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Friday, April 4, 2014
Children with additional needs: April 30, 2014 Planning for contingencies and their future
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Executive Order -- Blocking Property of Certain Persons With Respect to South Sudan
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/04/03/executive-order-blocking-property-certain-persons-respect-south-sudan=
White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
April 03, 2014
Executive Order -- Blocking Property of Certain Persons With Respect to South Sudan
EXECUTIVE ORDER
- - - - - - -
BLOCKING PROPERTY OF CERTAIN PERSONS
WITH RESPECT TO SOUTH SUDAN
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) (NEA), section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,
I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, find that the situation in and in relation to South Sudan, which has been marked by activities that threaten the peace, security, or stability of South Sudan and the surrounding region, including widespread violence and atrocities, human rights abuses, recruitment and use of child soldiers, attacks on peacekeepers, and obstruction of humanitarian operations, poses an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, and I hereby declare a national emergency to deal with that threat. I hereby order:
Section 1. (a) All property and interests in property that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person (including any foreign branch) of the following persons are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in: any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:
(i) to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have engaged in, directly or indirectly, any of the following in or in relation to South Sudan:
(A) actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of South Sudan;
(B) actions or policies that threaten transitional agreements or undermine democratic processes or institutions in South Sudan;
(C) actions or policies that have the purpose or effect of expanding or extending the conflict in South Sudan or obstructing reconciliation or peace talks or processes;
(D) the commission of human rights abuses against persons in South Sudan;
(E) the targeting of women, children, or any civilians through the commission of acts of violence (including killing, maiming, torture, or rape or other sexual violence), abduction, forced displacement, or attacks on schools, hospitals, religious sites, or locations where civilians are seeking refuge, or through conduct that would constitute a serious abuse or violation of human rights or a violation of international humanitarian law;
(F) the use or recruitment of children by armed groups or armed forces in the context of the conflict in South Sudan;
(G) the obstruction of the activities of international peacekeeping, diplomatic, or humanitarian missions in South Sudan, or of the delivery or distribution of, or access to, humanitarian assistance; or
(H) attacks against United Nations missions, international security presences, or other peacekeeping operations;
(ii) to be a leader of (A) an entity, including any government, rebel militia, or other group, that has, or whose members have, engaged in any of the activities described in subsection (a)(i) of this section or (B) an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order;
(iii) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of (A) any of the activities described in subsection (a)(i) of this section or (B) any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or
(iv) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.
(b) The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section apply except to the extent provided in this order and by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the date of this order.
Sec. 2. I hereby determine that the making of donations of the type of articles specified in section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to section 1 of this order would seriously impair my ability to deal with this national emergency, and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided by section 1 of this order.
Sec. 3. The prohibitions in section 1 of this order include but are not limited to:
(a) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; and
(b) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
Sec. 4. I hereby find that the unrestricted immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United States of aliens determined to meet one or more of the criteria in section 1(a) of this order would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and I hereby suspend entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of such persons. Such persons shall be treated as persons covered by section 1 of Proclamation 8693 of July 24, 2011 (Suspension of Entry of Aliens Subject to United Nations Security Council Travel Bans and International Emergency Economic Powers Act Sanctions).
Sec. 5. (a) Any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
Sec. 6. For the purposes of this order:
(a) the term "person" means an individual or entity;
(b) the term "entity" means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization; and
(c) the term "United States person" means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States.
Sec. 7. For those persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, I find that because of the ability to transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render those measures ineffectual. I therefore determine that for these measures to be effective in addressing this national emergency, there need be no prior notice of a listing or determination made pursuant to section 1 of this order.
Sec. 8. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any of these functions to other officers and agencies of the United States Government consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order.
Sec. 9. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to submit the recurring and final reports to the Congress on the national emergency declared in the order, consistent with section 401(c) of the NEA (50 U.S.C. 1641(c)) and section 204(c) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1703(c)).
Sec. 10. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
BARACK OBAMA
Press Release
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For Immediate Release
April 3, 2014
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Chairman Royce Applauds South Sudan Sanctions
Washington, D.C. – Today,
U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
issued the following statement in response to the Administration’sExecutive
Order, which grants the U.S. the ability to sanction individuals
in South Sudan who have threatened the peace and security in South Sudan, or
committed human rights abuses:
“Five months and counting and
South Sudan is no closer to finding a way forward.
