Thursday, December 5, 2013

Fellows Program: Organizing for Action

OFA is looking for enthusiastic, dedicated folks to join our Spring Fellows program and get trained to be a lasting voice for change in their community.

You probably know someone who is perfect for this opportunity -- you might even consider it for yourself.

Applying to be one of next year's Spring Fellows starts here

Join the next generation of organizers. Apply to be an OFA Spring
Fellow.

This program is about training the next generation of organizers, and giving folks the tools they need to be effective leaders.

Spring Fellows will help grow the local OFA chapters and continue to fight for the agenda Americans voted for in 2012. You'll be on the front lines of our issue advocacy -- working on pressing issues like health care reform, climate change, comprehensive immigration reform, LGBT rights, women's rights, gun violence prevention, and strengthening the middle class.

This is a unique opportunity to pick up top-notch organizing skills, and make invaluable personal and professional connections.

The program runs from early February through April, and the deadline to apply is Sunday, January 12th.

Get started on an application now -- or encourage a friend to apply to be a Spring Fellow:

http://my.barackobama.com/2014-Spring-Fellows-Application

Thanks,

Sara

Sara El-Amine
National Organizing Director
Organizing for Action

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Internship Opportunities: Women's Foreign Policy Group. Washington, D.C.

WFPG IS NOW ACCEPTING

INTERNSHIP APPLICATIONS FOR SPRING 2014!

Washington, DC

The Women’s Foreign Policy Group believes that it is crucial to ensure that women’s voices are heard and that women leaders are fully engaged in finding new approaches and solutions. WFPG is committed to global engagement and the promotion of the leadership, visibility and participation of women in international affairs. The organization advances women’s leadership and highlights their contributions through international issues programs and mentoring.

Interns work as part of the WFPG team and are given the opportunity to improve their knowledge of international issues, as well as to learn how a small nonprofit organization operates. At our programs, interns meet with accomplished international affairs professionals and learn from their career paths. Part-time internships are unpaid or for college credit. Full-time interns who commit to 3.5 months during the school year or 3 months during the summer are eligible for a $1,000 stipend.

WFPG is seeking four interns to assist them in Washington, DC during the upcoming semester:

General Internship:
WFPG is looking for responsible and motivated interns to focus on planning and outreach for programs featuring international affairs officials and experts. In addition to assisting with our Author and Embassy Series programs, interns contribute to benefit luncheons and mentoring fairs. Interns will also research foreign policy topics before events, update the WFPG database, and complete other office tasks as assigned.

Communications Internship:
WFPG is also looking for a specialized intern to focus on our website and communications materials, including our invitations and newsletters. The communications intern will also assist at events, conduct foreign policy research, and complete other office duties as assigned. A demonstrated interest in and knowledge of basic HTML and photo editing/layout software is helpful, but not required.

Qualifications:
Competitive candidates for both positions should have a demonstrated interest in foreign affairs and excellent computer skills. Interns must possess outstanding office and phone manners, and excellent writing skills, in addition to being well-organized, punctual, dependable, flexible, attentive to detail, and able to work both independently and as part of a team.

Applicants must be available to work a minimum of two full days per week.

To Apply:
Please send a cover letter (including your availability), resume, two-page writing sample (short paper or excerpt), contact information for three references, and an unofficial copy of your transcript to employment@wfpg.org. Applications can also be mailed to:

Women's Foreign Policy Group
Attn: Ms. Kimberly Kahnhauser
1615 M St. NW, Suite 210
Washington, DC 20036

Spring internship deadline has been extended to December 10th

***Early applications are strongly encouraged***

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Internship Program. African Scientific Institute

http://asi-org.net/internships/

African Scientific Institute Internship Program

Internship Programs through ASI

The African Scientific Institute (ASI) was founded in 1967 as a non-profit organization representing a network of scientists, engineers, technologists, and health professionals, as well as young people aspiring to enter the world of science and technology. ASI is striving to get more minorities to pursue careers in science and technology. ASI believes its network of resources, which includes informed professionals, has a particular obligation to interact with the youth in the community. Through various programs sponsored by ASI, young people have an opportunity to learn of the possibilities and rewards of a technical profession.

ASI is committed to supporting and assisting students and recent graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and minority students from other universities in securing internship programs in government agencies, states, local governments, and industries to help them explore opportunities that will expose them to the possibilities of future careers.

