tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606024319838665082024-02-07T04:07:23.135-05:00AnibalShow.comMarketing-Multimedia-Interpreting Services Provider {} Servicios de Publicidad y Mercadeo-Plataformas Múltiples-Traducciones. Augusta, Georgia.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.comBlogger1134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-50085407703809806452016-02-18T13:01:00.001-05:002016-02-21T22:59:02.228-05:00Pastor Protection Bill Advances in Georgia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">ATLANTA, GA (PR) </b><b>- </b>We got back to work for the fifth week of session on Monday, February 8, and by Thursday, February 11, we reached the half-way mark of the 2016 legislative session, legislative day 20. With only 20 working days to complete our business, and “cross-over day,” legislative day 30, looming, we quickly got to work. Committees were in full-swing, and many pieces of legislation started making their way over from the Senate to be heard in House committees. This week the House saw bipartisan support and passage of several important bills that will affect all Georgians.</div>
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One such measure that received unanimous support was House Bill 767, a bill to ensure the safety of our state’s utility service workers. This bipartisan legislation adds utility service vehicles and workers in the fields of electric, natural gas, water, waste-water, cable, telephone, or telecommunication services to the list of those covered under Georgia’s “Spencer Pass Law.” The law requires drivers to make a lane change, if possible, when approaching any stationary towing, recovery or highway maintenance vehicle parked on the shoulder of the highway. If changing lanes is impossible, or unsafe, the driver must slow to a speed less than the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop, and violators would now be subject to a fine of up to $250. </div>
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The Spencer Pass Law, also known as Georgia’s Move Over Law, was originally passed in 2003 as a way to reduce risks for public safety and emergency personnel as they preform necessary job duties on the roadside. The law was officially renamed in 2011 after the death of Spencer Pass, a Georgia Department of Transportation Highway Emergency Response Operator (HERO) who was killed while assisting a motorist on the shoulder of the highway. By incorporating utility workers into the Spencer Pass Law, we will make working environments safer for these workers, encourage safety on our roadways, and ultimately save lives, and I am always proud to support legislation that will save lives.</div>
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As I have discussed in previous weeks, the General Assembly is always making strides to improve our state’s education system, and this week, we continued that effort with the passage of House Bill 739. HB 739 would give the State Board of Education the option to establish a committee to study and recommend instructional materials and content. </div>
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This bill would also allow for local boards of education to have a review process for any locally approved instructional material. As a part of this process, for both state and locally approved instructional material, either the local or State Board of Education would post a list of all proposed instructional material and content on their website for public viewing in addition to making all proposed instructional material and content available for individual review upon request. The process that is outlined in this legislation serves as a way to increase transparency, provide greater access to proposed classroom material, allow for more local control of our education system, and increase parental involvement. This bill gives parents the opportunity to be more involved in their child’s education by providing input on the materials that are being taught in the classroom, and I think more parental involvement will ultimately result in better student performance.</div>
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Continuing in our efforts to increase transparency in Georgia’s school systems, the House also unanimously passed HB 659 this week. HB 659 would require each local board of education and state charter school in Georgia to make financial information available for public access as a way to provide transparency within our public schools. As such, local boards and state charter schools would be required to publicly post this information to their website, if they have one, for each individual school in their district. </div>
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Furthermore, each school and district would send budget information to the Department of Education, where the information would then be compiled by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement and published on its website as well. This legislation would require the posting of the costs of all materials and equipment, staff salaries and benefit expenditures, professional development including annual training and tuition, facility maintenance and small capital projects, and new construction or major renovation on a cost-per-square-foot basis for each individual school. </div>
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Similarly, the local school board would be required to publicly post their annual budget, along with audits, ratio of expenditures to revenues, total dollar amount of local property tax revenue the school system is authorized to collect in addition to the total program mill levy, and the total dollar amount of all other tax revenue collected to their website as well. Education funding accounts for more than half of our state budget each year and transparency of those funds is essential to establishing an open dialogue about the needs of our local school systems. As your representative, I believe you have a right to know how your tax dollars are being spent in your local schools, but more importantly, by passing this legislation, we can continue to serve the best interests of our students and teachers at a state and local level. </div>
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Another bill that passed out of our chamber this week by a unanimous vote was House Bill 757, also known as the Pastor Protection Act. The Pastor Protection Act, modeled after similar legislation in place in several states, reaffirms the separation of church and state in Georgia. HB 757 assures members of the clergy that they will not be required to perform any marriage which violates their faith. The bill further protects churches, synagogues and other places of worship as well as religious organizations from being required by state or local government to host an event which violates their religious doctrine. The Pastor Protection Act also protects businesses from any ordinance which might require them to be open on a day of rest (Saturday or Sunday).<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">In this video archive last year Earnest Smith is acknowledged at an event by the LGTBI in Augusta.</span></b><br />
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We saw members from both sides of the aisle take to the well to speak in favor and express their support for this legislation this week. Too often, our differences become the focus in our chamber, but it was truly comforting to see our body come together on this issue to protect the rights of our citizens. We are blessed by the freedom of religion in our great nation, and I was proud to stand with a united House to support the rights of all Georgians to uphold your religious values. </div>
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Bipartisanship was a common and welcomed theme this week in the House, and I was proud to report another unanimous passage: that of House Bill 821, supporting Georgia’s military spouses and veteran population. HB 821 would require all state licensure boards to streamline the licensing process, specifically for military spouses and transitioning service members who move to Georgia from another state. The bill would allow eligible service members and spouses to qualify for temporary occupational licenses, licenses by endorsement, or expedited licenses to better facilitate their entry into Georgia’s workforce. Military spouses and transitional veterans are eligible if they hold a license from another state where the training, experience, or testing meets or exceeds that of the Georgia license requirement they are seeking. </div>
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Transitioning veterans are also eligible if they are currently on active duty status or are within 24 months of their retirement and have received a specialty, certification, training, or experience in the military while a service member that meets or exceeds that of the Georgia license requirement they are seeking. We have 12 military bases throughout this state and have the fifth largest military population in the nation, and this bill addresses a real concern thousands of military families have faced. Streamlining the licensure process for qualified military spouses and transitioning veterans will give these individuals who want to enter our workforce and provide for their families the chance to do so in a more efficient and simple manner. I was honored to join my colleagues in an act of solidarity to give back to those veterans and their families who have given so much for this state and our nation.</div>
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Now that we are officially halfway through the 2016 legislative session, we will begin voting on more bills and resolutions every day. I encourage you to contact me at my capitol office with your thoughts and opinions, as I am always happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding legislation. </div>
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- <b>State Representative Earnest Smith (D-Augusta) </b></div>
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Capitol office phone number is 404-656-6372, and email address is ma1027@aol.com. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0Atlanta, GA, USA33.7489954 -84.387982433.3266004 -85.0334294 34.1713904 -83.7425354tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-40240499518740087702015-11-25T10:26:00.000-05:002015-11-25T10:26:59.548-05:00Mayor Davis Strategic Investments <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Augustans want their Mayor to have an ambitious agenda to do the hard work and make an impact on Augusta that is lasting and transformative. <b><i>They aren’t expecting it to happen overnight, but they are expecting me to make decisions to invest in Augusta’s future, in their future, in their children’s future</i></b>. </div>
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<span class="s1">I’ve used this first year to make some strategic investments, to help me carry out the vision of <b>OneAugusta</b> that our residents charged me to fulfill at the start of this administration. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I often encourage young people to begin with the end in mind, and as such it was important to assemble a team equipped to continue the most basic functions of the Mayor’s office, and to expand the capacity and our ability to reach the end.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Talent acquisition and management is part of our vision for OneAugusta and to attract the best we have to be willing to make the investment in Augusta and in them. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">In that vein, I recruited the best and brightest public servant in our city, <b>Lynthia Owens</b>, to lead the Mayor’s Office. She is quite capable and is known throughout this state and in our nation’s capital for being a leader in constituent services and public service. Lynthia was most recently recognized as one of <b>Georgia’s Top 40 Under 40</b> Professionals statewide.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I also recruited <b>Tonia Gibbons</b>, who served in Sheriff Strength’s Administration prior to leaving the City to begin a career in manufacturing. She had a successful 10 year career in that industry and progressed quickly into leadership roles. Tonia was instrumental in facilitating community outreach, community service and community investments for one of Augusta’s leading manufacturers, Procter and Gamble, and I knew she was the right person to serve as Director of Community Outreach in the Mayor’s Office.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I have also utilized the services of a temporary staffer, external relationships and federal programs to have an executive assistant and a program manager.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The Mayor’s Office is different. Augusta will be different.