizontal directive to combat discrimination, inter alia, on grounds of religion. Article 12 of this proposal requires Member States to encourage social partners to contribute to the implementation of the principle of equality of treatment by adopting collective agreements, codes of conduct, research or exchange of experiences and good practice aimed at preventing discrimination."[45]
The ethos of the European Union is therefore to fight religious discrimination. To ignore the annulled Article 5(b) of the Council Directive 93/104/EC as argued by the Court of Justice would be tantamount to an infringement of the Community Law on discrimination.
In the light of the annulment of Article 5(b) of the Council Directive 93/104/EC, I argue that as long as Article 137 (ex Article 118a) is linked to health and safety measures, Sunday law legislation whatever form it may take will be anchored into the European Union by default and thus render it as unlawful. Notwithstanding it is for this reason UK and the Council seemed to have invoked the sociological approach, which seems to provide the current preoccupation on the part of those intending to anchor Sunday law in the European legislation.
European Member States by law are to decide whether to have Sunday as a weekly day of rest and not the European Community institutions or any other religious group or associations. It is the Member States who must "pay due regard in particular to diversity of cultural, ethnic, and religious factors in those Member States."[46]
Religious discrimination is prohibited by European Community law. According to Case 13/63 Italy v Commission "Discrimination may consist not only in treating like cases differently but also in treating different cases alike."[47] And as such to enact a law that treats the minority groups, who worship on alternative days such as Fridays and Saturdays in the same way as those who worship on Sundays is to discriminate against those minority religious groups.
Sunday as a weekly rest day violates the human rights against those who may want to worship on an alternative day. Article 9(1) of the Convention provides "the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion..."[48] But also continues "freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society "for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others."[49]
The Convention has three measures to test the limitations of Article 9 and these are:
(1) when prescribed by law
(2) legitimate aim and
(3) and when is "necessary in a democratic society"
Legislation of Sunday as a weekly rest day in the European Union fails on all three counts.
I sincerely applaud efforts to enhance the protection of workers' health and safety at their workplace and the reconciliation of work and family life, but there is no correlation between these objectives and the need for a legally instituted Sunday rest day.
In my view, the attempt to enshrine Sunday Law in Europe currently in progress through the Written Declaration procedure still remains unlawful. This issue was last before the ECJ in 1993 and it was decided that although the Working Time Directive was properly adopted and in keeping with the Treaty, the second sentence of Article 5 was not, and so was annulled.[50]
The Written Declaration is merely repetition, wrongly adopted and at variance with Article 137 (ex 118a) of the Treaty of the European Union and as such manifestly falls outside of the scope of the Directive. Those pushing for this motionA request by a litigant to a judge for a decision on an issue relating to the case. are misdirected in arriving at the inference that their efforts to amend the Directive would be successful by a mere explanation as to why Sunday as a weekly day of rest contributes more than any other day of the week to the health and safety of workers. The fact remains that the explanations submitted with the Written Declaration are repetition of the arguments rejected in previous attempts to amend the Directive and therefore must fail even today.
MEPs are earnestly requested to consider the fundamentals upon which the Union is founded as follows:
"The Union is founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, principles which are common to the Member States".[51]
"The right to equality before the law and the protection of all persons against discrimination constitutes a fundamental right and is essential to the proper functioning of democratic societies".[52]
"The right of individuals not to be discriminated against on arbitrary grounds has long been recognised by International Organisations, the European Union and its Member States".[53]
My concern is that those advocating for this proposal have again failed to consider the implications of this Legislation. It remains unclear how this law would be monitored, enforced and whether there will be penalties for non compliance. Europe is a multi- cultural and diverse region.
Removing the cloak on this issue, it appears to me that this is just another attempt to use Parliament to make laws which benefit only (Sunday worshippers) and to discriminate those that do not fall within this Criterion. In my view it is clear that accepting the proposed amendment will only serve to infringe the rights conferred by Article 9 (1) of the Convention and will thus discriminate against those that worship on alternative days. None of the measures put in place by the Convention to test the limitations of Article 9 have been established.
Whilst it is wholly appreciated to provide legal protection to ensure that every individual has the right to observe any day of their choice for worship it is entirely inappropriate to force a doctrinal position on all Union Citizens. This matter deserves a full debate engaging all the parties concerned and in particular the minority groups so that the legal position is made clear and that the possible future religious ramifications of this proposed Legislation are considered in light of the aims and objectives of the European Union.
I respectfully ask for a stay of the Written Declaration for reflection and consultation.
[1] http://www.comece.org 07/04/2009
[2] Official Journal of the European Communities, Vol.36, L307, 12 December 1993
[3] Case-84/94 United Kingdom v Council of the European Union, Industrial Relations Law Reports, Vol.26, No.1, January [1997] IRLR 32.
[4] Case 84/94 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland v Council of the European Union. Court of Justice of the European Communities Reports of Case before the Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance. ECR 1-5805 and 1-5806, para, 37.