We provide orientation programs to enable selected interns a smooth transition into their assignments. This is done a week before the beginning of the program and we also conduct a post internship evaluation to find out what didn’t work so well to improve on our activities.

Students looking for opportunities to gain valuable work experience to supplement coursework and preparedness to join the labor force, as well as employers seeking to diversify their pool of experts especially from the minority population should consider using the opportunities ASI internship program offers. We target African American and other minority groups. It is also important to us to get students involved during the period most of them are not in school for up to a six-week period.

For Spring internships, we take applications from October 15, 2012 with a December 15, 2012 deadline. For Summer and Fall internships, we take applications from February 15, 2013 with April 15, 2013 deadline.

ASI explores Internship Programs that would offer full-time paid internships during these periods. We expect the Spring programs to last anywhere from January 14, 2013 – April 30, 2013.

Requirements for consideration:

Students who are enrolled in either undergraduate or graduate programs at HBCU or minority students in other colleges and universities. A grade point average on a 4.0 scale of 3.0 or above is required. Internship applicants must be U.S. citizens and must provide these additional information:

U.S. Citizen

Completed application

Current Resume

Unofficial Transcript- if requested

Official Transcript- before assignment begins

Two completed Faculty or Departmental recommendations

The Selection Process

ASI Fellows and representatives provide in depth review of students that are sent forth for consideration. After the reviews of resumes, eligible candidates are sent to agencies that ASI has affiliation with to seek for Internship opportunities for the candidates. Employing agencies would review the applications, conduct interviews if necessary, and make all final selections.

Once students are selected, ASI is notified and ASI Fellows will ensure effective participation of selected students in the employing agency.

Stipends and Allowances

For a forty-hour work week, ASI negotiates a stipend to be paid to the Intern. It could be from $400 per week for undergraduate s to $500 per week for graduate students. Our experience is that agencies have different ways they compensate Interns especially those selected from outside their duty station. A travel allowance may be paid. In some cases, a housing stipend may be provided.

In some instances, interns may receive an allowance of about $200 to $300 for local travels to and from work depending on the season – Summer, Fall, or Spring.

ASI plans to extend its program for students to greater opportunities collaborating with institutions overseas through our network of ASI Fellows around the world

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Solar tech to power African villages faces Kenyan test

http://www.itwebafrica.com/ict-and-governance/256-kenya/232044-solar-tech-to-power-african-villages-faces-kenyan-test

Published on 25 November 2013

By Gareth van Zyl

Solar tech to power African villages faces Kenyan test.

Single modular solar technology for producing both electricity and drinking water for micro-industries and villages of up to 1,000 people is to be trialled in Kenya in 2014 ahead of a 2015 commercial launch.

A consortium led by global energy management firm Schneider Electric has chosen the East African nation to test the technology dubbed ‘Microsol’.

Schneider Electric says a single Microsol installation, which has an expected lifespan of 20 years, produces 50 MWh of electricity, 1,000 m3 of drinking water, and around 800 MWh of thermal energy per year.

Micro-producers in the food, textile and paper industries are planned to be targeted with the offering. But Microsol could even help the tourist industry and up to 1,000 residents in remote rural villages, says Schneider Electric.

"That technology can help Africa's poorest countries", said Pradeep Monga, director of the energy and climate change branch of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), while attending the inauguration of Microsol in France.

Gilles Vermot Desroches, senior vice-president, sustainability, Schneider Electric, said: “All countries with high levels of sunshine are potential targets for marketing Microsol. However, because of its infrastructure needs, geographical location and economic models, Schneider Electric and its partners decided to focus their efforts on Africa".

- See more at: http://www.itwebafrica.com/ict-and-governance/256-kenya/232044-solar-tech-to-power-african-villages-faces-kenyan-test#sthash.cizb1uRw.dpuf

Friday, November 22, 2013

FEMA seeks applicants for Technical Mapping Advisory Council

FEMA seeks applicants for Technical Mapping Advisory Council

FEMA is requesting applications from qualified individuals who are interested in appointment to the Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC). The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 established the TMAC to make recommendations to the FEMA Administrator on how to improve the accuracy, general quality, ease of use, and distribution and dissemination of flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) and risk data; and to improve performance metrics and milestones required to effectively and efficiently map flood risk areas in the United States. Qualified applicants will be considered to represent one or more of the following membership categories: professional surveying association or organization; professional mapping association or organization; engineering association or organization; professional association or organization representing flood hazard determination firms; United States Geological Survey; professional association or organization representing state geographic information; state national flood insurance coordination offices; United States Army Corps of Engineers; regional flood and storm water management organization; state, tribal, and territorial government; agencies; local government agencies; floodplain management association or organization; risk management association or organization; and state mitigation officer.