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I requested funding last year for additional staff – a Communications Director, a Policy/ Grants Manager and an Executive Assistant as well as funding for other operational expenditures to have an honest conversation about the Mayor’s Office budget. After the request was denied, I proceeded with what we were given knowing that in the days ahead we’d have this conversation. It would not be about a request for an additional $200,000 – $300,000, <b><i>instead a story about how we’ve been successful and accomplished much with less- like many Augustans do every day</i></b>. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Instead of $200,000 the Mayor’s office will need $27,000 to balance the budget for this fiscal year.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The decision to pay people a reasonable salary for the work they are doing is not a decision that I take lightly, but that is not the reason we are having this conversation today. <b>This is a conversation about the future of Augusta</b>. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I made the decision to join the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) and the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) because it is important for the betterment of Augusta that our leaders are exposed to what other communities are doing – <b>to learn what works</b> -and what can be adapted and contribute to the success of our residents and businesses. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>The benefits of membership in these organizations are great</b>, we will know when funding opportunities exist that can help us better leverage taxpayer resources, we have access to research and technical assistance to help us expand services and reduce the cost of government. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>These memberships provide value to all of us by raising the profile of our city and reinforcing to others that Augusta is strong and that Augusta is serious about economic growth and complete quality of life for all of our residents</b>. Prior administrations have made that decision and leveraged it fully to benefit the city. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Education and training is an investment in continuous improvement</b>. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">My staff and I have travelled to conferences this year and have implemented several programs that we’ve been proud to bring back to Augusta to benefit our residents. The Mayor’s <b>Summer Learning and Earning Experience</b> and the <b>My Brother’s Keeper Initiative</b> are examples of some of the things we’ve done. Next year we’re planning to launch a BOOST Program for Augusta’s Small Businesses and have been working with a local bank to bring that to fruition. BOOST is another idea that came from attending a conference. Look for those details soon.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">We also committed to the parents that we’d be partners with the school board and through our MBK Project Manager, an AmeriCorps Vista funded position, we’ve been successful with partnering with business and community to launch <b><i>the Power Lunch Program where 90 volunteer reading mentors are consistently going into two schools</i></b>. These volunteers read with the same student each week. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><i>The principals and teachers in those schools tell me that their schools have improved, they have fewer behavior problems, increased interest in reading and increased self-confidence because there’s someone taking an interest in their students’ success</i></b>.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Our first year has been a learning experience and that’s what happens in times of transitions. The <b>REAL news</b>, the good news, <b>the truth is that the Mayor’s Office is working to make Augusta better for our residents today and in the future of our city</b>.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">We’ve been working hard for you and will continue to work and serve you. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">This year we’ve:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.anibalshow.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pOG530VokfM/VlXSnUSrgiI/AAAAAAAAobg/8Ch_3U8ihXs/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="240" /></a><span class="s1">· <b>Accepted My Brother’s Keeper Challenge</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· Hosted a Small Business Roundtable with SBA leaders</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· Hosted Downtown Business Meeting</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· Launched a new Mayor’s Office Hours in the District Program and will be done with all districts by mid December</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· Hosted a Telephone Town Hall Meeting</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">On Cyber Monday, I’m hoping many of our residents will join me in a #HeyHardie Twitter Town Hall.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">We held the:</span></div>
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<span class="s1">· <b>First Annual Easter Egg Drop at the Augusta Commons</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· First Annual Mayor’s Christmas Card Contest</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· First Lady’s Fitness Challenge</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">· <b>Power Lunch – an MBK Initiative – Book Drive and Reading Mentoring Program</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· Summer Learning and Earning Experience – also an MBK Initiative where we put about 80 young people to work during the summer and got them valuable work experience and exposure to a variety of careers…AND they made $10 an hour for their work.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">· <b>Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day at the Augusta Municipal Building</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· Brought Back the Mayor’s Masters Reception</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· Partnered in a School Supply Drive</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">We’ve also:</span></div>
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<span class="s1">· <b>Accepted invitation to participate in the Mayor’s Institute for City Design</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· Accepted the invitation to participate in CityLab 2015</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· Accepted invitation to participate in the DOT Summit in Birmingham with Commissioner Lockett</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· Joined 4 leading Mayors from Georgia cities in the Inaugural Statewide Civic Conversations Series at Atlanta Press Club</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· Served as a Panelist for the National Urban League Education Conference</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Presently I’m representing our city as:</span></div>
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<span class="s1">· <b>Co-Chair: Vacant and Abandoned Properties Task Force U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM)</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· An appointee to Local Government Advisory Council (LGAC) for U.S. EPA (representing the State of Georgia)</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· Board of Trustees for AAMA</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>· At Large Board Member and Legislative Policy Council for Georgia Municipal Association (GMA)</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">It’s been almost twelve months that we’ve been on the job. <b>This is just the beginning.</b> I know we can do even more to reach OneAugusta, and I also know that we must continue to<b>work together to get there</b>. And we will, every day <b>with your support</b> and with your <b>help to transform our community</b> with our singular focus on <b>OneAugusta</b>.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>—> Hardie Davis, Jr. serves as the 84th Mayor of the consolidated governemnt for Augusta-Richmond County. He may be reached by phone at </i></span><span class="s2"><i>706.821.1831</i></span><span class="s1"><i> or email at </i><a href="mailto:mayordavis@augustaga.gov" target="_blank"><span class="s2"><b>mayordavis@augustaga.gov</b></span></a><i>.</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0Augusta, GA, USA33.4734978 -82.0105148000000133.0492308 -82.655961800000014 33.8977648 -81.3650678tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-25822742246233742732015-11-12T18:37:00.001-05:002015-11-12T18:37:29.099-05:00Conjoined Twins Born in Augusta Died<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The boys’ mother Brittany Crafton is in good condition and the family has requested the media and public to respect their privacy during this time of bereavement.</div>
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AUGUSTA, GA (11/11) — The grandmother of conjoined twins born Monday, Nov. 9, at Georgia Regents Medical Center shared brief thoughts about the boys.</div>
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“We just thank God for all of this, because it is His purpose and His will,” Bernice Crafton said of grandsons Chance and Chandler who share a heart and liver.</div>
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The boys – delivered by C-section – remain in critical condition in the neonatal intensive care unit at Children’s Hospital of Georgia, while their mother Brittany, who is in good condition, recovers at the adjoining medical center.</div>
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Bernice Crafton said that Brittany is in good spirits.</div>
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“She’s spending a lot of time with the babies and enjoying that process of motherhood. She has been amazing.”</div>
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Conjoined twins occur only about once in every 60,000 births. This is the first set delivered at the academic health center in Augusta.</div>
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The level 4 NICU at CHOG provides the highest level of critical care for babies.</div>
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<b>Mom gives birth to conjoined twins in Augusta</b></div>
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AUGUSTA, GA (11/9) – Conjoined twins sharing a heart and liver were born today at Georgia Regents Medical Center by C-section. The boys were taken to the neonatal intensive care unit at the adjoining Children’s Hospital of Georgia where they are listed in critical condition.</div>
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The boys’ mother Brittany Crafton is in good condition and is recovering at the medical center.</div>
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This is the first set of conjoined twins delivered at the academic health center in Augusta. Conjoined twins occur only about one time in every 60,000 births.</div>
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The 154-bed Children’s Hospital of Georgia is the second-largest children’s hospital in the state and was recently ranked number one in the nation for quality and safety by the UHC. The level 4 NICU at CHOG provides the highest level of neonatal critical care as defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics.</div>
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AUGUSTA, GA (11/2) - Brittany Crafton was excited the moment her doctor told her she was pregnant. However, a sonogram during her second checkup revealed both good and not-so-good news – she was expecting twins, but they were joined at the chest.</div>
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“I knew something had to be different when the ultrasound took longer than expected. The news of them being conjoined was truly surreal,” said Crafton, 26, of Augusta.</div>
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Crafton is scheduled to deliver twin boys by C-section on Nov. 9 at Georgia Regents Medical Center. Dr. Paul Browne, section chief of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Georgia Regents University and Health System, says the boys, whom Crafton has already named Chandler and Chance, share a heart and liver, but their prognosis for survival is good.</div>
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“We have tools that help us predict children’s chances of survival, but most of that depends upon the heart,” Browne said. “What makes this case special, is that the heart the twins share is quite normal and has been functioning very well for them. So, we believe it will continue to function well after the delivery.”</div>
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As of now, the babies only suffer from birth defects common to conjoined twins, including clubfoot, and one of the twins has a dislocated hip. However, the boys will still undergo a battery of tests immediately following the delivery to check for other medical conditions.</div>