“I welcome these sanctions. I
called for them in
the hearing we held in January. Imposing these sanctions when the
fighting was at its height could have been more impactful, but it’s better
late than never.
“We need to strongly
convey to both sides – the government and the opposition – that their actions
to undermine peace do have consequences. When deciding who to sanction, the
Administration should consider all actors, regardless of any past
relationships.”
Note: Earlier this
year, Chairman Royce held
a hearing to examine the turmoil in South Sudan. The hearing,
entitled “South
Sudan’s Broken Promise?,” followed a letter
sent from Chairman Royce and other
Congressional leaders to the South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit to
express their deep concern about the growing ethnic violence and
deteriorating security situation there.
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Monday, March 31, 2014
Jamaica needs waste-disposal policy - ODPEM
ARSCOTT
Jamaica needs waste-disposal policy - ODPEM
Petre Williams-Raynor, Contributing Editor THE OFFICE of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has pointed to the need for a comprehensive waste-disposal policy for the island, following the most recent fire at the problem-plagued Riverton City dump in the capital.
Acting Director General Richard Thompson said the policy would address the development of properly engineered landfills for the island's major towns as well as "recycling, garbage separation, management of the landfills and a public education campaign around waste management".
"Other aspects of waste management, including the extraction of methane that comes about from the natural breakdown of waste, especially your kitchen waste, would also be covered," he told The Gleaner.
Riverton fire
The most recent fire at Riverton has attracted the ire of environmental advocates who insist it is past time that a solution to Riverton - and Jamaica's solid waste disposal challenges generally - is found.
"The situation should not revert to business as usual once the fire is out. The three government ministries with oversight responsibility for solid waste management - health, local government and environment - must ensure that urgent steps are taken to bring the Riverton dump into compliance with our environmental laws and the recent permits issued by the National Environment and Planning Agency," the Jamaica Environment Trust said in a March 20 press release.
The most recent fire — which cost an estimated $30 million to douse — started on March 16 and affected five acres of land at the site.
It also prompted renewed concerns for the health of residents of the Kingston Metropolitan Area due to compromised air quality and Jamaica's decades-old struggle with waste management islandwide.
"In looking at the present situation [at Riverton], it is difficult to manage. You are talking about over 100 acres of land, it is unfenced so now you have a security concern and you get any and everyone coming on the disposal site," Thompson noted.
Access control
Immediate next steps, he suggested, ought to include ramping up controls at the site to ensure that only authorised individuals have access and prescribe what they have access to, even as the island moves toward the development of the policy.
Minister of Local Government and Community Development Noel Arscott, for his part, said a policy without regulations would be toothless.
"The draft regulations to deal with how we deal with garbage are with the Chief Parliamentary Counsel. I don't want to enunciate a policy that cannot be implemented because of a lack of regulation to enforce it," he told The Gleaner last week.
At the same time, Arscott suggested that current priorities rest with recycling and waste to energy.
"The general direction, having consulted numerous entities, is really to utilise the recycling," he said. "As our energy bill soars as a per cent of our economy ... we are aggressively pursuing waste-to-energy initiatives that will deal with the way we deal with garbage."
"We are in serious negotiations with a number of parties to do a waste-to-energy facility, both at Riverton and Retirement," the minister added.
The expectation, he said, is that an agreement will be reached by year end.
Meanwhile, concerning Riverton and other disposal sites, Arscott said: "We have in fact now, as we speak, a amount of initiatives of garbage separation which should reduce the amount of stuff going to the disposal sites."
pwr.gleaner@gmail.com
Acting Director General Richard Thompson said the policy would address the development of properly engineered landfills for the island's major towns as well as "recycling, garbage separation, management of the landfills and a public education campaign around waste management".
"Other aspects of waste management, including the extraction of methane that comes about from the natural breakdown of waste, especially your kitchen waste, would also be covered," he told The Gleaner.
Riverton fire
The most recent fire at Riverton has attracted the ire of environmental advocates who insist it is past time that a solution to Riverton - and Jamaica's solid waste disposal challenges generally - is found.