[5] http://www.comece.org/comece.taf?_function=news&_sub=&id=1&langauge=en18/12/2008
[6] European Parliament Written Declaration DC763921EN.doc
[7] Nigel Foster, Blackstone's EC Legislation 2005-2006 (Oxford: University Press, 2005), 16th Edition, p.42
[8] Ibid
[9] Official Journal No. C28/1 (88/C28/01) 3rd February 1988 – The Council Resolution of 21 December 1987.
[10] Official Journal of the European Committees No. L183/1 (89/391/EEC), 26 May 1989
[11] Official Journal of the European Communities No. C126/4 (89/C126/04), 23 May 1989.
[13] Convention 14 Weekly Rest (Industry), 1921, Article 7, International Labour Conventions and Recommendations, Vol.1, 1949-1951, International Labour Office, Geneva, International Labour Organisation. (This Convention came into force on 19 June 1923).
[14]Convention 106, Weekly Rest (Commerce and Officers), 1957, Article 6, International Conventions and Recommendations 1952-1976, Vol. 11, International Labour Offices, Geneva, International Labour Organisation, p.91
[15] European Social Charter, collected texts (3rd edition) 2002, Council of Europe Publishing, 2003, p.13
[16] International Labour Conventions and Recommendations 1952-1976 Vol. 2 Convention No.106 (Weekly Rest in Commerce and Offices) Article 6(4), p.93
[17] Official Journal of the European Communities, C60, Vol. 34, 8 March 1991, Information and Notices
[19] Official Journal of the European Communities, Debates of the European Parliament 1990-1991 session, Report of Proceedings form 18-22 February 1991, Europe House, Strasbourg, p.30. Note that the ILO did not specify the day of the week.
[20] Ibid, p.32
[23] Official Journal of the European Communities, Vol. 36, L307, 12 December 1993
[26] Case 84/94 UK v Council of the European Union, Court of Justice of the European Communities, Reports of Case before the Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance (ECR 1-5755). In details see also Case 84/94 United Kingdom v Council of the European Union, Industrial Relations Law Reports, Vol.26, No 1. January ([1997] IRLR 1-76)
[27][1997] IRLR 30
[30] UK (Applicant) v Council of the European Union (DefendantIn a civil case, the person or organization against whom the plaintiff brings suit; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.) Case 84/94, Industrial Relations Law Reports, Vol. 26, No.1, January 1997, pp 30-31
[32] Case 84/94 UK v Council of the European Union, ECR 1-5805
[34] Official Journal of the European Communities C20 Vol. 40 20/01/1997 Minutes of sitting of Thursday, 12 December 1996 B4-1354, 1368,1413 and 1433/96 – Resolution on Sunday Week.
[35] Official Journal of the European Communities, C249, Vol.42, 1 September 1999 (1999/C249/04), Information and Notices
[36] Official Journal of the European Union, C61, Vol. 46, 14 March 2003, Information and Notices
[38] www.cec-kek.org/pdf/CSCProtectionofSunday_EN.pdf 30/03/2009
[42] Official Journal of the European Communities C280 E 03/10/2003 P.0193-0193 http//eur_lex.europa.eu
[45] Ibid see also Commission of the European Communities, Establishing a General Framework for Equal Treatment in Employment and Occupation, COM (1999) 565 Final, Brussels.
[46] ECR 1-5785 to 1-5786 ECR para.139. see also tenth Recital in OJ L307 Vol.36 13.12.1993
[47] Case 13/63, Italy v Commission [1963] ECR 165 and also Case 130/75, Vivien Prais v Council of the European Communities [1976] ECR 1-1592 and 1-1593.
[48] Henry Steiner and Philip Alston, International Human Rights in Context, Law, Politics and Morals (Oxford University Press, 2000) p.1425
[50] Case-84-94 United Kingdom v Council of the European Communities [1996] ECR 1-5809 para.49 and [1997] IRLR 57 para.49. For Actions of Annulment see http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/justice/index_en.htm
[51] Nigel Foster, Blackstone's EC Legislation 2005-2006 (Oxford: University Press, 2005), 16th Edition , p.92.
[52] Commission of the European Communities, On Certain Community Measures to Combat Discrimination, COM (1999) 564 Final, Brussels, p2.
The terrorists may scream from the roof tops that their crimes are God's will; but you can't frame God for what thugs do. This is a kind of criminal anarchy that we are witnessing. Any idiot can murder a human being, but there isn't a sword sharp enough to destroy truth.
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Africa Americas Asia Europe Middle East
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Uzbekistan Lacks Religious Freedom
Muslims pray at Mosque in Uzbekistan.
Respect for religious freedom continues to decline in Uzbekistan according to the 2010 U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report.
Respect for religious freedom continues to decline in Uzbekistan according to the 2010 U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report. U.S. Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Michael Posner said Uzbekistan remains a country of particular concern along with Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan.