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Conjoined twins are rare, occurring only about one time in every 60,000 births, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. This is the first set of conjoined twins delivered at GRHealth.</div>
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Although Crafton has not experienced any medical complications during her pregnancy, she says this experience has been a life class and that her faith in God has sustained her through it all.</div>
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“I know God’s got me, and He’ll continue to be with me even after the twins are born,” Crafton said. “This experience has helped me to look at ‘different’ people differently, and I have gained a real compassion for what they go through.”</div>
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Crafton, a hairstylist, has not decided if or when to separate the twins. For now, she and her family are trying to figure out how they will finance the expensive post-delivery care the twins will require, including medical and rehabilitation costs, as well as the purchase of specialized cribs, car seats and clothing.</div>
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To that end, a GoFundMe site has been established to assist Crafton and her sons. To learn more or contribute, visit <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/2smiles1heart" target="_blank">https://www.gofundme.com/2smiles1heart</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-31091856438317774262015-10-09T12:52:00.001-04:002015-10-09T12:53:39.703-04:00Referendum on SPLOST 7<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="text-align: justify;">AUGUSTA, GA (PR)</b><span style="text-align: justify;"> - Information about the referendum vote (Yes - No) on November 3 to extend local sales tax in Richmond County will be provided October 24, from 1 to 3 PM at the Richmond County Library, 823 Telfair St. 30901. The forum is organized by the League of Women Voters local chapter.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-76397897673168638522015-10-08T20:20:00.000-04:002015-10-08T20:20:05.579-04:00 Georgia Latino Film Festival Announces 2014 Award Winners<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">ATLANTA, GA (PR)</b><b> - </b>The Georgia Latino Film Festival announced today 2014’s awardees of the film, fiction, documentaries and shorts categories. The Award for Best Feature Film, Best Director and Best Script honors goes to Argentina's submission "GATO NEGRO".</div>
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“Our mission which includes the development of the next generation of filmmakers and connecting them with the industry leaders, it is imperative that the Latino Community of Georgia get more involved in the film industry. We are also grateful to our judges for volunteering their time and knowledge,” said festival director Yvette Moise.</div>
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Here are the Georgia Latino Film Festival 2014 Awardees.</div>
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The Award for Best Feature Film, Best Director and Best Script honors goes to Argentina's submission "GATO NEGRO", written and directed by Gaston Gallo. Best Actor Award was given to Columbia's Marlon Moreno "CAZANDO LUCIÉRNAGAS". Best Dramatic Actress prize will be awarded to “Eterna Venganza ” star Anna Ochoa which made their North American debuts at the Georgia Latino Film Festival, most awardees will attend 2015 award ceremony which opens on Friday, October 23, 2015 with The Georgia Latino Film Festival VIP Screening and awards ceremony at the Center of Civil and Human Rights.</div>
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Other winning submissions were "Bloody Knuckles" best Student Film directed by Omar Torres. The Best Short Film Award went to Valerio Mendoza Guillen for "Bolero para Surfear en Moravia". The Award for Best Documentary Feature Film went to "Buscando A Gaston", directed by Patricia Perez. Honorable mention "After School" Carlos Mendoza and Mauricio Mendoza.</div>
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"It was difficult choosing the winners, as they all were winners in my book," said Jose Marquez, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Geoorgia Latino Film Festival. "These new filmmakers are the future of Latino Films and we are excited to have been able to showcase them at the Festival in 2014, they are the best of the best". </div>
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"Our Festival is a place where producer and director's can come and meet the power players in the film industry in Georgia, our goal is simple to continue to develop the next generation of storytellers so Georgia has a great talent pool to choose from," says Lance Robertson, Co-Founder, Georgia Latino Film Festival.</div>
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<b>About the Georgia Latino Film Festival</b></div>
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Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association, Jose Marquez and the Black Latino Council Lance Robertson in honor of Hispanic Heritage month formed an alliance in order to make sure that Latino stories are being told in the Hollywood of the South, Georgia. </div>
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The Georgia Latino Film Festival is a place where Latino film executives, producer and artists at the forefront of the Latino Film industry can come together, to discuss the future of Latino Film Makers, Writers, and Directors and create what will be known as one of the “largest film festivals in the country</div>
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Each year during Hispanic Heritage Month the Georgia Latino Film Festival will bring together 3 inspiring days filled with premieres, workshops, panels, exclusive parties, and awards showcasing the top storytellers and film makers.</div>
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<b>2015 Georgia Latino Film Festival Agenda</b></div>
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October 23 2015 9am -1pm - </div>
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Meadow Creek High School. Student Workshops in Acting, Production and On Camera Combatives.</div>
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October 23, 2015 6:00pm -10:00pm - </div>
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Center for Civil and Human Rights. Vip Reception Panel Discussion and Red Carpet Screening " Maria and the Loards</div>
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October 24 2015 11:00am -7:00pm - </div>
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Georgia Public Broadcasting Main Stage</div>
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October 24 2015 8:00pm - 1:00pm - </div>
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Georgia Latino Film Fiesta at Studio 7 Lounge Featuring Magic Juan</div>
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October 25 2015 11:00am - 4:00pm - </div>
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Cine en la Plaza- Plaza Santa Fe. </div>
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The Georgia Latino Film Festival is produced by JAMIII Productions.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-764067613678004682015-10-07T12:28:00.005-04:002015-10-07T12:28:59.023-04:00Movers and Shakers at Presente<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It is with tremendous excitement that we announce new leadership at Presente.org. Oscar Chacon and Favianna Rodriguez will be taking over Presente.org as interim co-directors, and they will be working closely with Matt Nelson, Presente.org's new Managing Director. This powerful team of groundbreaking leaders for Latin@ equality bring several decades of combined experience working to advance the rights of Latin@s. </div>
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Our outgoing executive director, Arturo Carmona, has been tapped to join Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Presidential campaign in a senior role.</div>
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Six years ago, Presente.org was formed to advance Latin@ power and create winning campaigns that amplify our voices. At that time, an end to deportations and stopping inhumane immigrant detention seemed almost unattainable. But today, because of the work of our hundreds of thousands of members, partner organizations, and Latin@ communities nationwide who have refused to give up the fight for equality, our movement has grown. We find ourself now in a much better position to fundamentally change our political and day-to-day reality.</div>
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There is so much that needs our urgent attention — from pushing back on a culture of hate, to addressing continued mass incarceration and immigrant detention of our people, to ending the use of toxic fossil fuels and addressing climate change. We have a lot of work to do.</div>
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In just the last two years, we’ve successfully helped push President Obama to stop deportations of millions of young immigrants and their parents. We played a central role in the media justice space, holding major corporations like Comcast and other telecoms accountable to the interest of Latino families. And we’ve effectively given voice to Latinos on issues of criminal justice, who are disproportionately victimized by law enforcement around the nation.</div>
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Our communities are facing tremendous violence and hateful discrimination, despite these victories. We are arrested at higher rates for crimes we commit at far lower rates. Latinos are the fastest growing incarcerated population as a result of the highly punitive immigration law now in effect and the Obama Administration's’ brutal enforcement practices. </div>
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Latinas make only 55% of what white men make for the same hour of work. Racial inequality is rampant. Latinos are disproportionately affected by climate change. We face sky-high cancer and asthma rates from toxic fossil fuel facilities in our communities, along with extreme flooding and droughts caused by the same fossil fuel corporations, and climate change.</div>
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We have the numbers and the power to win. With our new leadership, Presente.org will continue to fight for Latin@ equality. We will hold Democrats and Republicans accountable. We will continue to dismantle our nation’s vast and discriminatory mass incarceration system. We will push to end the use of toxic fossil fuels while addressing climate change.</div>
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We invite you to join us moving forward.</div>
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Thanks and ¡adelante!</div>
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— Favianna, Oscar, Matt, Erick, and the rest of the Presente.org Team</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-28719205470552431192015-10-05T20:16:00.000-04:002015-10-05T20:16:00.664-04:00Immigration Agents in Fulton County Jails<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>ATLANTA, GA (PR)</b> – The Georgia Not1More Deportation Coalition, a statewide coalition of immigrant rights advocates and organizers, today released the details of a proposed agreement between Fulton County and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to place immigration agents in Fulton County jails. The proposal is an expansion of ICE’s “Priority Enforcement Program,” also known as PEP.</div>
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The details of the proposed agreement, discovered as a result of an Open Records Act request filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), reveals plans to provide ICE agents with virtually unlimited access to Fulton County’s jails. Fulton County officials have yet to decide to enter into the agreement.</div>
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The proposal is an expansion of ICE’s “Priority Enforcement Program,” also known as PEP. The plan would allow ICE agents to join the staff of Fulton County jail, investigate and track all foreign nationals arrested for any offense, and interview all foreign-born inmates identified by ICE as a priority. Immigration advocates, however, criticized the terms of the proposed agreement.</div>
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“Allowing federal immigration agents to track virtually anyone arrested by Fulton County police goes far beyond the federal government’s own stated limitations for immigration enforcement,” said Eunice Cho, staff attorney with the SPLC’s Immigrant Justice Project. “This agreement would undermine trust in local law enforcement by entangling local police with immigration enforcement.”</div>
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The proposal also raises serious concerns of racial profiling.</div>