Individuals interested in serving on the TMAC are invited to apply for appointment by submitting a resume or curriculum vitae to FEMA,

Federal Insurance Mitigation Administration, Risk Analysis Division by email, or by mail at 1800 South Bell Street, Arlington, VA 20598–3035.

Deadline is January12, 2014! The Department of Energy Scholars Program is now accepting applications for Summer 2014.

Visit http://orise.orau.gov/doescholars for more information or to apply -

deadline is January12, 2014!

The DOE Scholars Program offers unique opportunities that introduce students or post-graduates to the agency’s mission and operations. Participants in the DOE Scholars Program gain a competitive edge as they apply their education, talent and skills in a variety of scientific research settings within the DOE complex. Appointments are available in a variety of disciplines at participating DOE facilities nationwide.

Being selected as a DOE Scholar offers the following benefits:

· Career possibilities with the nation’s leading sponsor for scientific research

· Opportunities to learn from top scientists and subject matter experts

· Stipends of up to $650 per week (depending on academic status)

· Travel arrangements to and from appointment site

Applicants must be US Citizens and undergraduates, graduates or post-graduates of an accredited college or university. The program is open to majors in: Engineering; Physical Sciences; Environmental Sciences; Computer Science and Information Technology; Physics; Business; Policy; Program Management; Mathematics; Statistics; Safety and Health; Accounting and Finance; Law; Communications; and other related areas.

Want to learn more about the DOE Scholars program? E-mail doescholars@orise.orau.gov or visit http://orise.orau.gov/doescholars.

Red Rocks Community College - Emergency Management & Planning Degree and Certificate Programs Spring Semester Starts on January 21, 2014

v

Through Red Rocks Community College, students can earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree or a Certificate in Emergency Management Planning. All courses are offered ONLINE. To complete our Associate of Applied Science Degree in Emergency Management and Planning requires the completion of 60 credit hours of courses, including 15 hours of General Education courses, 15 hours of Electives and 30 credit hours (ten courses) of core EMP courses.

The Red Rocks spring semester starts on January 21, 2014. This spring we will be offering EMP 101, EMP 105, EMP 107, EMP 242, EMP 247, and EMP 291. More detailed information about our program is available at: http://www.rrcc.edu/catalogs/sheets/EmergencyManagementAndPlanning.pdf

Students can take a course without the need for long distance travel and can set their own schedule. Since ONLINE courses don't have a set classroom time, students can participate at any hour.... now the school is coming to the student, saving time and money. Prospective students can apply to Red Rocks and register for classes totally ONLINE at http://www.rrcc.edu/.

Completed courses from other colleges or accredited institutions, which correspond to our EMP course requirements, can be transferred to Red Rocks, at no cost, after submitted transcripts are reviewed for applicability toward our EMP Program. When requesting credit for courses for which you have certificates or are from non-accredited institutions such as FEMA, you need to go through what we call our "Credit for Prior Learning Program". At least 15 hours (5 EMP courses) must be taken through Red Rocks.

This program was started in 1999 and is recognized by FEMA as one of the pioneering national ONLINE Emergency Management programs and is supported by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management. Floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, train wrecks, terrorist attacks and hazardous chemical spills are examples of emergencies in which life and property are endangered. The EM professional’s ability to perform essential work in a disaster requires skills in emergency operations and management. How well a community or an organization prepares for and deals with these and other kinds of disasters can affect not only their economic viability but people’s lives.

For more information:

o Contact Name: Ivo Roospold, EMP Coordinator

o Phone . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .303.914.6404

o E-Mail . . . . . . . . . . .. . . ivo.roospold@rrcc.edu

o Fax . . . . . . . …. . .. . . . .303.914.6803

Community Tool Box.

http://ctb.ku.edu/en/

WANT TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT? SEE OUR ONLINE DOCUMENTATION AND EVALUATION SYSTEM.