"The situation should not revert to business as usual once the fire is out. The three government ministries with oversight responsibility for solid waste management - health, local government and environment - must ensure that urgent steps are taken to bring the Riverton dump into compliance with our environmental laws and the recent permits issued by the National Environment and Planning Agency," the Jamaica Environment Trust said in a March 20 press release.
The most recent fire — which cost an estimated $30 million to douse — started on March 16 and affected five acres of land at the site.
It also prompted renewed concerns for the health of residents of the Kingston Metropolitan Area due to compromised air quality and Jamaica's decades-old struggle with waste management islandwide.
"In looking at the present situation [at Riverton], it is difficult to manage. You are talking about over 100 acres of land, it is unfenced so now you have a security concern and you get any and everyone coming on the disposal site," Thompson noted.
Access control
Immediate next steps, he suggested, ought to include ramping up controls at the site to ensure that only authorised individuals have access and prescribe what they have access to, even as the island moves toward the development of the policy.
Minister of Local Government and Community Development Noel Arscott, for his part, said a policy without regulations would be toothless.
"The draft regulations to deal with how we deal with garbage are with the Chief Parliamentary Counsel. I don't want to enunciate a policy that cannot be implemented because of a lack of regulation to enforce it," he told The Gleaner last week.
At the same time, Arscott suggested that current priorities rest with recycling and waste to energy.
"The general direction, having consulted numerous entities, is really to utilise the recycling," he said. "As our energy bill soars as a per cent of our economy ... we are aggressively pursuing waste-to-energy initiatives that will deal with the way we deal with garbage."
"We are in serious negotiations with a number of parties to do a waste-to-energy facility, both at Riverton and Retirement," the minister added.
The expectation, he said, is that an agreement will be reached by year end.
Meanwhile, concerning Riverton and other disposal sites, Arscott said: "We have in fact now, as we speak, a amount of initiatives of garbage separation which should reduce the amount of stuff going to the disposal sites."
pwr.gleaner@gmail.com
Sunday, March 30, 2014
$128 Million. HUD Disaster Recovery Funding For Chicago Area
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 14, 2014
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Friday, March 28, 2014
Rice Award. Deadline: March 31, 2014
The Andrew E. Rice Award for Leadership and Innovation by a Young Professional in International Development recognizes the achievements of an exceptional young professional working in the field of international development.
The recipient of this award will demonstrate leadership and
innovation, as well as tremendous promise for advancement in the field of
international development. The selected winner will also recognize the
importance of international development as a means of service to those who
are most in need and will work toward sustainable, people-centered
development.
The Rice Award will be presented to the awardee at the Society for International Development Washington, D.C., chapter’s annual conference on May 20, 2014, in Washington, D.C. The award consists of an inscribed plaque recognizing the awardee, a prize in the amount of $1,000, a one-year, honorary membership to SID-Washington and the opportunity to present their work at an upcoming SID-Washington event. Application and all supporting materials must be received by Monday, March 31. For more information on the application process, please click here. If you have further questions, please contact Elizabeth Healy at 202-331-1317 orriceaward@sidw.org. |
Situational Awareness: Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever in Guinea. March 2014
Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever in Guinea
(Situation as of 25 March 2014)
Thirteen of the cases have tested positive for Ebola virus by PCR (six at the Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI) in Lyon, France, and seven at the Institut Pasteur Dakar, Senegal), confirming the first Ebola haemorrhagic fever outbreak in Guinea. Results from sequencing done by CIRI Lyon showed strongest homology of 98% with Zaire Ebolavirus last reported in 2009 in Kasai-Occidental Province of DR Congo. This Ebolavirus species has been associated with high mortality rates during previous outbreaks.
The MOH together with WHO and other partners are implementing measures to control the outbreak and prevent further spread. The MoH has activated the national, provincial and district emergency management committees to coordinate response. The MoH has also advised the public to take measures to avert the spread of the disease and to report any suspected cases.
Multidisciplinary teams have been deployed to the field to strengthen surveillance, sensitize and educate the public, manage case and implement appropriate infection prevention and control measures in health facilities and communities affected. The MOH and MSF have established isolation facilities in Guéckédou district, and plans are underway to establish an additional isolation ward in Macenta district.