The 1998 Uzbek religion law restricts many rights only to registered religious groups and limits which groups may register. Since 1999, no Baptist church has successfully registered, and since 2000, four Baptist churches have lost their registered status. Violators of the law's prohibition on activities such a proselytizing, importing and disseminating religious literature and offering private religious instructions are subject to criminal penalties.
Authorities in Karakalpakstan reportedly ordered Christian books, including the Bible to be destroyed following raids on Christian meetings. In the last year, the Uzbek government has also raided Baha'i services.
In the majority Muslim country of Uzbekistan, the government continues to ban Islamic organizations it considers extremist and criminalizes membership in them. Among the banned organizations are "Akromiya," Tabligh Jamoat, and groups the government broadly labels Wahhabi. In practice Nur, a Turkish Muslim group, is also considered a banned organization.
An estimated 141 members of Nur were convicted during the last year, with sentences ranging from six to 12 years. Three high-profile crimes that occurred in summer 2009 prompted police to arrest hundreds of alleged religious extremists. Although some were arrested in connection with the crimes, many others were arrested solely for membership in banned religious groups. Outside the country, views of Nur's ideology range from progressive to conservative, but the group has consistently condemned violent extremism.
The United States believes religious freedom is a fundamental right that should be respected by all governments, including Uzbekistan. As U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, "We want to see religious freedom available universally. And we want to advocate for the brave men and women who around the world persist in practicing their beliefs in the face of hostility and violence."
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According to a report by the National Cancer Institute, approximately 33% of women over the age of 18 dye their hair regularly, as do about 10% of men over the age of 40. Obviously, a lot of people are heading to the salon (or the hair care aisle!) in order to get their hair the color they'd like.
Whether you dye your hair yourself — or are just curious when your friends send you snaps of their foil-covered hair — have you ever wondered what exactly happens when people dye their hair? Do most people really know what goes on every time they treat their tresses?
What really happens when you dye your hair?
It's easy to imagine of an entire head of hair being dyed when you talk about coloring your hair, but in reality, each individual little strand undergoes its own chemical transformation during the process! Weird to think about, right?
Now that you've got a clear image in mind, let's break it all down and see just what happens to our hair when we dye it.
First, the cuticle becomes lifted.
In order to get to the part of the strand that carries color, the cortex, we've got to lift those dead cells up and out of the way to really get to work. This is done with a chemical — most often ammonia. "When you color hair for the purpose of hiding grey hair or lifting pigment from the hair, ammonia or similar chemicals are used to lift the cuticle… either to push in or lift out pigment in the highest capacity," LaBella says.
Next, peroxide erases the existing color.
Much like priming before you paint on a surface, your current color needs to be destroyed in order to create a clean canvas to work on, which is typically done with hydrogen peroxide.
New color alters the appearance of the strand.
Now that you're working with a blank slate, your new color is able to seep in and get to work, altering the shade of your strands.
It doesn't take a hair care expert to realize that using chemicals such as ammonia and peroxide is doing a real number on your hair. We hate to break it to you, there's no truly safe way to lift and deposit color. That said, there are a couple things to keep in mind that can make the process as gentle as possible.
Okay, so what's the safest way to dye my hair?
Believe us when we say that we fully understand the appeal of an inexpensive box color you can snag at the drug store and then do in the comfort of your own home. But if healthy hair is a priority for you, you're gonna want to book an appointment with a colorist you can trust.
Leaving color on for too long can really hurt the shape of the cuticle as well, and some less expensive brands can be really heavy-handed with the chemicals, which will only end up hurting your hair that much more. "Ammonia in high percentages can open the cuticle wide and cause it to remain partially open, resulting in a duller appearance," LaBella adds. "It can also cause the color to bleed out faster and fade." It may be a little pricey, but trust us, if you hope to lift and lighten your shade, leave it to a pro and save yourself, and your hair, a world of trouble.
Use a gentle, color-safe shampoo.
No matter how gentle you keep things, your hair's cuticle is going to undergo damage when you dye, so be sure to treat it nicely once it's all said and done. A gentle, color-safe shampoo can help hydrate… and buy a little more time in between those appointments! Don't forget to condition, and take it easy on the heat-treat styling tools as well as you can.
Take it easy on the color!
At the end of the day, if you love coloring your hair we aren't here to stop you. Just remember that staying informed can help you make the best decisions and, ultimately, result in your best head of hair!


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New Members Join Africa Atlanta 2014 International Board
External News Details
Publication: Global Atlanta
Article URL: http://m.globalatlanta.com/article/26309/new-members-join-africa-atlanta-2
Dateline: Sunday June 9, 2013
Haskell Ward,has joined the international board of Africa Atlanta 2014, which is based at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
He is joined on the board by his wife, Leah Ward Sears, former chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court and now leader of appellate practice of the law firm Schiff Hardin LLC.