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Friday, November 15, 2013

Webinar: November 20th, Best Practices to Improve Situational Awareness ^ Interoperability

The National Information Sharing Consortium (NISC)

Sharing Tools and Best Practices to Improve Situational Awareness and Interoperability

November 20, 2013 -- 12:00 Noon Eastern

EMForum.org is pleased to host a one hour presentation and interactive discussion Wednesday, November 20, 2013 beginning at 12:00 Noon Eastern time (please convert to your local time). Our topic will be the National Information Sharing Consortium (NISC). As an independent consortium, NISC strives to bring together data owners, custodians, and users involved in the fields of homeland security, public safety, and emergency management and response to leverage efforts related to governance, development, and sharing of technology, data processes, and best practices.

Our guest will be Sean McSpaden, Membership and Outreach Coordinator for the consortium and Principal Legislative IT Analyst for the State of Oregon Legislative Fiscal Office.

Please make plans to join us, and see the Background Page for links to related resources and participant Instructions. On the day of the program, use the Webinar Login link not more than 30 minutes before the scheduled time. As always, please feel free to extend this invitation to your colleagues.

In partnership with Jacksonville State University, EIIP offers CEUs for attending EMForum.org Webinars. See http://www.emforum.org/CEUs.htm for details.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Typhoon Haiyan. PHILIPPINES. Little Preparation for a Great Disaster

http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/11/little-preparation-for-a-great-disaster/

Asia-Pacific, Development & Aid, Editors' Choice, Environment, Featured, Global Governance, Headlines, Human Rights,Humanitarian Emergencies, Population, Poverty & MDGs, Regional Categories, TerraViva Europe, TerraViva United Nations,United Nations

Little Preparation for a Great Disaster

By Richard Javad Heydarian l

The coastal town of Ormoc city in western Leyte, Philippines after typhoon Haiyan struck. Credit: Arlynn Aquino EU/ECHO/CC by 2.0

MANILA, Nov 12 2013 (IPS) - Despite the government’s early warnings and evacuation of up to 800,000 people from vulnerable areas, the category 5 – the highest level – Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda to Filipinos) has left some communities and coastal zones in the central Philippine islands of Visayas in complete ruins.

Widely characterised as history’s strongest-ever typhoon, Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines on Nov. 8, slightly weakening before claiming the lives of thousands of people and inflicting severe economic damage on the country.

By some estimates, as many as 10,000 people may have lost their lives, with Tacloban City, the capital of Leyte province, bearing the brunt of the super typhoon. Another 600,000 people have been displaced, according to the U.N.

In the initial hours of the typhoon’s landfall, intermittent reports provided a glimpse of the potential impact of the storm, but many communities remained inaccessible to authorities and aid agencies for days.

This meant thousands of people were left with no basic necessities in the hours following the damage, with a cloud of uncertainty hanging over many affected areas in need of immediate assistance.

Almost a day into the storm’s landfall, the U.N. office in Manila rang alarm bells by telling Bloomberg news that certain areas were “still cut off from relief operations”, with “unknown numbers of survivors [lacking] basic necessities” due to the massive destruction of basic infrastructure.

“In the coming days, be assured: help will reach you faster and faster,” Philippine President Benigno Aquino declared after visiting the devastated areas, trying to reassure thousands of desperate citizens in need of relief and basic security. “The delivery of food, water and medicines to the most heavily affected areas is at the head of our priorities.”

Hours after the storm, local media portrayed a general picture of desperation and panic as many citizens sought basic commodities wherever they could find them. It took some time before the government was able to send troops and personnel to organise the distribution of relief and establish a modicum of stability in badly affected areas.

The Philippines army dispatched four C-130 planes to the affected areas, which were only able to arrive during daylight hours. An army battalion, comprising up to 250 troops, was sent to Tacloban, the most badly affected area.

“We’re sending medicine, relief goods, emergency response teams and tents, generators, communications equipment and fuel,” army spokesman Colonel Miguel Okol told reporters, underscoring the importance of the armed forces to relief operations as well as establishing post-crisis order. “But our priority right now is sending out security – Philippines National Police – to deal with the [reports of] violence.”

So far, reports suggest the extent of the damage overwhelmed local authorities, with the national government, in the immediate aftermath of the storm’s impact, struggling to establish communication with affected areas.

The sheer force of Haiyan simply devastated airports, roads, electricity grids, and telephone lines, making it almost impossible for optimal coordination between authorities and leaving some affected areas in momentary isolation – just when they needed help the most.