The Emerging and Dangerous Pathogens Laboratory Network (EDPLN) is working with the Guinean VHF Laboratory in Donka, the Institut Pasteur in Lyon, the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, and the Kenema Lassa fever laboratory in Sierra Leone to make available appropriate Filovirus diagnostic capacity in Guinea and Sierra Leone. Additional laboratory capacity is being established with the deployment of mobile laboratories supported by international partners.
WHO and other partners are deploying additional experts to provide support to the Ministry. The necessary supplies and logistics required for supportive management of patients and all aspects of outbreak control are also being mobilized. The MOH is also preparing a request to the African Public Health Emergency Fund (APHEF) as well as to other potential donors to support outbreak response. APHEF supports timely deployment of rapid response teams during outbreaks and emergencies, and procurement and prepositioning of epidemic and emergency response supplies.
WHO does not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied to Guinea in respect to this event.
Dashboard: Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever in Guinea ( Situation as of 25 March 2014) (546.67 kB)
Free...2014 NIMHD Translational Health Disparities Course. August 11-22, 2014. NIH, Bethesda, MD.
2014 NIMHD Translational
Health Disparities Course
· Relevant professional experience (250 word limit);
· Educational history including honors and awards (250 word limit);
· Essay describing interest in the course and how it will contribute to work/future career goals in the area of health disparities (350 word limit); and
· Letter of recommendation addressing in concrete and specific terms strengths, personal qualities, and relevance of course for career trajectory (350 word limit).
**Once the applicant submits the application, it will generate an automatic e-mail to the applicant’s reference, requesting a recommendation. An application is not complete until the reference submits the letter of recommendation.
Integrating
Principles of Science, Practice and Policy in Health Disparities Research
The
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) will again
host a course on the science of health disparities this summer. The course will
take place on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda,
Maryland, from August 11, 2014 to August 22, 2014.
This
two-week intensive course will provide specialized instruction on the concepts,
principles, methods, and applications of health disparities science, practice,
and policy. It will also integrate principles and practice of community
engagement. Nationally and internationally recognized experts in health
disparities science will lead individual sessions.
Cost:
The
course is free, but admission is competitive and daily attendance is mandatory.
Participants are responsible for transportation, room and board.
How
to Apply:
Submit an application via the NIMHD website at www.nimhd.nih.gov from April 14, 2014
to May 22, 2014. Applications will only be accepted online.
All
application materials, including recommendation letters, must be submitted
electronically by 11:59 p.m. EST on May 22, 2014 for consideration.
Application
Information: The
following comprises the application packet:
Completed
online application must include:
· Relevant professional experience (250 word limit);
· Educational history including honors and awards (250 word limit);
· Essay describing interest in the course and how it will contribute to work/future career goals in the area of health disparities (350 word limit); and
· Letter of recommendation addressing in concrete and specific terms strengths, personal qualities, and relevance of course for career trajectory (350 word limit).
**Once the applicant submits the application, it will generate an automatic e-mail to the applicant’s reference, requesting a recommendation. An application is not complete until the reference submits the letter of recommendation.
Course
Information
•
Applicants will be notified if they have been accepted, waitlisted, or rejected
by June 25, 2014.
•
The course overview and syllabus will be on the NIMHD website by mid-April.
Course
Contact
• For additional information, contact the course
planning committee at NIMHDHealthDC@mail.nih.govThursday, March 27, 2014
$10,000.00. BMe begins accepting nominations for its 2014 "BMe Leadership Awards"
Wanted:
10 Black Men in
Detroit, 10 in Baltimore and 10 in Philadelphia to Earn $10,000 Each for
Doing What Good Black Men Do
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BMe COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MEN IN
DETROIT, BALTIMORE AND PHILADELPHIA
March, 20, 2014
Today BMe begins accepting nominations for its 2014
"BMe Leadership Awards" which are presented to inspired black
men in Philadelphia, Detroit and Baltimore who are committed to helping
others and improving their community.
The BMe Leadership Award was created to recognize the many ways
that black men are assets to communities. It rewards and celebrates everyday
black men whose meaningful contributions are often overlooked.
In each city, 10 BMe Leadership Award earners, called 'BMe
Leaders' will receive public recognition, a $10,000 grant to apply toward
their community work and the opportunity to be networked with other black men
like them. BMe promotes BMe Leaders as examples of inspired black
men locally and nationally.
