Events: U.S. House of Representatives. Committee on Homeland Security

http://homeland.house.gov/legislation/schedule

Event Schedule

Subcommittee Hearing: Access Control Point Breaches at Our Nation's Airports: Anomalies or Systemic Failures?

May 16, 2012 in Washington, D.C.

Subcommittee Hearing: Department of Homeland Security: An Examination of Ethical Standards

May 17, 2012 in Washington, D.C.

Subcommittee Hearing: Terrorist Financing Since 9/11: Assessing an Evolving al Qaeda and State Sponsors of Terrorism

May 18, 2012 in Washington, D.C.

Subcommittee Field Hearing: Stopping the Flow of Illicit Drugs in Arizona by Leveraging State, Local and Federal Information Sharing

May 21, 2012 in Phoenix, AZ

11th Anniversary of Terrorist Attacks of 9/11

Sep 11, 2012

Safety: Pull over to a well lit, crowded place before stopping

Police: Phony officer could be killing Mississippi drivers

By Lateef Mungin, CNN

(CNN) -- Someone who may be posing as a police officer is pulling cars over on Mississippi highways and then shooting drivers dead, authorities said.

After two such shootings this month, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is asking for the public's help to find the person.

"There are some similarities between the two incidents, mainly the fact they happened alongside a Mississippi highway," said MBI Director Lt. Col. Larry Waggoner on Monday. "The concern is that someone is posing as a law enforcement officer and that is how these vehicles end up on the side of the road."

The first shooting occurred on May 8. Thomas Schlender, 74, was found dead in his car in the median of southbound Interstate 55 about 1:30 a.m.

On May 11, Lori Anne Carswell, 48, was found dead outside of her car on the shoulder of Mississippi State Highway 713 about 2:15 a.m.

The shootings took place about 55 miles apart and the victims did not know each other, authorities said.

Authorities are asking citizens to be careful if they are pulled over and feel uneasy. They advise drivers to call 911 and verify that a legitimate officer is pulling them over or drive to a well-lit, crowded place before stopping.

CNN's Rick Martin contributed to this report.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/15/justice/mississippi-highway-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Wheeling in green change by: BHARAT DOGRA

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/article3406477.ece

Rural scientist Mangal Singh has devised a turbine that runs on low-flowing water heads, thus saving farmers from spending money on diesel and electricity to lift water for irrigation

Many farmers spend a substantial amount of money for diesel or electricity to lift water flowing in small streams and rivulets to irrigate their fields. However, the innovation of a rural scientist from Bundelkhand region could help save millions of litres of diesel per year (or equivalent electricity).

Innovation:The Mangal Turbine that can help farmers.

Innovator Mangal Singh has devised and patented a low-cost and efficient fuel-less turbine, named Mangal Singh Water Wheel Turbine Pump-cum-PTP machine that can harness the energy of flowing water to lift water for irrigation and also operate cottage industries.

Popularly called Mangal Turbine, it requires low water heads up to one metre, which can be achieved by creating low-cost check dams, or existing check dams can be used.

As Mr. Singh explains, this turbine functions on the basis of a specially designed water wheel which can rotate even on a low water head of one metre, stepping up the rotation through a suitable gearbox in the range of 1500-1800 RPM (rotations per minute) and using the available mechanical power by connecting one end of the output shaft with centrifugal irrigation pump and the other with a suitable pulley to operate other machines and also an alternator to generate electricity.

Several experts who have made on-the-site inspections of the working of this device have recommended it strongly. Dr. T.P. Ojha, former Deputy Director General (Engineering) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, has written: “Mangal Singh's device offers great promise and possibility of lifting river water for irrigation, fisheries, forestry and drinking purposes. The water head created by putting a check dam across the river or perennial water course generates enough force to rotate the water wheels to operate one or two centrifugal pumps in a series.”

B.K. Saha, former Chief Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh, said, “The system is extremely cost-effective, even after taking into consideration the cost of the stop dam. Where the stop dam is already available, the system is even more cost-effective. Installation of this device is strongly recommended wherever there is flowing water in small streams by constructing a stop dam and installing one or two water wheels as designed and developed by Mr. Singh. It saves on energy like electricity or diesel and is ecologically completely benign.”

Despite the official recognition of the great utility and potential of this work, Mr. Singh had to struggle against bureaucratic apathy and hostility.

He is also a crusader against corruption and continues using the Right to Information weapon to expose corruption. He feels that this probably angered certain influential powerful persons and he was victimised time and again.

Despite all these odds, his work has been successfully demonstrated in Bundelkhand and Uttarakhand. Working in the middle of financial and other constraints, Mr. Singh keeps travelling to various parts of the country to demonstrate his work.

As the need for reducing greenhouse gas emission increases, the importance of such environment-friendly works will continue to grow. For farmers facing economic crisis and struggling against shortages as well as increasing prices of diesel and electricity, Mangal Turbine, when properly installed and harnessed, can provide significant relief.

Grant Opportunties

HUD

Department of Housing and Urban Development Service Coordinatorss in Multifamily Housing Modification 1

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=152674

HHS

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sample Vital Registration with Verbal Autopsy in the the Republic of Zambia under the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Modification 6

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=158093

DOS

Department of State

Bureau of Population, Refugees  and Migration FY 2012 Funding Opportunity Announcement for NGO programs benefiting Colombian Refugees and IDPs Modification 3

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=161213

HHS

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Improving Implementation of Programs for Care & Treatment of HIV/AIDS in the Republic of Mozambique under the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Modification 4

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=163133

DOS

Department of State

U.S. Mission to Costa Rica

ECPA Regional Energy Competition

Modification 2

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=166313

HHS

Department of Health and Human Services

Food & Drug Administration

Pharmacokinetics Studies of Tacrolimus in Transplant Patients (U01) Modification 3

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=168034

DOI

Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

BLM Colorado Vegetation/Range-Fuels treatment project Under Royal Gorge Field Office Jurisdiction.