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“Allowing ICE agents into Fulton County jails will increase racial profiling, have a discriminatory impact on Latino communities, and lead to further separation of children from their parents by deportation,” said Adelina Nicholls, executive director of the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights. “We urge Fulton County to reject this proposed agreement, and renew its commitment to all members of its communities.”</div>
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Overall, advocates described the proposal as a significant step back for Fulton County.</div>
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“Last year, our Fulton County Board of Commissioners passed a proactive resolution against ICE detainer requests, citing the need for increased trust between local law enforcement and immigrant community members. This proposed agreement will undermine the intent of our local governance to build an inclusive city, completely erode trust, and simply lead to more fear of local law enforcement in our immigrant communities,” said Paulina Helm-Hernandez, co-executive director of Southerners on New Ground (SONG).</div>
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"This is a cynical attempt by ICE to fulfill the immigration detention quota of 34,000 beds by ripping apart immigrants from their families and communities," said Azadeh N. Shahshahani, President of the National Lawyers Guild. "Fulton County should not go along with it."</div>
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Members of the Georgia Not1More Coalition will voice their opposition to the proposed agreement at the Fulton County Commissioner’s Meeting on October 7, 2015 at 10:00 AM located at the Fulton County Government Center Assembly Hall, 141 Pryor St. SW, Atlanta, GA, and at a press conference immediately beforehand at 9:30am.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-61833889794170808182015-10-01T10:08:00.003-04:002015-10-01T10:08:45.644-04:00Saturday Mammograms<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>AUGUSTA, GA (PR) </b>- Finding the time for a mammogram can be challenging for busy women. However, a weekend mammogram might be your answer. October is national Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Breast Health Center at Georgia Regents Medical Center is offering patients a chance to schedule a mammogram for any Saturday in October between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. by calling 706-721-9729 (XRAY).</div>
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The Breast Health Center at Georgia Regents (Augusta University now) is an American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Center of Excellence and the only center in the area using 3-D mammography, also known as tomosynthesis, which has been shown to improve cancer detection and reduce false-positive results. In addition, the Center, which performs more than 6,000 mammograms each year, was recognized by Health Imaging magazine in 2013 with a Patient-centric Imaging Award.</div>
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Recently, the American College of Surgeons also granted a three-year full accreditation to the Breast Health Center through its National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers for quality care. To earn NAPBC accreditation, a center must demonstrate proficiency in leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement. In essence, this represents a firm commitment to offer patients every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease.</div>
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Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among women, exceeded only by lung cancer. Statistics show that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in her lifetime. If detected early, the five-year survival rate is 97 percent. The American Cancer Society recommends an annual mammogram paired with a clinical breast exam for women 40 and older.</div>
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Breast Health Center is located on the first floor of the Medical Center at 1120 15th St. To schedule an appointment, call 706-721-9729 or visit visit www.grhealth.org/breasthealth.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0Augusta, GA, USA33.4734978 -82.0105148000000133.0492308 -82.655961800000014 33.8977648 -81.3650678tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-21617013385428454152015-10-01T10:05:00.005-04:002015-10-01T10:05:42.525-04:00Modern Pirates Attack Puerto Rico<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Puerto Rico is in the middle of a debt crisis that is destroying its economy, and this crisis didn’t just appear from nowhere. Huge investment banks and hedge fund vultures saw a big opportunity to profit from abusive lending to Puerto Rico, and pushed its government institutions to take on more debt that they would never be able to repay. Now, they want Puerto Rico’s people to foot the bill and guarantee their profits. It’s predatory lending at its worst, and on an international scale.</div>
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A banker named Antonio Weiss helped manufacture this crisis when he worked at investment bank Lazard Frères, and he was rewarded with a $21.2 million golden parachute. Now he’s at the US Treasury Department, and he’s been put in charge of leading the Treasury’s response to the crisis – despite the fact that his former employer has a huge financial interest in what happens.</div>
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Several groups of hedge funds have bought up large chunks of Puerto Rican debt at deep discounts and have also pushed the island to borrow at extremely favorable, possibly criminal, terms for creditors. </div>
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Hedge funds hold an extraordinary amount of Puerto Rico’s debt – perhaps almost 50% of it. And now, in order to guarantee massive profits on their investments in Puerto Rico’s debt, hedge fund managers are pushing implementation of austerity measures that would greatly benefit the super-wealthy and hurt everyday people in Puerto Rico.</div>
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A debt crisis has been unfolding in Puerto Rico for several years, as high levels of borrowing, privatization, corporate welfare, and a declining economy have made it impossible for the island to manage its debt. </div>
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The island’s government is caught between the needs of its people and the demands of creditors – powerful lenders seeking payments who will ultimately push for punishing structural reforms and austerity.</div>
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Please join us in demanding that Treasury Secretary Jack Lew remove Antonio Weiss from any role in responding to Puerto Rico’s debt crisis.</div>
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Known as “vulture funds,” these investors have followed a similar game plan in other debt crises, in countries such as Greece and Argentina. The spoils they ultimately seek are not just bond payments, but structural reforms and privatization schemes that give them extraordinary wealth and power – at the expense of everyone else.</div>
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They spend heavily in order to promote policies that drive inequality and wealth concentration – low tax rates for the wealthy and for big business, budget and service cuts for everyone else, and privatization schemes that turn public assets into hedge fund profits. And then they reinvest a portion of the profits with the same individuals and institutions that helped them implement their chosen agenda, from politicians and lawyers to advocacy groups and think tanks. And the cycle goes around again and again.</div>
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Hedge funds are aided in this endeavor by a group of investment banks, which have been marketing Puerto Rico’s debt to them in a hard-sell pitch for the last several years. One of the leaders in this practice is Lazard Frères, and its involvement in Puerto Rico is deep and nefarious:</div>
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Lazard held a 2013 marketing session with 75 hedge funds solely to market debt investment opportunities in Puerto Rico.</div>
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Lazard traded in Puerto Rican debt.</div>
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Lazard has reportedly invested in Puerto Rican debt.</div>
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Former Lazard partners incentivized Puerto Rico to underwrite more debt with Lazard.</div>
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Lazard partners have come under scrutiny from law enforcement officials for unethical and/or illegal business practices related to debt underwriting, including in Puerto Rico, for bribery, kickbacks and conflicts of interest.</div>
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Just over a year ago, Antonio Weiss was still a partner at Lazard, making more than $7 million a year. </div>
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When Weiss was nominated for a position at the US Treasury, Lazard agreed to advance him $21.2 million ahead of schedule. Weiss’ nomination to the Treasury position failed because of outrage over this golden parachute, but he was then given an advisory position that didn’t require congressional approval. </div>
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Now, just over a year later, Weiss is leading up the Treasury Department’s task force on Puerto Rico.</div>
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It’s an obscene conflict of interest. The US Treasury Department will play a significant role in shaping what happens with Puerto Rico’s debt. And whatever happens will have a huge impact on the lives of everyday people in Puerto Rico. The person leading the US Treasury’s efforts should not be someone who is personally profiting from investments in Puerto Rico’s debt, and who has many friends and former colleagues that are doing the same.</div>
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Thanks and ¡adelante!</div>
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— Luis, Mariana, Erick, Arturo, and the Presente.org</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-81643912583774096522015-09-18T11:57:00.005-04:002015-09-18T11:57:42.341-04:00National Voter Registration Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Richmond County Board of Elections would like to remind the public that Tuesday, September 22, 2015 is National Voter Registration Day and encourages all citizens to take this opportunity to register to vote or to update their voter registration information, if needed.</div>
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On November 3, 2015 registered voters in Augusta-Richmond County will have the opportunity to participate in an election for the reimpostion of the existing 1% Sales and Use Tax and residents of the Cities of Blythe and Hephzibah will also be voting for representatives to their respective city councils. The voter registration deadline for these elections will be Monday, October 5, 2015.</div>
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In order to be eligible to vote in the State of Georgia applicants must be a citizen of the United States, be a legal resident of the county in which they are registering to vote, must be at least 17 1⁄2 years of age at the time of registration and 18 years of age by the time they can vote, may not be actively serving a felony sentence, and may not have been found to be mentally incompetent by a judge.</div>
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Elections Director, Lynn Bailey stated “Registering to vote and updating your information in Georgia is easier than ever. Citizens now have the option of registering not only in person at the local Board of Elections Office, but also by downloading the free mobile app GA Votes available for IPhone or Android phones or by using the online application available at Georgia’s My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.us. “</div>
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For more information please contact the Board of Elections at 706-821-2340 or visit the website at www.augustaga.gov/boe.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-67617711173059269322015-09-18T11:55:00.000-04:002015-09-18T11:55:13.677-04:00Refugees Shouldn’t Be in Detention Centers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.usccr.gov/pubs/Statutory_Enforcement_Report2015.pdf" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WQSHI7wcXwc/VfwzmhEM5DI/AAAAAAAAoU8/8X9SsRt9x80/s320/regugees.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>WASHINGTON, DC (PR)</b> – The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights today released its annual report to the President and Congress examining the civil rights and due process conditions at immigration detention facilities, as well as the conditions of family detainees. In the Statutory Enforcement Report: The State of Civil Rights at Immigration Detention Facilities, the Commission found that some detention centers and contracted facilities are not fully complying with detention standards regarding medical care, legal information and other basic standards of treatment. </div>