"Leah Ward Sears and Haskell Ward bring to the International Advisory Board precisely the kind of contemporary trans-Atlantic cultural and economic connections that we are showcasing through Africa Atlanta 2014," the event's co-chair, Jacqueline J. Royster, dean of the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, told Global Atlanta, "We are very pleased to have their expertise as part of our efforts to guide and grow this initiative."
Africa Atlanta 2014 is to be a collaboration of organizations in Atlanta and elsewhere offering throughout the year a wide range of events and activities spanning the arts, culture and business relating to the African continent. It is being presented by the Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, the Consulate General of Belgium in Atlanta and the Africa Atlanta 2014 Partners..
Stephen Hayes, the president and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa, said the following about Mr. Haskell in an email to Global Atlanta:
"While Haskell served on the CCA Board of Directors, he was the most passionate board member I had about Africa. I never felt it was about race but about his capacity for and belief in the potential of human relationships. Haskell transcended race and he praised those who deserved praise just as he never hesitated to condemn what and who he believed to be wrong. He has a mighty sense of justice. He does not romanticize Africa. He is clear about the challenges in doing business in Africa but he is indefatigable in his desire to pursue it on the continent. More than anything he brought a sense of leadership to the board and a passion for Africa that is genuine. He will always be seeing into the future no matter how long he lives."
Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs
Created By: Claire Woodring


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At Eden Square we do our best to support the local community and assist with fundraising activities. Throughout 2017 almost £18,000 was raised by charities here at Eden Square.
We helped busking group Loose Change Buskers hit their target of raising £400,000 for Cancer Research UK. Almost £150,000 of which was raised in just the past 18 months. A familiar sight around the Urmston area, the Loose Change Buskers were formed in 2010 by Timperley and Altrincham musicians Bernard Dolan and John Fogel to boost donations to Cancer Research UK. The group has since grown to over 30 members who perform most weekends around the borough to raise money.
Marie Curie UK raised £1167.89 at Eden Square for their Great Daffodil Appeal in 2017 and our support of Paint Urmston Pink in association with Urmston Partnership helped raise £4,800 for Prevent Breast Cancer.
We will be continuing to support a variety of charities throughout 2018.


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Town & Village
Stuyvesant Town, Peter Cooper Village, Gramercy, Waterside
Peter Cooper Council candidate has 3 club endorsements, nearly $200G in war chest
Photo courtesy of Keith Powers
Keith Powers, a candidate for City Council in District 4, announced on Tuesday that he'd gotten support from three Democratic clubs on the East Side of Manhattan. The Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club, Four Freedoms Democratic Club and Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club (where Powers is a district leader), voted to endorse Powers, a resident of Peter Cooper Village, last week.
In addition, a spokesperson for the campaign said Powers has amassed close to $200,000 in campaign cash.
The rep said Powers has maxed out on his matching funds at $100,100 and has raised $98,000 in private funds. With the two amounts combined, Powers has hit the $182,000 City Council spending cap.
"With our endorsement, we see Keith as the most qualified candidate who has what it takes to protect our party's values with new and innovative solutions for the unique needs of our community," said Greg Martello, president of the Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club.
"I'm honored to have the support of such important local Democratic Clubs," stated Powers. "These early endorsements reflect our deep roots in the community and support for our new ideas for the City."
The Tilden Democratic Club is a local club in the 74th Assembly District, Part C. The Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club represents the 74th Assembly District, Part B. The Four Freedoms Democratic Club spans New York's 76th Assembly District.
Powers has also won some labor backing. Last week, Local 802 AFM and 32BJ SEIU endorsed him.
Powers is also a board member of the Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association and chair of Community Board 6's Business Affairs and Street Activities Committee.
Posted by Sabina Mollot in Politics
Tagged: 32BJ SEIU, 74th Assembly District, City Council, City Council District 4, Community Board 6, Council Member Dan Garodnick, Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club, Four Freedoms Democratic Club, Keith Powers, Local 802 AFM, ST-PCV Tenants Association, Tilden Democratic Club
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10 thoughts on "Peter Cooper Council candidate has 3 club endorsements, nearly $200G in war chest"
Why do we not hear about the fact that Keith Powers is a professional, registered lobbyist? So much for keeping corruption and big money out of local politics. Same story, different day. Where does Mr. Powers stand on things like the Small Business Jobs Survival Act? Affordable Housing? That (ridiculous) Small Business Tax Reform currently being pushed through the City Council? Is he willing to save our local grocery stores? What about zoning variances? Is he, like Dan, also utterly beholden to Gale Brewer and her personal agenda? All I know for certain is that a professional lobbyist is already maxed out, money-wise; it rather stinks.
I think a lot of us are curious about this as well. I absolutely will not vote for someone who follows Dan's footsteps on the SBJSA and only pushes the commercial tax reform.
Probably a friend of Dan and REBNY who has been picked to continue Dan's legacy of destruction and greed. Would vote for anybody but a Dan crony. This guy stinks of what Dan stinks of, and it aint roses.
