Friday, June 2, 2017

U.S. Food Security. Farmer Fair Practices Rules.. FARM BILL Preliminaries

Tell USDA to Restore Fairness for Farmers and Ranchers


Western Organization of Resource Councils
Action Alert


Dear friends & allies,

After being blocked and delayed for years by Congress, the Obama Administration published new Farmer Fair Practices Rules in its final days and launched another public comment period. USDA heard, again, from family farmers and ranchers that these rules are essential to level the playing field between independent livestock producers and big packers.

On April 11, despite widespread support from independent producers, USDA caved to industry pressure and delayed the effective date of the interim final rule on competitive injury for 180 days, until October 19.

USDA has opened yet another comment period on one of the three rules, the interim final competitive injury rule, and is asking the public to vote on what should happen to this rule: let it become effective, suspend the rule indefinitely, delay the effective date further, or withdraw the rule.

The competitive injury rule includes essential safeguards to restore fairness for producers seeking justice under the Packers and Stockyards Act.
 
  • Under the interim final competitive injury rule, ranchers contesting unfair meatpacker contracting and buying practices would not have to prove a practice harms the whole market to prove the practice is unfair.

Take action today and tell USDA that the competitive injury rule must become effective on October 19.

Comments are due June 12, 2017. Here’s how you can submit your comment:

Step 1
Copy one of the draft comments below (or write your own):

Draft Comment 1
I am writing to provide comments with regard to 9 CFR Part 201, Federal Register Number 2017-07361, posted on April 12, 2017. I urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to let the Interim Final Rule on Competitive Injury to become effective on October 19. This long-overdue rule takes important steps to ensure that ranchers and farmers are treated fairly and have some safeguards against unfair buying and marketing practices from meatpackers.

Draft Comment 2
I am writing to provide comments with regard to 9 CFR Part 201, Federal Register Number 2017-07361, posted on April 12, 2017. The competitive injury rule is necessary to restore fairness for producers seeking justice under the Packers and Stockyards Act. I urge USDA to let the rule become effective On October 19.

Draft Comment 3
I am writing to provide comments with regard to 9 CFR Part 201, Federal Register Number 2017-07361, posted on April 12, 2017. I strongly urge USDA to allow the Interim Final Rule (IFR) to go into effect, without any further delay. It’s time to restore the original intent of the Packers & Stockyards Act.

Step 2
Paste your comment on this page:
https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=GIPSA_FRDOC_0001-0398


Step 3 – Submit the Comment
Add any additional information you’d like to include, and click on the “Continue” button. On the next page, confirm you’ve read the statement and click on the “Submit Comment” button.
If you have any trouble submitting your comment, please click here to email Rachel Zatterstrom.




Western Organization of Resource Councils
220 S 27TH ST STE B
BILLINGS, MT 59101-4106
United States

406-252-9672

Thursday, June 1, 2017

June 1, 2017. Hurricane Season Starts. FEMA Encourages People to Prepare Now

Private Sector Advisory

FEMA Encourages People to Prepare Now for the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season
June 1, 2017

WASHINGTON – The Atlantic hurricane season starts today, and there is no better time to get ready than now. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages residents and businesses across the nation to prepare by understanding their risk, planning together for the entire family, and downloading the FEMA App.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center seasonal outlook for 2017, released last week, states that the Atlantic could see an above-normal hurricane season this year. The full seasonal forecast is linked at www.noaa.gov/media-release/above-normal-atlantic-hurricane-season-is-most-likely-year.

Both hurricanes and tropical systems have the potential to cause serious damage to coastal and inland areas.  Their hazards could come in many forms including storm surge, heavy rainfall, coastal and inland flooding, high winds, and tornadoes. 

“The time to prepare for hurricanes and tropical storms is now, before a threat even exists,” said FEMA Acting Administrator Robert J. Fenton, Jr. “We want people who live in coastal and nearby inland areas to know where they can get reliable information; prepare their home and workplace ahead of time; know if they live in an evacuation zone and be familiar with evacuation routes. Knowing what to do and practicing your plan now can make the difference between life and death if a hurricane or tropical storm does strike.”