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The Commission recommends the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should release all family detainees, reduce the use of detention, ensure humane treatment of detainees, increase the use of alternatives to detention, allow legal and pastoral access to detention facilities, and strengthen due process protections.</div>
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“The Commission is pleased to provide this report on the civil rights in immigration detention centers at a time when our nation is struggling with the issue. With the full, historic moral authority of this Commission, we identified many serious conditions at detention centers,” said Martin R. Castro, USCCR Chair. </div>
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“All people, no matter whether they are immigrants or asylum-seekers, deserve to be treated as humans. The Commission stands strongly behind our recommendation to release unaccompanied minors and families from detention, and encourages DHS to find alternatives to the detention centers. Now, more than ever before, we need to treat fairly and humanely those persons, especially women and children, who are seeking sanctuary from violence and instability in their countries.”</div>
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The Commission found the following:</div>
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• Certain Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-operated and contracted detention centers are not complying with 2011 detention standards intended to promote humane treatment of detainees.</div>
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• By continuing to detain unaccompanied children and families, DHS is not complying with the District Court decision in California on the Flores Settlement Agreement.</div>
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• DHS is not respecting the civil rights and due process rights of detainees.</div>
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• DHS does not sufficiently protect detainees from sexual assault and abuse and needs to come into full compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).</div>
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The Commission’s report encompasses the key elements of a briefing and fact-finding visits, as well as additional background research and analysis. On January 30, 2015, the Commission held a day-long briefing of fifteen expert panelists who examined possible civil rights violations at immigration detention facilities. </div>
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Panels consisted of government officials, academics, attorneys, and advocates. On May 4 and 5, 2015, Commissioners conducted fact-finding visits to the Karnes Immigration Family Detention Center, Karnes City, TX and the Port Isabel Immigration Detention Center, Los Fresnos, TX. On September 16, 2015, the Commission sent a letter to the President, Attorney General Lynch, and Homeland Security Secretary Johnson urging the government comply with the U.S. District Court order in Flores v. Johnson concerning the detention of children. </div>
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<a href="http://www.usccr.gov/" target="_blank">http://www.usccr.gov</a>.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-19208670334348374722015-09-16T11:59:00.000-04:002015-09-16T11:58:59.979-04:00Information About Assisted “Suicide”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_suicide_in_the_United_States" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oeR4dZem2eE/VfmMFXtUIkI/AAAAAAAAoUg/n1SDhCEc3es/s320/Legality_of_Assisted_Suicide_in_the_US.svg.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is legislation being considered in several states <br />regarding the legality of assisted suicide.</td></tr>
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<b>AUGUSTA, GA (PR)</b> - The <a href="http://www.amunitedcsra.org/" target="_blank">Central Savannah River Area Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State </a>is scheduled to meet on Sunday, September 20, 2015 at 3 pm at the Columbia County Library at 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd, Evans, GA. The meeting room is on the basement floor, and it is accessible by wheelchair. Admission is free and open to the public.</div>
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The guest speaker is Robert Rivas of Final Exit Network. His presentation is titled "Unconstitutional Restrictions on Your Right to Know About Assisted Suicide." Mr. Rivas serves as Final Exit Network's legal counsel, and he argued successfully before the Georgia Supreme Court that Georgia's assisted suicide law violated its constitution.</div>
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The presentation includes a brief survey of the laws governing the right to death with dignity and assisted "suicide," explaining the historical reasons why the opposition to assisted "suicide" is based on a religious prohibition, only recently given a pseudo-secular justification. In recent years, the opposition to assisted "suicide" has begun trying to prohibit the right to provide information and education about methods of "suicide."</div>
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In Minnesota, Final Exit Network has been convicted this year of "assisting in a suicide" in a case where there was no evidence of "assisting," and the conviction was based solely on Final Exit Network providing information and education to a competent adult, with no quality of life and no hope for improvement, about how to successfully, painlessly, and quickly terminate her own suffering.</div>
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<b>California Bill (ABX2 15)</b> <b>Passed Friday</b></div>
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If signed by Governor Brown, here is what will happen under the "End of Life Option Act:" </div>
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"Doctor shopping" could take place until a health care professional can be found to declare that the patient is qualified for the lethal prescription.</div>
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If an attending physician believes a patient does not have the ability to make an informed decision or that the patient is being pressured to request the prescription for assisted suicide, nothing in the bill prohibits a health care provider, family member or another person from arranging for the patient to be evaluated by other health care professionals until one is found who would declare the patient capable of choosing assisted suicide.</div>
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This has taken place in Oregon where it has been noted that ―a psychological disorder — senility, for example — does not necessarily disqualify a person.</div>
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A woman died of assisted suicide under Oregon’s ―Death with Dignity Act,‖ even though she was suffering from early dementia. Her own physician had declined to provide a lethal prescription for her. When counseling to determine her capacity was sought, a psychiatrist determined that she was not eligible for assisted suicide since she was not explicitly pushing for it and her daughter seemed to be coaching her to do so. She was then taken to a psychologist who determined that she was competent but possibly under the influence of her daughter who was ―somewhat coercive.</div>
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Finally, she was assessed by a managed care ethicist who determined that she qualified for assisted suicide, and the lethal dose was prescribed.</div>
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According to the last official Oregon report, the duration of the patient-physician relationship was, in some cases, less than one week.</div>
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Effective investigation into violation of the law and patient abuse would be prevented. 443.19 (a) The State Department of Public Health shall collect and review the information submitted pursuant to Section 443.9.</div>
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The information collected shall be confidential and shall be collected in a manner that protects the privacy of the patient, the patient’s family, and any medical provider or pharmacist involved with the patient under the provisions of this part. The information shall not be disclosed, discoverable, or compelled to be produced in any civil, criminal, administrative, or other proceeding.</div>
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<a href="http://www.patientsrightscouncil.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015_ABX2_15-_Points_to_Consider.pdf" target="_blank">READ MORE HERE</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-2073364593468762842015-09-12T22:40:00.000-04:002015-09-12T22:40:05.851-04:00Arrested at Gynecologist's Office<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Arrest raises troubling questions about privacy and human rights</b></div>
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<b>WASHINGTON, DC (PR)</b> — Today, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH) responded to news of the arrest of Blanca Borrego, a Latina mom and undocumented woman, in Northeast Women's Healthcare clinic in Atascocita, Texas. Borrego had been sitting in the waiting room for nearly two hours when staff called her into an exam room, where she was met by Harris County Sheriff’s deputies, who arrested her for allegedly using a false ID and handcuffed her in front of her daughters who now fear their mother's deportation and their family torn apart.</div>
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“Blanca Borrego’s arrest--which took place in the middle of a visit to her doctor--is a tragic reminder of the ways our flawed immigration laws make it difficult for immigrant women and families to live with dignity and health,” said National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health Executive Director Jessica González-Rojas. “When local law enforcement officials take it upon themselves to act as immigration enforcers, especially to such an aggressive extent, it creates an environment of fear and mistrust that can cost lives.”</div>
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Ana Rodriguez DeFrates, Texas Latina Advocacy Network (TX LAN) State Policy and Advocacy Director for NLIRH, added, “This arrest raises serious questions about patient privacy and human rights of immigrant women in Texas. The sad fact is that many immigrant women in Texas, and across the country, already forgo needed healthcare, live with lumps in their breasts and daily pain, because clinics are inaccessible or put them at risk for deportation. </div>
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“This is an ongoing human rights crisis, and Blanca Borrego’s arrest shines a light on the struggles of immigrant women, who are routinely denied driver's licenses, affordable healthcare, and other basic human and civil rights. We will be bringing together Houston Latinas this coming weekend to discuss this issue and other reproductive justice concerns. We will also be talking to lawmakers to learn more about this situation. No one should be afraid to seek medical care for fear of deportation.”</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-85463487828832282072015-09-11T13:36:00.000-04:002015-09-11T13:40:18.427-04:00Revuelo por Condena de López en Venezuela<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://twitter.com/WHAAsstSecty/status/642169371633172480" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q9rjp1NHW4c/VfMR67USwPI/AAAAAAAAoT8/lOKPKL5yOD4/s1600/leopoldo.png" /></a></div>
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<b>Por ABM</b> - El cuadro histórico de este expaís hasta hoy no ha sido ni medianamente comprendido. Esto lo vemos, una vez más, cuando se nos habla de la posible absolutoria de Leopoldo López y del seguro triunfo de “las oposiciones” el 06D. Sus defensores y Voluntad Popular esperan la libertad del dirigente el 04/09/15 para que “pase la prueba el Estado de derecho”.</div>
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Pensar que esta revolución militar-policial-civil reconozca que se equivocó al mantener preso a quien llama “Monstruo de Ramo Verde” y responsable de los 43 muertos del año 14, es un sin sentido. ¿De dónde se saca que aquí hay hoy jueces capaces de enfrentar al ejecutivo?</div>
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Por su parte, los políticos del colaboracionismo MUD y “la otra vía” siguen creyendo que la presente situación se resuelve en la instancia electoral. Y por ello leen esta realidad como un capítulo pasajero que, en cuestión de tiempo, construirá una mayoría de votos para acabar con la tal revolución socialista a la cubana.</div>