Fritz says:
Seems he is the Democratic party's s choice to continue the corruption. He is guaranteed a victory since NYers love their corrupt officials.
Some of us do not! Won't be voting for this little tool.
Margery says:
Keith is the only candidate from Stuy Town, a qualification we need to help keep our neighborhood affordable. He'll be getting my vote.
Garodnick is from PCV and no one has sold us out more than Dan. I think an outsider would be more committed to helping out in a place they would need to get results in in order to continue to get those votes. That being said it appears this guy is the corruption continuation candidate put forth by the Democrats so he is a shoo in.
Being from Stuy Town is your only criteria for a candidate to get your vote?!? Yikes! No wonder this country's in so much trouble. He's a professional lobbyist for God's sake! Someone like Marti Speranza is for the SBJSA; affordable housing, and has an entire concept for a "livable city." SHE is the only candidate who will represent the needs and wants of the middle class and help us protect our homes and neighborhoods. Margery, you should really think more broadly about this.
There is another one from Sty Town, I believe. I think a guy named Barry Shapiro is running, and from what I've heard about him he would be a stellar candidate.
Lobbyists are prostitutes. Very high-paid prostitutes and their victims are the people who vote for them. Don't vote for a prostitute unless you can deal with the consequences of consorting with that type of person. Make sure you have plenty of penicillin on hand if you vote for a lobbyist, especially a REBNY-pimped prostitute. You want another dose of Garodnick? Yech!
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Chaz Salter, senior, strikes the ball during the second inning. Mustangs advanced to the Elite Eight after both double header wins.
Bronlyn Holland
Sweeping McIntosh one strike at a time
The Mustangs advance to the Elite Eight once again.
Bronlyn Holland, Editor in Chief
Sweeping the McIntosh Chiefs four times this season, the Mustangs advanced to the Elite Eight after a double header game of 7-2 and 5-1 on Thursday, May 2.
Sterling Richardson, senior, pitches during the first inning. Richardson pitched for the first five innings of the first game.
"It's good to win against the same team over and over again. It provides confidence. We always go into a game with a chip on our shoulder. You have to know you're the best to play the best you can," Sterling Richardson, senior, said.
For any team, winning against a team four times in a season is an accomplishment.
"It feels pretty good. I feel like last season we had a pretty good shot but everyone has matured since then, so we're ready for the final, so we're going to beat Buford as hard as we can," Garrett Carter, sophomore, said.
The first game started fast pace by the Mustangs putting points on the board and keeping the Chiefs scoreless. McIntosh remained scoreless for five straight innings and only kept the energy in the dugout vibrant.
"You want to keep pressing the gas pedal…You can't have let down innings, so we've been preaching 'You can't have a lulle. You gotta play one pitch at a time,' so hopefully we take that into the next series, because as we move on into the playoffs it becomes more and more important to keep pressing," Kyle McCreary, assistant coach, said.
If we don't keep our composure no matter what happens, then the wheels could fall off,"
— Michael Edwards
The Mustangs also kept the Chiefs scoreless for the first four innings in the second game, which showed the energy never dwindled from the first game.
"As coach you have to keep your emotions in check…Players feed off the coaches and they're going to respond how we respond and if we don't keep our composure no matter what happens, then the wheels could fall off," Michael Edwards, head coach, said.
To get the ball rolling, Richardson pitched for five innings in the first game and kept his mindset in the game because of Austin Smith, assistant coach, and Edwards.
"He [Smith] really came out and said 'You're making really good pitches. You're not getting the calls but just keep throwing strikes. You're not hurt, nothing's bad. You're doing well,' and when Edwards came out and told me I was off the mound, I gave the ball to Cameron and knew he was going to come in and finish it off and do the job," Richardson said.
Mustangs gather for a prayer before the game. Throughout the season, the players prayed together before every game.
Last year, the Mustangs played against the Buford Wolves in the Elite Eight, but the season ended after the double header loss of 6-2 and 10-2.This year is no other and the Mustangs' mindset is ready to face them again.
"We aren't going to do anything different than what we normally do. We're going to control what we can control…Come Wednesday we're going to roll the balls out there and give it our best effort like we have all year," Edwards said.
Even though the Mustangs won games to reach the Elite Eight, there are other factors that got them to this level.
"Probably teamwork. Last year we had a couple of cliques on the team and this year we've bonded all together and we're all a group now," Carter said.
With the State playoffs being double header games, the Mustangs try to keep their head in the game, especially the first game.
Garrett Carter, sophomore, and Baylen Sanders, junior, fist pump each other during the transition of innings. Carter enjoyed the camaraderie of the team this season.
"You want to win the first game that way you set the tone for the next game, so you come out aggressive the second game knowing you have nothing to lose," Richardson said.
The Mustangs will be back in action on Wednesday, May 8 for the double header game against the Wolves. First pitch of game one is at four o'clock and first pitch of game two is at seven o'clock.