Modification 1

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=168973

DHS

Department of Homeland Security

Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division Securing the Cities (STC) Program Modification 2

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=169378

HHS

Department of Health and Human Services

National Institutes of Health

Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) Modification 1

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=169634

HHS

Department of Health and Human Services

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Adminis.

Grants to Expand Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity In Adult and Family Drug Courts (Short Title: SAMHSA Treatment Drug Courts) Modification 1

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=169714

USAID

Agency for International Development

East Africa USAID-Kenya

President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) Expansion in DRC Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=169913

DOI

Department of the Interior

National Park Service

Vegetation mapping and monitoring

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=169953

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

Innovative Source Reduction for Land-Based Sources of Marine Debris from Coastal Watersheds

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=169954

DOI

Department of the Interior

National Park Service

Vegetation mapping and monitoring

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=169955

DOE

Department of Energy

NNSA

National Laser User's Facility (NLUF) Program

Modification 1

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=169973

DOE

Department of Energy

Golden Field Office

Hydrogen Storage Targets for Early Market Applications

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=169993

USDA

Department of Agriculture

Utilities Programs

Revolving Fund Program (RFP)

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=169994

HHS

Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Children and Families

Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) to Assist Protection and Advocacy Systems (P & As) to Establish or Improve Voting Access for Individuals with Disabilities

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=170015

USAID

Agency for International Development

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Rapid Response Capacity in Ethiopia

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=170033

DOI

Department of the Interior

Fish and Wildlife Service

Autonomous recording units  for Rails

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=170034

USAID

Agency for International Development

Nutrition Rapid Response Capacity in Ethiopia

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=170035

DOI

Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

Climate Change Vulnerability Study

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=170053

HHS

Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Children and Families

Tribal Court Improvement Program

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=170054

DOI

Department of the Interior

Fish and Wildlife Service

Maintain a captive flock of Alaska-origin Stellers eiders and spectacled eiders

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=170073

DOI

Department of the Interior

National Park Service

Cataloging Archeological Backlog

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=170074

DOI

Department of the Interior

National Park Service

Technical Assistance for the Upper Columbia Basin Network including database development, GIS and science communication-PH 3

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=170093

DOI

Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

Student Internship Program in San Luis Valley Colorado.

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=170094

DOI

Department of the Interior

National Park Service

National Park Service, Seven Undergraduate Interns to Support Divisions within Haleakala National Park

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=170113

HHS

Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Children and Families

Administration for Children & Families - ACYF/FYSB

Basic Center Program

Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=170133

For love of Mothers. MADRE: Mothers's Day Emergency Fund.

Dear Friend, When I go to sleep at night, I’m grateful that my two boys are well fed, warm and safe from the dangers of war. They go to school each day. When they’re sick, I take them to the doctor. And then I think of all the mothers I know in other countries, just as dedicated to their kids as I am, but not able to protect them. In ways large and small, you and I have worked together to make their burdens lighter. Your Mother's Day gift to MADRE shows that you stand with them. I think of the mother in a tent in Haiti who holds the whistle we gave her, as she watches her daughter sleep and listens for attackers. She knows that the other moms will come when she sounds the alarm, now that her whistle gives her the power to call for help. Or the mom in Kenya who risks all to secret her daughter to one of our shelter schools to protect her from being forced into marriage. Or the soon-to-be mother in Palestine who waits nervously for the midwife. Military roadblocks kept her from receiving prenatal care at the hospital. But the midwife—equipped with a birthing kit from MADRE—will safely deliver her new baby. This is what we do—not just on Mother’s Day, but every day. We stand up for mothers, fierce defenders of their loved ones. Will you stand with them? We’ve launched our Mother’s Day Emergency Fund. All year long, unexpected crises befall women in our sister organizations—disasters that can’t be anticipated. Yet, we know we must always be ready when a mother calls for help. MADRE’s Mother’s Day Emergency Fund makes sure we can respond. Just this week, I took an urgent call from our partner in Iraq. She told me about an activist facing death threats. We’re helping her find a means of escape for herself and her children. Then, I spoke to our partner in Nicaragua. We made plans to replant the crops that her family depends on, after their bean harvest was swept away by recent floods. We’ve committed to raise $15,000 for the Fund by May 31, to meet these needs and to answer other urgent calls for help. Will you help us? Join me in supporting these mothers now. Make a gift in honor of a mom, stepmom, aunt who’s like a mom, or maybe just for any mom, now. With gratitude, Yifat Susskind Executive Director P.S. Any donation , of any size, helps us reach our goal of giving mothers the strength and resources to protect their kids. Please stand with us .

The Mothers of MADRE “Here in the camp, we’re exposed to so many threats. My daughter’s safety means everything to me, so I work hard to protect her. Thank you for helping me.” – Martine, a mother in Haiti “I wish I had education. But as a girl, I was given in marriage. But I managed to take my girls to school. So I have done something important in my life.” – Kinangare, a mother in Kenya Your support of MADRE helps mothers worldwide. This Mother’s Day, let’s honor them together. Be a MADRE Lifeline Make a big difference by giving a little every month.  Click here to review our Charity Navigator four star rating.