There is a lot of information available to help individuals and communities prepare:

Know Your Risk: Residents should learn what types of natural disasters are common in their stateNOAA’s historical hurricane tracks tool provides information on the severity and frequency of past hurricanes. 

Learn Your Flood Risk: Flooding is the nation’s most frequent and costly natural disaster. Go to FloodSmart.gov and learn how to protect your home or business. Purchase a flood insurance policy if you do not already have one.

Make A Plan: Residents should speak with their family today about how they will communicate with each other during a significant weather event when they may not be together, or during an evacuation order.

Download the FEMA App: The FEMA App contains important information on what to do before, during, and after a hurricane. The App also allows users to receive weather alerts from NOAA’s National Weather Service, includes lifesaving safety tips, and provides access to disaster resources should survivors need them. The App is available in the Apple App store or the Google Play store, and is also available in Spanish.

Know your evacuation zone: Evacuation zones are areas that may be impacted by hurricane flooding. Many communities designate evacuation zones and routes to get citizens to safety. This information is typically found on the websites of state, county, or town emergency management offices. If a hurricane threatens a community and local officials say it's time to evacuate, residents should evacuate immediately. Do not wait for the next forecast.

While much attention is often given to the Atlantic hurricane season, there are tropical systems that can affect many other areas around the nation. To learn more about hurricane seasons in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, visit www.hurricanes.gov. To learn more on how to prepare before, during, and after a hurricane, visit www.ready.gov.

Additional tips and resources:

###

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Acting Administrator Bob Fenton's activities at www.twitter.com/bobatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.


FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

BEMA TALKS. Global Community Engagement\Participation during times of Disasters.

To our members in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and Nigeria..........
15, 20, to 25 individuals in a community is a start to collectively come together and address a disaster\crisis when it strikes a community.

Take the training learned in the U.S., customized for your communities by knowing the risks, and vulnerabilities from flooding, landslide, water contamination, etc.  You are the change agent in your communities here in the U.S., and when you return to the continent.

Communities engagement and participation with local emergency management agencies can make a difference between life & death, reduce the amount of damage to homes and facilities, and constantly improve upon infrastructure systems (water, waste, food, transportation, power, etc.).

BEMA International





June 2017 CERT E-Brief

CERT - Community Emergency Response Team
CERT E-Brief
Volume 3 / Issue 1

CERT Shares Best Practices in Chile

An invitation to meet with local Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) led to five Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees traveling to Chile on April 20, 2017. During the two-week visit, FEMA presented information, participated in roundtable discussion, and went out into communities to learn about the hazards specific to the region.

Five Steps to Help Until Help Arrives

If someone is injured, the first few minutes are critical in helping the chances of surviving serious or life-threatening injuries. Would you know how to help them until professional help arrives? A new, easy five-step program will help you learn how.
 
 
CERT in Action
CERT Light Search and Rescue Training in Chile
 

Hoboken, New Jersey CERT Shines in Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

During the height of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, communities along the Hudson Waterfront sustained flooding by the storm surge through New York Bay and into the Hudson River. Massive power outages in the New Jersey cities of Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, North Bergen, and Edgewater forced many residents to evacuate. 

Kansas City CERT Teams Retain Active and Engaged Volunteers

Maintaining a well-trained, engaged, and active cadre of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers is critical for planning and responding to emergencies. Kansas City CERT teams are using a creative and entertaining approach to meet their goal of keeping existing volunteers active and engaged, even during non-emergency times.

Los Angeles Teens Use FEMA Program to Help Their Community Preparedness

The Watts/South Los Angeles Teen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Collaborative is comprised of local Watts-area youth in South Los Angeles, California, who work to improve their neighborhood to be more prepared for potential emergencies or disasters.
 
