http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/Kaseje2.pdf
Friday, January 30, 2015
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
National Health Security Preparedness Index Call for Measures. Deadline: February 15, 2015
National Health
Security Preparedness Index Call for Measures
The Program Management Office for
the National Health Security Preparedness Index is now soliciting recommendations for new measures to be
incorporated into future versions of the Index.
The Index provides a tool for
assessing and improving the nation's readiness for large-scale health threats,
disasters, and emergencies.
Stakeholders having scientific or operational
knowledge about strategies for reducing the impact of large-scale hazards,
disasters, and emergencies on human health and wellbeing are invited to
recommend new measures for inclusion in the Index.
New measures that reflect
social, economic, or environmental dimensions of preparedness and resilience
are especially encouraged. Recommendations to change or eliminate existing
measure definitions and specifications are also welcome.
Recommendations must be received by
February 15, 2015 to be considered for the next iteration of the
Index. View the 2014 version of the Index and its associated documentation at nhspi.org.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
2015. May-December. Summer Hire Positions Pathways Job in WASHINGTON, DC.
FYI…
Job Title:Summer Hire
Positions GS-2/3/4/5 (Pathways)
Department:Department of
the Army
Agency:U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers
Hiring
Organization:Headquarters, US Army Corps of Engineers
Job Announcement
Number:NCFL152345671311372P
SALARY RANGE:
|
$25,364.00
to $45,190.00 / Per Year
|
OPEN PERIOD:
|
Tuesday,
January 27, 2015 to Tuesday, February 3, 2015
|
SERIES & GRADE:
|
GS-0399-02/05
|
POSITION INFORMATION:
|
Full
Time - Internships NTE 30 Dec 2015
|
DUTY LOCATIONS:
|
Many
vacancies in the following location:
Washington DC, DC |
WHO MAY APPLY:
|
United
States Citizens
|
SECURITY CLEARANCE:
|
Not
Applicable
|
SUPERVISORY STATUS:
|
No
|
JOB SUMMARY:
Civilian employees serve
a vital role in supporting the Army mission. They provide the skills that
are not readily available in the military, but crucial to support military
operations. The Army integrates the talents and skills of its military
and civilian members to form a Total Army.
About the Position:
Position(s) will be
filled under the Department of the Army Pathways Intern Program.
This is a SUMMER
HIRE POSITION (PATHWAYS) lasting until December 30, 2015. Employment dates are
approximately MAY through DECEMBER. Actual length of employment is contingent
upon budget, workload, and weather.
This position may be
filled at any of the below Series, Titles and Grades. This position is
temporary and there is NO promotion potential beyond the grade that you are
selected for during the entire time period you are employed under this
announcement.
GS-0399-2 Student
Trainee (Office Assistant) Salary Range: $25,364 – $31,922
GS-0399-3 Student Trainee (Administrative & Office Support) Salary Range: $27,675 – $35,982
GS-0399-4 Student Trainee (Administrative & Office Support) Salary Range $31,069 - $40,393
GS-0399-5 Student Trainee (Office Automation) Salary Range $34,759 – $45,190
GS-0399-3 Student Trainee (Administrative & Office Support) Salary Range: $27,675 – $35,982
GS-0399-4 Student Trainee (Administrative & Office Support) Salary Range $31,069 - $40,393
GS-0399-5 Student Trainee (Office Automation) Salary Range $34,759 – $45,190
Sunday, January 25, 2015
BEMA Feb 2015. Meet & Greet. Wednesday, Feb 18th. 5:30-9:00pm
Step
outside of your comfort zone to make the changes needed in our communities, in
your career, and for our future leaders.
Come
to our first 2015 Meet & Greet Wednesday, February 18, 2015at Busboys and Poets
5th & K-Street N.W. location.
Come
share the moment with current and new members (https://plus.google.com/u/0/109054681804357097719/posts).
Let’s
network, discuss national and international issues, partnerships and
collaborations. 2015 Cyber Security conference in UAE (March/April),
crisis and risk management summit in Kuwait (May/June), Ebola, healthcare and
public health issues.
Date:
Wednesday, February
18, 2015
Time:
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Location:
Busboys & Poets
5th and K Street, N.W.
Washington,
D.C.