Students can participate in the "Elite Eight Tailgate" starting at 3:20pm on the Hill and $10 tickets will be sold during all lunches, which includes a BBQ dinner and entry fee into the game.
Updates on the Mustangs can be found on Twitter at @olabaseball.
Mustangs strike out the Wildcats
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(LONDON) GOVUK Press Release Statement Report: Health & Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock Announces Order of two-million of the first British-manufactured rapid lateral flow antigen tests for #COVID19 to be validated by Public Health England, for use in asymptomatic testing #AceHealthDesk report
#AceHealthReport – Dec.10: Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has announced: Derby-based company SureScreen Diagnostics is to provide two million of the lateral flow tests, which provide results in under 30 minutes, by next Friday (15 January), with the potential to provide millions more in the coming months:
#Coronavirus Report: U.K. Government to deploy first British-manufactured rapid lateral flow antigen tests for #COVID19
The Government has ordered two million of the first British-manufactured tests for use in asymptomatic testing.
Department of Health and Social Care
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:
It is excellent to be working with a UK firm to deliver millions of these rapid tests, which are being deployed across the country to help protect our communities and most vital public services.
Roughly one in three people with Covid-19 don't display symptoms, meaning you can infect others unknowingly. This is why asymptomatic testing is so crucial in our fight against the virus, and why I'm so grateful to see the British diagnostics industry use their ingenuity and expertise in our shared purpose to protect our communities.
Interim Executive Chair of the National Institute for Health Protection Baroness Dido Harding said:
I am really pleased that we have been able to work with SureScreen to ensure we have a British supplier for this vital testing technology. Lateral Flow Tests are playing an ever increasing role in our testing programme as we continue to expand testing to find positive cases amongst those without symptoms. Having a British manufacturer provides greater certainty that we will be able to continue to grow our supply of these important tests
David Campbell, Director of SureScreen, said:
We believe our rapid antigen tests can really help in screening people both in the community and in clinical settings. Routine testing is crucial to help business and schools as well as hospitals and GPs. We are delighted to be working with DHSC on this project and that our tests have been recognised by the Government and its scientists. We look forward to doing all we can to help the UK going forward in 2021.
Under the Government's Winter Plan, NHS Test and Trace is already deploying hundreds of thousands of rapid tests to identify asymptomatic cases in care homes, across the NHS, in critical infrastructure workplaces and food manufacturers, and in partnership with local Directors of Public Health: In addition to this, the Government's Community Testing Programme is providing asymptomatic testing through local authorities across the UK. The SureScreen tests will form part of this important asymptomatic testing activity: The valuable partnerships being created with companies such as SureScreen Diagnostics are further contributing to the resilience of the UK, both through supporting the work of UK diagnostics manufacturers and by harnessing the possibilities opened up by rapid regular testing.
#AceHealthDesk report …………Published: Jan.10: 2021:
← (WASHINGTON) DOJ Statement on Misinformation on Social Media Regarding the Office of the Pardon Attorney claiming to be from Acting Pardon Attorney Rosalind Sargent-Burns is inauthentic and should not be taken seriously #AceNewsDesk report
(LONDON) #Coronavirus Statement Report: New TV ad fronted by the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty urges people to stay at home in the face of rapidly rising rate of coronavirus infections and pressures facing the NHS #HandsFaceSpace #AceHealthDesk report →


German sports apparel maker Adidas warned on 2013 profit on Thursday, saying adverse currency effects, a distribution problem in Russia and poor trading at its golf business meant targets were no longer attainable.
The group, second behind market leader Nike in the $245 billion global sportswear market, had already lowered its 2013 sales target last month after weak European trading and unfavorable currency movements hit second-quarter results.
The weakening of currencies in Russia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina and Turkey would impact turnover by a high single digit percentage in the third quarter, after taking 4 percentage points off sales in the second quarter, the group said in an unexpected statement late on Thursday.
Compounding the effect of a weak rouble in Russia, its third largest market, the group had not been able to supply as many clothes and shoes as it had planned, it said, after problems switching to a new distribution center near Moscow.
In addition, a weak golf market, where wet weather this year has kept players from the greens, will result in lower than expected sales and profit for TaylorMade-Adidas Golf.
For 2013, Adidas now expects sales to rise by a low single digit percentage, against previous expectations for a low-mid single digit gain.
It now sees net income of between 820 million euros and 850 million euros ($1.11-$1.15 billion), compared with a previous target for 890-920 million, and an operating margin of around 8.5 percent, down from near 9 percent.
In a note published earlier on Thursday, JP Morgan analysts had revised downwards their forecasts for Adidas' 2013 results, predicting a drop in sales to 14.63 billion euros, from last year's record level of 14.883 billion, due to tough third quarter trading conditions and currency effects.
"We believe overall the third quarter has not seen a meaningful pick up of trends so far as Europe continues to face the difficult comparatives set by the Olympics last year and overall a challenging macro environment," they wrote.
A spokesman for Adidas said weakness in Europe was not a determining factor in the profit warning.