2017 Training Dates

Course Name: E0427 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program Manager

June 29-30, 2017
July 27-28, 2017
Course Description: This course prepares participants to establish and sustain an active local CERT program.

Course Name: E0428 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Train-the-Trainer

June 26-28, 2017
July 24-26, 2017
Course Description: This course prepares participants to deliver FEMA’s CERT Basic Training course. 

BEMA TALKS. Disaster Relief. Is there a need for an African Descent NGO to address Disaster Relief and Planning?

As the number of disaster and crisis events are increasing globally is there a need for an African Descent NGO to immediately address the needs, cultural competencies, and other cultural issues on the continent?

Accounting and finance of such an endeavor will be a key factor.

BEMA INTERNATIONAL



Accounting and Financial Management

Pooled Funding – How Can NGOs Engage?

Are you aware of the different pooled funding mechanisms accessible directly to NGOs? This curriculum provides an overview of pooled funding mechanisms including Country Based Pooled Funds, the START fund, and the NEAR network’s pooled funding mechanism. Guest experts from OCHA, Oxfam, and COAST Bangladesh address current challenges and opportunities for NGO access to pooled funds.

This is the third topic in a series on Demystifying Humanitarian Financing developed by ICVA in partnership with PHAP:
  1. The Humanitarian Financing Landscape – Realities and Trends for NGOs
  2. UN Humanitarian Funding – Demystifying NGO Access
  3. Pooled Funding – How can NGOs Engage?
  4. Bilateral Funding – Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for NGOs
  5. Private Funding – A Growing Source for NGOs? (coming soon)
  6. The Grand Bargain (coming soon)
This curriculum will soon be available in French and Arabic.
 
Start Learning

Accounting and Financial Management

Bilateral Funding – Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for NGOs

International humanitarian assistance from bilateral donors has doubled in the past decade. This curriculum provides NGOs a general understanding of bilateral humanitarian funding streams and trends, including the Grand Bargain reforms and the increasing relevance of emerging donors.

This is the fourth topic in a series on Demystifying Humanitarian Financing developed by ICVA in partnership with PHAP:
  1. The Humanitarian Financing Landscape – Realities and Trends for NGOs
  2. UN Humanitarian Funding – Demystifying NGO Access
  3. Pooled Funding – How can NGO’s Engage?
  4. Bilateral Funding – Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for NGOs
  5. Private Funding – A Growing Source for NGOs? (coming soon)
  6. The Grand Bargain (coming soon)
This curriculum will soon be available in French and Arabic.

 

Start Learning

BEMA TALKS. DEVELOPMENT Mission or systems approach to development

Why do we still hear of 'missions' in the 21st Century to under-served communities throughout the world?

Thought of the day.

Mission, or systems approach to development, and self-sustainability?

BEMA International

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mission

Definition of mission

  1. 1obsolete :  the act or an instance of sending
  2. 2a :  a ministry commissioned by a religious organization to propagate (see propagate 3b) its faith or carry on humanitarian work organized a missionto the heathen nativesb :  assignment to or work in a field of missionary enterprisec (1) :  a mission establishment (2) :  a local church or parish dependent on a larger religious organization for direction or financial support Spanish missions in Californiad missions plural :  organized missionary worke :  a course of sermons and services given to convert the unchurched or quicken Christian faith a preaching mission
  3. 3:  a body of persons sent to perform a service or carry on an activity: such asa :  a group sent to a foreign country to conduct diplomatic or political negotiations a member of a trade missionb :  a permanent embassy or legationc :  a team of specialists or cultural leaders sent to a foreign country served on a mission to improve agricultural methods
  4. 4a :  a specific task with which a person or a group is charged Their mission was to help victims of the disaster.b (1) :  a definite military, naval, or aerospace task a bombing mission a space mission (2) :  a flight operation of an aircraft or spacecraft in the performance of a mission mission to Marsc :  a preestablished and often self-imposed objective or purpose statement of the company's mission
  5. 5:  callingvocation Her mission was to be a teacher.

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