Parking:
a. On Street
b. Off Street Parking
-Parking lot
-Basement of neighboring Safeway Store
Public
Transportation:
a. Gallery Place\Chinatown
b. Mt.Vernon Square\7th Street Convention
Center
See
you there!
CDS
Saturday, January 24, 2015
2015. Deletion of material in a new Office of Inspector General (OIG) report.
|
IG Protests TSA’s Edits of Audit
Report
Inspector General
John Roth of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has protested actions
by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials requiring the
deletion of material in a new Office of Inspector General (OIG) report.
During their review of the OIG’s Audit of Security Controls for DHS Information
Technology Systems at John F. Kennedy International Airport, TSA
officials classified sections of the report as Sensitive Security Information
(SSI). By law, material labeled by TSA as SSI cannot be included in a public
report.
Roth, who termed the TSA action an abuse of
the SSI classification, reluctantly issued a redacted version to the public.
But he has furnished a full, unedited report to congressional committees with
oversight over TSA. The report contains findings and recommendations for
improving the security of TSA systems at the airport.
“Over-classification is the enemy of good
government. SSI markings should be used only to protect transportation
security, rather than, as I fear occurred here, to allow government program
officials ...read more
Read Report- OIG-15-18, “Audit of Security Controls for
DHS Information Technology Systems at John F. Kennedy International Airport.”
|
2015. ADA National Network Learning Session. Inclusive Planning for Disasters
|
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Thursday, January 22, 2015
South Africa Tuition Free Online University Degrees for 1,000 South African High School Graduates
1,000 South African High School Graduates to Access
Tuition-Free Degrees Online
1,000 SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES TO ACCESS TUITION-FREE DEGREES ONLINE
With an estimated 425,000 matriculates seeking tertiary education this year, UoPeople offers matrics tuition-free, accredited online university degrees
The right to a quality education mustn’t be a matter of one’s geographical or financial situation. Access to education must be an equal and basic right for all, rather than a privilege for the few.
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, January 19, 2015 /EINPresswire.com/ -- 1,000 South African High School Graduates to Access Tuition-Free Degrees Online
— President Shai Reshef
University of the People (www.UoPeople.edu) President Shai Reshef has announced 1,000 places for South African students at the non-profit, tuition-free, accredited, online American university for 2015. The decision comes following the news of matric results earlier this month pointing to an education crisis in South Africa.
On January 5th South Africa’s 2014 school pass rates of final year students were released, indicating a discouraging drop for the first time in five years after changes to the education system. Low quality educational standards have constrained growth in Africa’s second-largest economy, with businesses struggling to employ skilled workers in a country with over a 25 percent unemployment rate. 70 percent of the jobless in South Africa are under 35. In a survey last year by the World Economic Forum, South Africa’s education system was ranked the fifth-lowest among 144 countries, with its score in mathematics and science the worst of the group.
University of the People presents a genuine alternative for South African high school graduates who luck out of securing limited seats in local universities. “There is no need for the thousands of qualified high school graduates who will be left out of higher education this year to remain shut out,” says President Reshef. “University of the People identifies South African high school graduates as students who are driven and ambitious and particularly in need and deserving of access to quality higher education. The right to a quality education mustn’t be a matter of one’s geographical or financial situation; Access to education must be an equal and basic right for all, rather than a privilege for the few.”
University of the People believes that access to higher education is a key ingredient in the promotion of financial stability, leading to global economic development and peace. Dedicated to democratizing higher education globally, University of the People exemplifies employing an online solution for potentially millions of people. The University has enrolled students from 150 different countries to date, including 44 from South Africa, where retention rates are comparatively high.
University of the People is changing the way online learning is perceived through international accreditation, alliances with prestigious educational institutions (such as Yale University for research and New York University for accepting students) and partnerships with global corporations (such as Hewlett-Packard for internships and Microsoft for scholarships). The unique focus at the online University is on small classes, peer interaction and personal attention. Online access need only be basic – broadband connections and video capability are not required.
The University offers degrees in Business Administration and Computer Science on a tuition-free basis. Students only pay for exam processing fees of $100, meaning that a student can study towards an accredited Bachelor’s Degree for as little as $4,000.