The problems in Russia would be resolved at the start of the fourth quarter, Adidas said, adding it expected a better final quarter thanks to demand for products for next year's soccer World Cup in Brazil and new launches.
In the statement, Chief Executive Herbert Hainer said the group remained "confident" for its 2015 goals, when it is hoping to achieve sales of 17 billion euros and an operating margin of 11 percent.
Adidas shares closed up 1.4 percent at 82.58 euros. They hit an all-time high of 88.50 euros at the start of August.


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Richie McCaw - New Zealander of the Year Finalist
Former All Black skipper Richie McCaw is one of three finalists for Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year. The two-time Rugby World Cup winner talks about leadership, the people who inspire him, and his passion for enabling more Kiwi kids to participate in sport.
Richie McCaw has had a whirlwind few months. After leading the All Blacks to become the first team to win back-to-back Rugby World Cups, Richie announced he was ending his 14-year sporting career and went into training for the GODZone adventure race.
The race will raise money for Cure Kids, which funds medical research into potential cures for serious health conditions that affect children.
Working to help children and young people to achieve their potential has long been a priority for Richie, which is one of the reasons he has been selected as a finalist in the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Award.
Together with fellow former All Blacks Ali Williams and Dan Carter, Richie set up the iSport Foundation to seek grants and crowdfunding to enable talented young Kiwi athletes to achieve their goals. iSport has now teamed up with Paralympics New Zealand to support young disabled sportspeople in advance of the Paralympic Games in Rio in September.
"Ali and Dan and myself got to the point where we'd been playing for a wee while and wanted to set up a foundation that would be a legacy for us. Sport had given us a lot and we wanted to give something back," says Richie.
During his playing career, Richie was notable for always being willing to take the time to greet young rugby supporters. While Richie believes the best role models for kids are their parents, he says it's a privilege to be able to greet fans and show them the All Blacks are "normal people who are no different to them".
While Richie is the most capped test rugby player in history and was named World Rugby Player of the Year three times, it was his leadership qualities that made him a legend. He always led from the front, and maintains that the best way to inspire a team is through actions rather than words.
He also believes one of the biggest challenges for leaders is convincing a group of people to believe in the same vision. "If you believe in something bigger than yourself, you can handle any differences of opinion. Whether you're the superstar or the new guy on the block, you'll all be working towards the same goal."
Richie sees parallels between the cultural diversity of the All Blacks and New Zealand's increasingly multicultural society.
"We're a huge melting pot of cultures and we have to understand people's differences and find a way to work together," he says.
"We got that right in the All Blacks - we really embraced it. Rather than not talking about it, we acknowledged that we'd all been brought up differently and asked how we could work together to get the best out of everyone. You have to be open to diversity, as a team and as a country."
Richie is inspired by New Zealanders who succeed on the world stage, such as rowers Mahé Drysdale and Lisa Carrington, and by Kiwis with big jobs overseas.
"I get inspired when I hear about people who worked hard and saw opportunities and made what they did count. I love the way Kiwis always find a way to make an impact," he says.
"Anything is possible for people who come from a country like ours. If anyone says something is too hard to do, that just means it hasn't been done yet."


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Review: Mark of the Bear by N.J. Walters
Liz's Review
Mark of the Bear by N.J. Walters
Paranormal romance released by Samhain Publishing on April 16, 2013
When the devil wants a deal, there's no bowing out gracefully.
Hades' Carnival, Book 2
At twenty-nine, Hollywood scream queen Kellsie Morris is acutely aware the clock is ticking on her career. Luckily, the one big role she needs to pad her retirement fund has just come through—the story of an immortal, shape-shifting warrior trapped in a carnival run by the Devil's minions.
When Kellsie arrives on set, she can't resist climbing aboard an amazingly realistic carousel bear—and finds herself flung into a world where the horror is real. As real as the heat radiating off the half-naked hunk in her arms.
Marko has waited an eternity for the chance to free his goddess, the Lady of the Beasts, and his fellow warriors from an ancient curse. But once he lays eyes on Kellsie, he knows to the bottom of his soul that his purpose is to protect her life.
But in this hellish game, it's the Devil's move. And there's no predicting when and where the final, brutal stroke will fall—and which lover will pay the ultimate price.
Warning: This book contains a heroine who's a screamer—in and out of bed—and a warrior who gives a whole new meaning to "method". After reading, please use caution when standing up. Your knees may be weak.
Since I read the first book in this series, Night of the Tiger, I already knew what to expect as far as general plot. Heroine rescues trapped hero and they have to work together to stay alive for twenty-four hours or Hades gets both of their souls. But because I also am a big fan of N.J. Walters, I know that even when she does a series, each book is unique. There are no cookie-cutter storylines with her. Yes, it's the same scenario, but the characters, the background, and the details are very different. Not once when I was reading this book did I think, "oh yawn, I've read this before", and that's the hallmark of a great series for me. If an author can redraw the same scenario in each book so that it feels different, then it's a winner.