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Se olvida que la ambición cuartelaría del 04F-92, cuya meta era acabar con la corrupción y la ausencia de libertades democráticas, una vez en el mando-poder y ante el peligro de su derrocamiento, acuerda un pacto de integración con la llamada revolución cubana. Desde entonces “somos una y la misma cosa”.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8h2JoLvGLvI/VfMQChsBENI/AAAAAAAAoTw/xBfmlKEIkxY/s1600/Weill%2BJusticia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8h2JoLvGLvI/VfMQChsBENI/AAAAAAAAoTw/xBfmlKEIkxY/s1600/Weill%2BJusticia.jpg" /></a><br />
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El 15Ag.-04, al conocer los resultados del fraude revocatorio, Chávez expresó: “Venezuela cambió para siempre”. Y en adelante se produce el control total de este expaís en términos de Venecuba. Y llegó al descaro de aceptar la supuesta derrota del 02D-07 para probar su condición de demócrata que respeta el triunfo opositor y aprueba las reformas negadas por leyes habilitantes.</div>
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Por tanto, la carrera electoral chavista es fraudulentamente triunfal. El 26S-10 obtuvo menos votos que la oposición y mayor número de diputados, basado en una legislación aprobada y convalidada por “las oposiciones”. Y si agregamos el control total de las exinstituciones de este expaís, se asegura para el 06D un resultado similar.</div>
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Para la fecha, y mientras no se entienda la necesidad de hacer una política, apartada de negociaciones y complicidades, no habrá legalidad, instituciones autónomas, libertad de presos políticos ni triunfo opositor el 06D. LL, por decisión de la fuerza dictatorial votará en Ramo Verde.</div>
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Sancho, no serán los 06D los que logren la libertad de los presos políticos!</div>
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@ablancomunoz</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zaqmgZludDU?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
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<b>Imágenes pueden ser consideradas emocionalmente fuertes en Estados Unidos.</b></div>
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-> Leopoldo López, uno de los principales líderes opositores de Venezuela, encarcelado desde febrero de 2014, ha sido condenado este jueves a 13 años, 9 meses, 7 días y 12 horas de cárcel, que cumplirá en la prisión militar de Ramo Verde, el centro penitenciario donde duerme desde hace 18 meses. La juez Susana Barreiros lo considera culpable de participar e instigar las manifestaciones de 2014, que provocaron la muerte de 43 personas y cientos de heridos.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-36641744051739540522015-09-10T22:16:00.002-04:002015-09-10T22:20:05.141-04:00Combate a Delitos de "Cuello Blanco" <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/deputy-attorney-general-sally-quillian-yates-delivers-remarks-new-york-university-school" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BsEqdkXkKsY/VfI4peChynI/AAAAAAAAoTY/h_AZUFw4fLQ/s200/DOJ.png" width="156" /></a><br />
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">Por Anibal Ibarra</b><b> - </b>El Departamento de Justicia estadounidense (DOJ) ha emitido nuevas directivas para combatir los crímenes de “cuello blanco” y las compañías podrían empezar a temblar, sobretodo aquellas empresas que se consideran por encima de la ley o con “padrinos” políticos. El arma judicial del gobierno no esperará que se cometan los abusos financieros, ni ofrecerá inmunidad a ciegas, conforme a las nuevas directrices. Se recurrirá al máximo peso de la ley para ir contra estafadores y ladrones de la fe pública y privada, aseguran oficiales de Justicia.</div>
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A continuación el discurso emitido por Sally Quillian Yates, alta funcionaria de la Procuraduría General del Estado:</div>
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“El primer cambio se refiere a uno de esos factores de Filip. Efectivo inmediatamente, hemos revisado nuestra orientación política para exigir que si una empresa quiere cualquier crédito por cooperar, cualquier crédito en absoluto, debe identificar a todas las personas involucradas en una infración, independientemente de su posición, estado o antigüedad en la empresa y proporcionar todos los datos acerca de su mala conducta. Es todo o nada. No más escogiendo y eligiendo lo que es revelado. No más crédito parcial por cooperación, que no incluye información sobre los individuos involucrados.</div>
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Ahora, para el hombre promedio en la calle, esto puede no parecer gran cosa. Pero los actores en el área de ‘cuello blanco’ reconocen como un cambio sustancial de nuestra práctica previa. Durante mucho tiempo hemos enfatizado la importancia de identificar individuos culpables, hasta ahora, empresas podrían cooperar con el gobierno al revelar voluntariamente incorrectas prácticas corporativas, pero sin identificar a los involucrados en las irregularidades y lo que exactamente se hizo. Mientras que las empresas no tienen derecho a crédito completo para la cooperación, todavía podrían conseguir crédito por lo que hacen y ese crédito puede ser suficiente para evitar la acusación.</div>
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Las reglas han cambiado. Desde hoy si una empresa quiere tener en cuenta su cooperación, debe denunciar a los individuos, sin importar dónde ellos se sientan dentro de la empresa. Y no vamos a dejar que las corporaciones aleguen ignorancia. Si no saben quién es el responsable, necesitan saber. Si quieren cualquier crédito de cooperación, necesitan investigar las partes responsables, y proporcionar todas las pruebas sin privilegios que comprometen a los individuos.</div>
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Mientras que esto es nuevo para el mundo corporativo, no hay nada radical sobre el concepto. Es la misma regla que se aplica a los cooperadores en cualquier otro tipo de investigación criminal. Un traficante de drogas puede decidir de un tirón contra sus co-conspiradores. Ofrecen al gobierno el alcance completo del plan criminal. Puede tomar el apoyo del gobierno y testificar en contra de comerciantes callejeros por docena. Pero si tiene información sobre el capo del cártel y se niega a compartir, se anula su acuerdo de cooperación y sirve su sentencia completa. Lo mismo vale aquí. Una corporación no debe recibir ningún trato especial como cooperante simplemente porque los crímenes ocurrieron detrás de un escritorio.</div>
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Esta posición se basa en la enorme labor avanzada por Leslie Caldwell, nuestro asistente de Procurador General de la División Penal, puesto que ella volvió al Departamento de Justicia el año pasado. Leslie y la Sala Penal han ido demostrando que la cooperación empresarial puede y debe centrarse en la responsabilidad individual, y nuestra nueva dirección política ahora hace claro eso como el cristal.</div>
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Este requisito de umbral de la completa cooperación en cuanto a los individuos no sólo rige las investigaciones penales, pero se aplica a investigaciones civiles también. Se espera que las empresas ofrescan el mismo tipo de información sobre individuos si quieren cualquier consideración en el lado civil, incluyendo cómo es cargado o resuelto un caso y si traemos acción contra una matriz o de su filial. Asimismo, será la posición del Departamento avanzar para calificar por la provisión de daños reducidos bajo la ley de reclamos falsos, la empresa debe identificar cualquier persona culpable y proporcionar todos los hechos materiales sobre los individuos.</div>
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Este nuevo requisito de cooperación no significa que DOJ va a sentarse y esperar a que la empresa entregue la información sobre los malhechores y luego simplemente aceptar lo que las empresas proporcionan. Por el contrario, abogados del Departamento estarán activamente investigando a personas en cada paso del proceso, antes, durante y después de cualquier cooperación corporativa. Abogados del Departamento van a estar probando vigorosamente información proporcionada por las empresas y comparar los resultados de nuestra propia investigación para asegurar que es de hecho completa y que no busca minimizar el papel de una persona o grupo de individuos.</div>
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Partiendo de este punto, una empresa no debe asumir que su colaboración termina tan pronto como se instala su caso con el gobierno. Súplica corporativa acuerdos y establecimiento de acuerdos incluirá una disposición que exige a las empresas a que sigan proporcionando información al gobierno sobre cualquier individuo implicado en el delito. La falta de una empresa en seguir cooperando contra individuos será considerada una violación material del acuerdo y motivo de revocación o sanciones estipuladas.</div>
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Y una nota final sobre este punto. El propósito de esta política es mejor identificar a individuos responsables, no a las empresas de carga con investigaciones internas más caras o más de lo necesario. No estamos pidiendo a las empresas a "hervir el océano" para hablar y embarcarse en una investigación de varios millones de dólares cada vez que aprenden sobre mala conducta. Esperamos que investigaciones cuidadosas a la medida del alcance de la maldad. </div>
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Como parte de este cambio de política más amplia, no sólo estamos cambiando lo que esperamos de las empresas; también estamos cambiando lo que esperamos de nosotros mismos. La segunda política que quiero discutir consiste en cómo iniciar y desarrollar las investigaciones corporativas. Una de las cosas que hemos aprendido por experiencia es que es muy difícil construir un caso contra las personas, civiles o penales, a menos que nos centramos en individuos desde el principio.<br />
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Por ejemplo, si una investigación se inicia como una investigación civil sobre la empresa y se llevan a cabo entrevistas y documentos que se lograron con un enfoque de responsabilidad corporativa, a menudo es un reto para nuestros abogados para luego volver a la conclusión de la materia civil y construir un caso penal contra las personas. Esto es particularmente cierto no sólo por el puro paso del tiempo, pero también mucho más exigente que lo que fue necesaria porque la responsabilidad penal individual depende a menudo demostrar un nivel de intención criminal en el caso civil.</div>
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Para solucionar este problema, el Departamento instruyó a sus abogados que, en el futuro, se centren en los individuos desde el inicio de una investigación, independientemente de si se inicia la investigación civil o penalmente. Además, una vez que un caso está en marcha, la investigación sobre la conducta individual puede y debe proceder paralelamente a la investigación corporativa más amplia. Ya no bastará con retrasos en el caso corporativo como una razón para alargar la persecución de los individuos implicados.</div>
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La tercera política concuerda con el segundo. La mejor manera de asegurarse que los fiscales penales no vuelvan atrás y creen un nuevo caso después de que los abogados civiles terminen sus consultas – o viceversa – es asegurarse de que todos hablen entre sí desde el principio. Y así dirigimos nuestros abogados civiles y penales a colaborar en toda la extensión permitida por ley en cada etapa de la investigación.<br />
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El Departamento de Justicia tiene acceso a una amplia gama de recursos de aplicación – de penas civiles a largas penas de prisión – y la única manera de aprovechar nuestra plena autoridad es garantizar la comunicación temprana y regular. Para asegurarse de que nada se deslice a través de las grietas, estamos formalizando estas líneas de comunicación. En adelante, independientemente de si un caso empresarial comienza como una investigación civil o penal, los abogados del DOJ inicialmente quienes manejen el asunto serán responsables de notificar al "otro lado de la casa“ sobre la investigación. </div>
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Como el caso proceda, abogados civiles y penales estarán en contacto regular. Si los fiscales deciden no traer cargos criminales contra individuos, deben notificar a su contraparte civil, que puede hacer una evaluación independiente de la responsabilidad civil. Y si los abogados civiles identifican a las personas durante su investigación que debería ser objeto de una investigación penal, se espera que prontamente pasen el asunto a los fiscales penales, independientemente de la situación actual de la investigación corporativa civil.</div>