South Africa, take heed – young adults in need of education can be serviced with the delivery of quality education at low-cost. It is the viable solution to conquering inequalities in educational attainment and is available at everyone’s fingertips.
Deadline March 2, 2015. Apply for FEMA Youth Preparedness Council. Ages: 13-17
YOUTH PREPAREDNESS COUNCIL
2015 Council Applications Are Now Being Accepted
FEMA is looking for youth leaders who are dedicated to public service, who are making a difference in their communities, and who want to expand their impact as national advocates for youth disaster preparedness. Any individual between the ages of 13 and 17 who is engaged in individual and community preparedness, or who has experienced a disaster that has motivated him or her to make a positive difference in his or her community, may apply to serve on the Youth Preparedness Council. Applications must be received by March 2, 2015, 11:59 p.m. EST.
- Call for Applications to the FEMA Youth Preparedness Council
- FEMA Youth Preparedness Council Member Roles and Responsibilities
- FEMA Youth Preparedness Council Application Process Frequently Asked Questions
- FEMA Youth Preparedness Council Application Instructions
- FEMA Youth Preparedness Council Application Form
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
2015. 17th Annual Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Tour
17th Annual Historically Black College and University (HBCU)
Tour
April 4-11, 2015
Visiting: Kentucky
State University, North Carolina AT&T University, Bennett College for
Women, Hampton University, Norfolk State University, University of Maryland
Eastern Shore, Howard University and Morgan Sate University.
Get On The Bus To Your Future
Please call 773.256.2761 or 773.256.2762 to
register or for more information.Get On The Bus To Your Future
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Message from the CDEMA Executive Director on the 5h Anniversary of the Haiti Earthquake
http://cdema.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1415:message-from-the-cdema-executive-director-on-the-5h-anniversary-of-the-haiti-earthquake&catid=38:speeches&Itemid=116
Five years ago on January 12, 2010, CDEMA was called to respond to the most catastrophic event in the history of the Agency. Haiti, a member of the CDEMA family had been struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. This was the strongest earthquake recorded in this part of the Caribbean region. Over 300,000 persons died and extensive damage to the capital, Port-au-Prince, and outlying districts left close to three (3) million people displaced.
As we remember that sad day for the people of Haiti, let us pause a moment to reflect on the lessons and consider the positive steps taken thus far to reduce vulnerability and exposure within the countries of the Region. We must also consider outstanding measures still to be implemented and where these exist, we must seek to urgently advance them. The importance of enhancing personal readiness and resilience to cope with, respond to and recover from this hazard must also be a focus.
The Caribbean region’s geological makeup causes hundreds of earthquakes to occur within the region each year. There is no doubt, however, that the Haiti earthquake was a strong and grim reminder of the vulnerability of the Caribbean to seismic activity and to be always prepared for a major earthquake event.
One of the major lessons of the event is the need for safer building standards to be applied, monitored and enforced and this will be the focus my message on the 5th Anniversary of the Haiti Earthquake.
Poorly built infrastructure in a heavily populated urban area contributed to the significant loss of life and destruction of houses in Haiti. Reports have indicated that housing accounted for more than 40% of total damage costs in and was estimated at US $739 million.
The impact on housing has also been noted in other hazards events across the region. A UN/ECLAC country assessment showed that between 1990-2008 most of the countries reviewed experienced damage to housing and human settlements ranging between 35% to 99% of the total national damage costs incurred as a result of natural disasters. Hurricane Ivan resulted in over US$500 million in damage to the housing sector in Grenada and US$180 million in Jamaica and in Guyana the floods of 2005 caused an estimated US$275 million in damage to housing.
It is therefore imperative that we recognize that safer building practices need to be emphasized to limit the loss of life and property and minimize the disruption to our overall development process.
The instituting of Building Codes needs to be a national priority. These Codes must be kept up to date, legislated and enforced in all of our Participating States.
CDEMA has developed a Regional Code of Practice for the Construction of Houses Course and has delivered it in Haiti and other CDEMA Participating States.
This course targets persons who are involved in the building trade and training has been supported by United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under the Comprehensive Disaster Management - Harmonised Implementation Programme (CDM-HIP).