I love a heroine that is emotionally damaged, but not so worked-over that she can't function. Kellsie started off her acting career with a boyfriend who became a famous actor and left her behind in the dust to play quickly-killed characters as a b-movie scream queen. She's all alone in the world and she only has herself to rely on. She's the epitome of an independent woman, that doesn't need a man to help her. She looks after herself, because no one else ever has. It's that tough outer skin and bruised heart that make her so endearing. She takes an acting job on a film titled "Hades Carnival", which takes her into a remote mountain area for filming. Immediately she's aware that things aren't what they seem, and in no time she finds herself in a battle for her soul.
Marko the bear. What to say about him? Several words come to mind. Yum. Hot. Big. Fierce. He was a fantastic hero, full of love for his goddess and his brothers-in-arms, the other shape shifters. Once freed from his animal form upon the carousel that inhabits Hades Carnival, he knows that the coming twenty-four hours will be the most grueling and important hours of his long life. He must keep himself and Kellsie alive or see both of them spend eternity in hell. As the hero in the previous book did, Marko tries to set himself emotionally apart from Kellsie, because a distracted warrior makes mistakes and he can't afford to make any when the stakes are so high.
Hades proved once more to be as crafty as expected, offering first Kellsie and then Marko anything they desired. Hades needs the shape-shifting warriors to lead his armies against the other gods so he can take over the world. In the first book, we find out that two of the shifters have died with the women that freed them, one managed to survive, and one turned against his goddess and now works with Hades. But Marko isn't going to give up so quickly, and Kellsie is just the woman to stand by his side.
What I really love about these books is the real emotion. Even though the majority of the book surrounds the twenty-four hour time frame when the beast is freed from the carousel and Hades and his minions go after them, nothing feels rushed. Can a person fall in love in twenty-four hours? Maybe you believe that or not, but in these books the emotions are real and timely, neither rushed nor too slow, but just perfect. And the author doesn't shy away from allowing the characters to question their feelings. Both Marko and Kellsie wonder about the feelings they're having, wonder if the other can be trusted, wonder if they'll survive and if so…what happens next. While there is less sex in this book than in the first one, the scenes are no less scorching and emotionally powerful.
I enjoyed this book, losing myself in the mix of mythology and modern times, shape-shifters, a scream queen, gods and goddesses, minions, and souls-in-the-balance battles. I'm looking forward to reading the next two books in the series and finding out what happens to the two remaining shifters.
You can read an excerpt here or buy a copy here.
This entry was posted in Review and tagged 2013, April 2013, Grade B, Liz, Liz's Review, Mark of the Bear, N.J. Walters, Paranormal Romance, Review, Samhain Publishing on April 8, 2013 by lizreview.
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Sri Lanka Asia Cup squad 2022
Chandimal was part of the T20 squad that toured Australia and India earlier this year, but was then dropped for the T20Is at home against Australia in June. He returns for the Asia Cup largely on the back on strong performances in Test cricket against Australia and Pakistan.
Left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan, fast bowler Nuwan Thushara, and allrounders Ramesh Mendis and Lahiru Madushanka were left out of the squad.
Seamers Binura Fernando and Kasun Rajitha, who were strongly considered for the squad, were ruled out by injury. But even among those who have made the squad, there is one major injury concern: key fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera's ankle is understood to not have completely recovered from a recent injury. He will likely be given as much time as possible to regain match fitness at some point in the tournament.
The names of Asitha Fernando and Pramod Madushan have been sent to the Sports Minister of Sri Lanka for approval as replacements for Binura Fernando and Kasun Rajitha.
The injuries mean there will be additional pressure on what is an inexperienced seam bowling unit. Aside from the uncapped (in T20Is) Fernando, the 21-year-old Madushanka and the uncapped 19-year-old Pathirana, Sri Lanka have only allrounders Chamika Karunaratne, and Dasun Shanaka as seam options. Fernando, however, did top the wicket charts with 10 dismissals while maintaining an economy rate of 6.87 in the recent SLC Invitational (domestic T20) tournament.
The spin department appears more settled, with Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Praveen Jayawickrama being joined by Vandersay. While Vandersay did not play in the T20Is against Australia in June, he had been in decent bowling form in the ODIs, and claimed 3 for 12 in a recent domestic match.
Bandara, meanwhile, gets back into the squad on the back of good performances in that domestic tournament. Batting at No.5, he hit 134 runs across four innings, albeit at a strike rate of 117.54. He last played for Sri Lanka in July 2021.
On the batting front, there is no room again for Niroshan Dickwella, who had a decent run in the domestic tournament, and Kusal Mendis (who topped run charts), Danushka Gunathilaka, and Pathum Nissanka will vie for the top-order spots. Bhanuka Rajapaksa is likely to appear in the middle order.
Sri Lanka squad for Asia Cup: Dasun Shanaka (capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Dushmantha Chameera, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwanidu Fernando