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Las políticas cuarta y quinta se refieren a cómo resolver los casos. Como he mencionado anteriormente, demoras en las investigaciones corporativas no deben retrasar nuestra capacidad o la voluntad para resolver casos relacionados contra las personas. En la mayoría de los casos, esto significará que resolver casos con individuos antes o al mismo tiempo que resolvemos el asunto contra la Corporación.<br />
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Si, sin embargo, abogados DOJ deciden que es necesario resolver primero el caso corporativo, sólo se permite hacerlo una vez que han demostrado un plan claro a sus supervisores para resolver con prontitud los casos individuales relacionados – y antes de que el estatuto de limitaciones expire. Si en la conclusión de la investigación los abogados DOJ deciden no presentar cargos contra las personas, se espera para conmemorar su justificación y luego obtener la aprobación del Procurador o el subprocurador General supervisar la investigación.<br />
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Asimismo, estamos instruyendo a nuestros abogados a que no deben liberar a individuos de la responsabilidad civil o penal al resolver un asunto con la Corporación, excepto bajo las más raras circunstancias. Cuando se presentan tales circunstancias, los abogados litigantes deberán obtener autorización por escrito del correspondiente Procurador o subprocurador General. Supervisaremos estos procesos de autorización, en ninguna parte pequeña por lo que más fácilmente podemos identificar cualesquiera tendencias limitan nuestra capacidad para perseguir los casos individuales.</div>
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Sexta y última, nos estamos ampliando el foco de nuestra estrategia de aplicación civil. Por lo general, cuando un fiscal penal decide si a una persona, él o ella consulte con principios del Departamento de Fiscalía Federal, que establece diversas consideraciones, incluyendo la naturaleza y gravedad de la infracción y el impacto del delito sobre sus víctimas.<br />
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Mientras que algunos de nuestros litigantes civiles rutinariamente han perseguido a personas, otros no, principalmente porque se han centrado en la posibilidad de recuperación financiera de sus objetivos de investigación. Esto era una práctica comprensible, dado que las sanciones monetarias son la forma más común de alivio en el caso civil, pero naturalmente priorizar investigaciones corporativas a gran escala sobre acciones civiles contra los individuos que perpetraron el delito.</div>
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Sin embargo, hay un valor real, en llevar casos civiles contra las personas que participan en la conducta corporativa, incluso si ese valor no puede medirse siempre en dólares y centavos. Acciones civiles, como penales, hacer a malhechores responsables de sus acciones y disuadir infracciones futuras. Mientras no seamos capaces de satisfacer la sentencia entera con recursos de un individuo, que si ese individuo es responsable, podemos tomar lo que tienen y que no beneficien de sus fechorías.<br />
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Estos juicios civiles individuales también pasarán a formar parte del curriculum corporativo de malhechores que seguirán a lo largo de sus carreras. Y para individuos responsables, podemos cambiar la cultura corporativa para reconocer adecuadamente los costos totales del infractor, en lugar de tratar la responsabilidad como un costo de hacer negocios – un cambio protegerá los recursos públicos en el largo plazo.</div>
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Más allá de eso, nuestros abogados civiles reconocen que tienen la obligación de proteger no solo las arcas públicas, <a href="http://anibalshow.blogspot.com/2014/05/crimen-de-cuello-blanco.html" target="_blank">sino también al público mismo</a>. Así, en perspectiva de futuro, se deberán perseguir acciones civiles contra malhechores corporativos incluso si los infractores no tienen los recursos financieros para satisfacer un juicio significativo de dinero. Y a factores similares a los considerados por nuestros fiscales penales, tales como mala conducta del individuo, más allá de la historia y las circunstancias relativas esa mala práctica, en decidir si debe entablar juicio. Los recursos financieros de un individuo serán solamente considerados en la evaluación, antes que sean un factor determinante.”</div>
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<a href="http://anibalshow.blogspot.com/2014/05/crimen-de-cuello-blanco.html" target="_blank">ARTICULO SIMILAR</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-372326984077385412015-09-10T20:57:00.003-04:002015-09-10T20:57:27.015-04:00Bribery Scheme at Georgia Military Base<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>The Defendants Received 22 Years, 10 Years and Five Years in Prison Respectively</b></div>
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<b>WASHINGTON, DC (PR)</b> - A former civilian employee and a former contractor of the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) in Albany, Georgia, as well as one outside contractor were sentenced today to prison terms for bribery and fraud arising from their handling of military trucking contracts and theft of surplus military equipment.</div>
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Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore of the Middle District of Georgia made the announcement.</div>
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Christopher Whitman, 48, of Sylvester, Georgia, co-owner of United Logistics, an Albany-based trucking company and freight transportation broker, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his conviction of 43 counts of honest services wire fraud, five counts of bribery, five counts of obstructing justice and one count of theft of government property. </div>
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Shawn McCarty, 36, of Albany, Georgia, a former employee at the MCLB-Albany, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his conviction of 15 counts of honest services wire fraud, one count of bribery and one count of obstructing justice. </div>
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Bradford Newell, 43, of Sylvester, a former contractor at the MCLB-Albany, was sentenced to five years in prison for his conviction of 13 counts of honest services wire fraud, one count of bribery, and one count of theft of government property. </div>
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All three were found guilty by a jury in the Middle District of Georgia on March 3, 2015, following a five-week trial.</div>
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In addition to imposing the prison terms, the court ordered each defendant to forfeit assets reflecting losses to the government attributable to the bribery and fraud schemes. Whitman was ordered to forfeit $18,860,313.75; McCarty was ordered to forfeit $15,410,151.55; and Newell was ordered to forfeit $513,600. Whitman was specifically ordered to surrender assets derived from the schemes, including more than 100 parcels of real property, several boats and vehicles, and rental income estimated to be worth more than $14 million.</div>
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According to the evidence presented at trial, between 2008 and 2012, Whitman paid more than $800,000 in bribes to three former officials of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) at the MCLB-Albany, including McCarty, to obtain commercial trucking contracts from the base. The evidence showed that contracts included unnecessary costly provisions, such as expedited service, expensive trailers and exclusive use (i.e., a requirement that freight be shipped separately from other equipment). Evidence presented at trial and in a post-trial forfeiture hearing established that Whitman’s company grossed more than $37 million, and resulted in government losses and an improper benefit to Whitman of more than $20 million.</div>
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The evidence further demonstrated that Whitman paid nearly $200,000 in bribes to Newell and the former inventory control manager of the Distribution Management Center at MCLB-Albany, both of whom used their official positions to help Whitman steal from the base more than $1 million in surplus military equipment, including bulldozers, cranes and front-end loaders. According to the trial evidence, in exchange for the bribe payments, Newell and the inventory control manager removed the surplus items from Marine Corps inventory and arranged to have them transported off the base by Whitman’s company. The evidence showed that, after having the equipment refurbished, Whitman sold it to private purchasers. </div>
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Five other individuals have pleaded guilty to their roles in the corruption and fraud schemes. In October 2013, Kelli Durham, the former manager of Whitman’s company, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting to intentionally overbilling the United States for services the company did not perform, resulting in losses ranging from $7 million to $20 million. In May 2013, Mitchell Potts and Jeffrey Philpot pleaded guilty to bribery for collectively accepting more than $700,000 in bribes from Whitman. </div>
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In February 2013, Shelby Janes pleaded guilty to bribery for receiving nearly $100,000 in bribes from Whitman. These defendants have not yet been sentenced. In February 2014, C.W. Smith, a Whitman associate who helped arrange the sale of the surplus military equipment Whitman stole from the base, pleaded guilty to theft of government property. </div>
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The case was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, with assistance from the Dougherty County, Georgia, District Attorney’s Office; Defense Criminal Investigative Service; DLA Office of the Inspector General; and the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief J.P. Cooney and Trial Attorney Richard B. Evans of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney K. Alan Dasher of the Middle District of Georgia. </div>
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The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant Deputy Chief Darrin McCullough of the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Middle District of Georgia.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-5599510598117042132015-09-09T11:01:00.001-04:002015-09-09T11:01:25.295-04:00West Nile Virus Cases in Augusta<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>AUGUSTA, GA (PR)</b> – As the Georgia Public Health Laboratory confirmed three cases of West Nile virus infections in Augusta, local people may wonder what they can do to protect themselves and their families.</div>
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Dr. Jim Wilde, professor of pediatrics emergency medicine at Georgia Regents University, is a member of the Georgia Pandemic Influenza Planning Committee and the Medical College of Georgia Pandemic Flu Committee and serves as the state medical director for GUARD – Georgia United Against Antibiotic Resistant Disease.</div>
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Following the H1N1 flu scare in 2009, Wilde worked in conjunction with the East Central Health District to develop and activate G-LINE: Georgia Region G Local Information Network for Emergencies. This website was designed to provide locally relevant information to physicians and the general public during public health emergencies.</div>
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In a new video, he discusses how West Nile virus infections are transmitted and what people can do to protect themselves.</div>
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“West Nile is here to stay. It’s not going away,” Wilde said. “It is now the number one cause of mosquito-borne encephalitis in the United States. Encephalitis is an infection of the brain, and that can be deadly.”</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0Augusta, GA, USA33.4734978 -82.0105148000000133.0492308 -82.655961800000014 33.8977648 -81.3650678tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-27763984931713352182015-09-06T12:15:00.002-04:002015-09-06T12:15:21.851-04:00Labor Day Memory<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/grace.boggs?fref=ts" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yLk4VcqdypE/VexmMvoRrnI/AAAAAAAAoSo/0vkKFN5okLQ/s200/press.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">By Shea Howell</b><b> - </b>This Labor Day marks the passage of twenty years since striking Detroit News and Free Press workers strode down Woodward Avenue in the Parade. It was the beginning of a long, bitter, and brutal battle. Much of the mainstream media has ignored this anniversary and evaded the lessons learned and questions still before us.</div>