I urge all of our Participating States to promote safer building programmes and to encourage the certification of builders. Homeowners are key stakeholders and as such, continuous public education and awareness on building practices will help to inform them on what is required to reduce the impact to their properties from earthquakes and other hazards events.
As we observe this event, I wish to assure Haiti and our other Participating States that the CDEMA Coordinating Unit will continue to advocate and support efforts in building resilient states to safeguard lives and properties.
I also take this opportunity to acknowledge and commend the government and people of Haiti in their efforts at rebuilding the country and in adopting a comprehensive approach to disaster risk management.
Five years ago on January 12, 2010, CDEMA was called to respond to the most catastrophic event in the history of the Agency. Haiti, a member of the CDEMA family had been struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. This was the strongest earthquake recorded in this part of the Caribbean region. Over 300,000 persons died and extensive damage to the capital, Port-au-Prince, and outlying districts left close to three (3) million people displaced.
As we remember that sad day for the people of Haiti, let us pause a moment to reflect on the lessons and consider the positive steps taken thus far to reduce vulnerability and exposure within the countries of the Region. We must also consider outstanding measures still to be implemented and where these exist, we must seek to urgently advance them. The importance of enhancing personal readiness and resilience to cope with, respond to and recover from this hazard must also be a focus.
The Caribbean region’s geological makeup causes hundreds of earthquakes to occur within the region each year. There is no doubt, however, that the Haiti earthquake was a strong and grim reminder of the vulnerability of the Caribbean to seismic activity and to be always prepared for a major earthquake event.
One of the major lessons of the event is the need for safer building standards to be applied, monitored and enforced and this will be the focus my message on the 5th Anniversary of the Haiti Earthquake.
Poorly built infrastructure in a heavily populated urban area contributed to the significant loss of life and destruction of houses in Haiti. Reports have indicated that housing accounted for more than 40% of total damage costs in and was estimated at US $739 million.
The impact on housing has also been noted in other hazards events across the region. A UN/ECLAC country assessment showed that between 1990-2008 most of the countries reviewed experienced damage to housing and human settlements ranging between 35% to 99% of the total national damage costs incurred as a result of natural disasters. Hurricane Ivan resulted in over US$500 million in damage to the housing sector in Grenada and US$180 million in Jamaica and in Guyana the floods of 2005 caused an estimated US$275 million in damage to housing.
It is therefore imperative that we recognize that safer building practices need to be emphasized to limit the loss of life and property and minimize the disruption to our overall development process.
The instituting of Building Codes needs to be a national priority. These Codes must be kept up to date, legislated and enforced in all of our Participating States.
CDEMA has developed a Regional Code of Practice for the Construction of Houses Course and has delivered it in Haiti and other CDEMA Participating States.
This course targets persons who are involved in the building trade and training has been supported by United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under the Comprehensive Disaster Management - Harmonised Implementation Programme (CDM-HIP).
I urge all of our Participating States to promote safer building programmes and to encourage the certification of builders. Homeowners are key stakeholders and as such, continuous public education and awareness on building practices will help to inform them on what is required to reduce the impact to their properties from earthquakes and other hazards events.
As we observe this event, I wish to assure Haiti and our other Participating States that the CDEMA Coordinating Unit will continue to advocate and support efforts in building resilient states to safeguard lives and properties.
I also take this opportunity to acknowledge and commend the government and people of Haiti in their efforts at rebuilding the country and in adopting a comprehensive approach to disaster risk management.
Ronald Jackson | Executive Director |
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
DOE Preparedness APPs. 2015
Emergency Preparedness
Apps
Mobile
applications have become more useful in keeping emergency preparedness
information readily available to the public. Recently, the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a
new mobile preparedness app called "Lantern Live." The app helps
consumers quickly find and share critical information about nearby gas stations
and power outages during energy emergencies. “Lantern Live” allows users to:
·
Report operational status of local
gas stations;
·
Find fuel;
·
Look up local utility power outage
maps; and
·
Access useful disaster tips.
The
DOE says future versions and updates of “Lantern Live” are likely to include
the ability to crowdsource information on the status of gas stations through
standardized social media hashtags.
“Lantern
Live” is currently free to download for Android users via Google Play.
Looking
for more preparedness apps? Keep disaster information at your fingertips with
mobile apps from FEMA and the American Red Cross.