"We all personally know men like these - our fathers,
co-workers, mentors and friends," says Trabian Shorters, BMe's founding
CEO. "Here's a chance to honor them because their contributions are so
often overlooked. Everyone nominated will have a chance to be
recognized."
Nominees, as well as their nominators of any race or sex,
benefit from gaining access to the BMe Community, its news, web tools and
local community-building events.
Nominees must be at least 18 years old and their contributions
to the community must benefit those in their respective cities of Detroit,
Baltimore or Philadelphia. Since 2012, BMe has presented 70
Leadership Awards to black men who continue to make a significant and lasting
impact on their neighbors and city.
On April 7th nominees will be asked to submit a short
application detailing what they would do with the $10,000 grant if selected.
|
1231
Good Hope Road S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20020
Office: 202-618-9097
bEMA
Leaders don’t create followers, they create
more leaders. Tom Peters
…….The search is on.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Free Training. Get up to speed! Fundamentals of Climate Change
"Take online courses as a group to discuss the issues". Tests are completed alone, but discussions can be in groups. Something for our senior 'wiser' citizens to do together.
http://einstitute.worldbank.org/ei/course/fundamentals-climate-change
Fundamentals of Climate Change
http://einstitute.worldbank.org/ei/course/fundamentals-climate-change
Fundamentals of Climate Change
Free Course
Through its five modules, the e-course Fundamentals of Climate Change covers the scientific basis of climate change, the observed and projected changes and impacts, together with, the approaches and responses development professionals and practitioners may use to address climate change within their work.
Module 1: Introduction
Module 2: Observed changes and impacts.
This set of topics cover the major observed changes in the climate system over the last 150 years and how human activities have contributed to these changes.
Module 3: Projected changes and impacts.
The three topics covered in this module provide an overview of the changes projected by the end of 2100 in the climate system.
Module 4: Responses to Climate Change.
This set of topics look at what is happening in the international negotiations under the main convention dealing with climate change, what are the ways to adapt to the changes that have occurred and likely to occur, what are some options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, what are some of the resources (such as finance, approaches, methods and tools) that are available.
Module 5: Conclusions
Learning objectives This course addresses the basic of climate change, including:
Note, this e-course was produced in 2009 by the Sustainable Development Department of the World Bank as a course targeting World Bank staff hence the language in the course was targeted to development practitioners, but since the climate change scientific information, with adaptation and mitigation approaches, are of relevance to a broader community, this course is being made available via the WBI e-Institute also to an external audience. Updates to this course are currently not being planned.
Target Audience:
Policymakers, government representatives, project developers, private sector, academia, civil society
Module 1: Introduction
Module 2: Observed changes and impacts.
This set of topics cover the major observed changes in the climate system over the last 150 years and how human activities have contributed to these changes.
Module 3: Projected changes and impacts.
The three topics covered in this module provide an overview of the changes projected by the end of 2100 in the climate system.
Module 4: Responses to Climate Change.
This set of topics look at what is happening in the international negotiations under the main convention dealing with climate change, what are the ways to adapt to the changes that have occurred and likely to occur, what are some options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, what are some of the resources (such as finance, approaches, methods and tools) that are available.
Module 5: Conclusions
Learning objectives This course addresses the basic of climate change, including:
- The greenhouse effect, and how it impacts the earth's climate
- Current and projected impacts of client change on ecological, biological and socioeconomic systems
- International negotiations and agreements addressing the climate change problem
- Mitigation and adaptation approaches
- Financing climate change related development actions
- Tools and resources
Note, this e-course was produced in 2009 by the Sustainable Development Department of the World Bank as a course targeting World Bank staff hence the language in the course was targeted to development practitioners, but since the climate change scientific information, with adaptation and mitigation approaches, are of relevance to a broader community, this course is being made available via the WBI e-Institute also to an external audience. Updates to this course are currently not being planned.
Policymakers, government representatives, project developers, private sector, academia, civil society
New User? Register!
- Click here to register on Moodle.
- Check your e-mail for the confirmation.
- Click on the confirmation link in the e-mail.
Course Theme: | Climate Change |
Sub-Theme: | Essentials of Climate Change |
Course Format: | Self-paced |
Language: | English |
Contact Name: | Peter Schierl |
Contact Us |