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The strike began in July of 1995. Nineteen months later, after boycotts, arrests, campaigns targeting advertisers and readers, the unions made an unconditional offer to return to work. But the corporate powers refused to take back any of the striking workers. Ultimately a 1997 ruling that the newspapers had engaged in unfair labor practices was overturned. In 2000 a federal judge forced the unions to agree to management's terms.</div>
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The history of this strike is contested. But almost everyone would agree that it forever changed the relationship between the two daily newspapers and the community. It destroyed careers, changed lives and revealed a level of corporate brutality and police collusion that many thought had been left in the dark past.</div>
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I was part of a group called Readers United. That group helped orchestrate boycotts of advertisers, worked with the Metro Times and Michigan Citizen to increase community news, and staged arrests of government leaders, teachers, social workers, newspaper readers, health care professionals, and parents who blocked the entrances to the Detroit News and Free Press. We encouraged the publication of the Detroit Sunday Journal, the paper produced by strikers. Within weeks the journal had a circulation of 300,000, a clear sign of community support.</div>
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One of my deepest memories of that time was the first police bus pulling away from in front of the Detroit Free Press building after the arrest of local elected officials. Council President Maryann Mahaffey managed to force her handcuffed fists out the window in a sign of defiance and solidarity.</div>
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A new book by Chris Rhomberg, The Broken Table: The Detroit Newspaper Strike and the State of American Labor, captures much of this history. Or, for a shorter analysis, the work of Jane Slaughter, published in Labor Notes in 2001 is an important read.</div>
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In a review of Broken Table, John Burns asks the question of what we can learn from failed strikes. He hopes people will conclude this Labor Day thought:</div>
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“Collective bargaining rights must be defended, and trade unionists must begin to create new forms of effective strike activity. </div>
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But on a deeper level, stories of failed strikes have intrinsic value. Brave people fought against the odds, showed tremendous courage, experimented with new tactics, and in many cases, were transformed as activists and as people. We need to hear their stories. By pushing back, these striking workers revealed what does not work and why.</div>
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Labor history is littered with defeats that sowed the seeds of victory for workers. By learning lessons, fighting smarter, and, most important, challenging illegitimate legal restrictions on the right to strike, our ancestors built a powerful labor movement capable of transforming society. It is still possible.”</div>
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For me, the tragedy of this strike is embodied in this contrast. Before the strike, the most consistent journalists in the community were Susan Watson and Betty DeRamus. They were supported by Desiree Copper at the Metro Times, Carmen Harlan and Diana Lewis on TV and Nkenge Zola on DET--all African American women who shared a deep commitment to our community. </div>
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They reported with humanity and vision. Today we have Stephen Henderson. His paper responded to the recent plan by the governor to further erode public education and local democratic control saying it “was not sure what to think.” </div>
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Such emptiness would not have been possible from any of these women journalists.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-36014160717187149682015-09-04T13:48:00.000-04:002015-09-04T13:48:23.797-04:00GALEO's Twelve Year History<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>ATLANTA, GA (PR)</b> - Members of GALEO's Board of Directors are often tapped for Presidential and Gubernatorial Appointments and former member, Judge Dax Lopez, is just the latest person to have served on GALEO's Board of Directors to be one of them. On July 30, 2015, President Obama nominated Judge Lopez to fill a judicial vacancy on the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.</div>
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In 2006, then President George W. Bush nominated Luis Aguilar to serve as a commissioner on the Securities and Exchange Commission. Then, he was reappointed to the Securities and Exchange Commission by President Obama.</div>
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In GALEO's twelve year history, several other current or former members of its board of directors have also been tapped for gubernatorial appointments including:</div>
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Tony DelCampo, former DeKalb State Court Judge, appointed by Governor Roy Barnes.</div>
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Dax Lopez, appointed to the State Court of DeKalb by Governor Sonny Perdue and won re-election in DeKalb County.</div>
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Rocio Woody, appointed to the Georgia Department of Corrections by Governor Nathan Deal.</div>
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In addition, Mayor Kasim Reed of the City of Atlanta tapped former GALEO Board member and former GALEO Vice-Chair, Charles Kuck, to head up the City of Atlanta's Welcoming Atlanta initiative.</div>
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Furthermore, several elected officials, both local and legislative from both sides of the aisle, have served on the GALEO Board. This is just a small sample of the depth and quality of the individuals who have served on GALEO's board of directors over the years.</div>
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GALEO has always sought the most qualified and distinguished individuals to serve on its board of directors as evidenced by appointments by both Republican and Democratic administrations referenced above.</div>
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"GALEO is proud of the men and women who have served its mission of engaging the Latino community in promoting civic engagement and leadership development, and it will continue to recruit the best and brightest to serve on its board of directors," concluded Tony Del Campo, Chair of GALEO and Former DeKalb County State Court Judge.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0Georgia, USA32.1656221 -82.90007509999998125.3321621 -93.227223599999974 38.9990821 -72.572926599999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-33279341592163414832015-09-03T11:04:00.000-04:002015-09-03T11:04:25.504-04:00New Precinct Information Cards for Voters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>AUGUSTA, GA (PR)</b> - The Richmond County Board of Elections is mailing out new Precinct Information Cards to voters in Richmond County whose polling location has changed. The polling location changes will affect all voters who formerly voted at the VFW Post 649 located at 2430 Windsor Spring Road and all voters who formerly voted at the Crossroad Fellowship Church located at 3875 Wrightsboro Road. All changes will take effect immediately and for the upcoming November 3, 2015 Special Election in Augusta-Richmond County.</div>
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The new polling locations for these precincts are: VFW – the new location is the Augusta Service Center, 3463 Peach Orchard Road. Crossroads Fellowship Church – this precinct has been split with a portion of the voters reporting to the Sharon Baptist Church located at 3434 Sharon Road and a portion of the voters reporting to the Providence Baptist Church located at 3850 Wrightsboro Road. </div>
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The specific polling location will be listed on the new Precinct Information Card.</div>
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Also, pursuant to O.C.G.A. 21-2-233 and 21-2-234 a Confirmation Notice has been mailed to all voters with whom the Board of Elections has had no contact within three years and to voters who have filed a change of address with the US Postal Service within the last year. Any voter who receives a Confirmation Notice and wishes to remain on the active list of voters for Richmond County should complete the form and return it to the Board of Elections Office as indicated in the instructions.</div>
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Elections Director, Lynn Bailey stated, “There are many elections coming up in the near future and voters should do their best to make sure their voting information is up to date. The next upcoming Voter Registration Deadline will be October 5, 2015 and the next upcoming election will be the Special Election on November 3, 2015 for the SPLOST Referendum.”</div>
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Voters seeking more information may contact the Board of Elections Office by phone at (706) 821-2340 or by visiting My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0Augusta, GA, USA33.4734978 -82.0105148000000133.0492308 -82.655961800000014 33.8977648 -81.3650678tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-2102258662445305522015-09-03T10:57:00.000-04:002015-09-03T13:14:24.534-04:00Free Enrollment Assistance for Health Insurance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<script data-language="es-us" data-width="550" id="gca-connector-embed" src="https://connector.getcoveredamerica.org/static/js/widget.js"></script><b style="text-align: justify;">ATLANTA, GA (PR)</b><span style="text-align: justify;"> - Enroll America Georgia State Director Danté McKay released the following statement in response to the announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) that five Georgia organizations will receive nearly $4 million over the next three years to provide free, in-person Affordable Care Act enrollment assistance across the state:</span><br />
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“Today’s announcement from HHS awarding nearly $4 million to five organizations right here in Georgia is great news for Georgians, and a big step towards making sure in-person assistance is available in every community of the state. The three-year time frame of the grant provides the Georgia enrollment coalition with stability as we work to make enrollment a way of life for years to come.</div>
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“The next Affordable Care Act open enrollment period begins on November 1, and access to free in-person assistance remains critical to enrollment success, especially since more than 70% of the remaining uninsured think it’s important to talk to someone one-on-one when buying insurance. </div>
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“At Enroll America, we’ll continue to provide our popular consumer tools like the Get Covered Connector, which allows consumers to easily schedule an appointment with an assister; and we’ll launch the new Get Covered Plan Explorer, which will help Georgians and assisters work together to find the plan that will best fit their needs and budget. </div>
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“We’ll also continue to support assisters with innovative training programs and the latest research, so they can serve as many Georgians as possible in their community. As we gear up for the new open enrollment period, we’re confident that in-person assisters will have the tools, resources, and support to help Georgians get covered and stay covered.”</div>
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Georgians can schedule an appointment to get free, in-person help from an enrollment expert by visiting www.GetCoveredAmerica.org/Connector</div>
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<b>GEORGIA</b></div>
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Boat People SOS, Inc.*</div>
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Anticipated grant amount: $145,134</div>
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Atlanta</div>
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• Asian Americans with limited English proficiency and low literacy levels living in small and low-resource enclaves and socially isolated in urban areas.</div>
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• Increased focus on Asian Americans who suffer mental and physical disabilities resulting from persecution in their home countries.</div>
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Boat People SOS, Inc. (BPSOS) is a national community-based nonprofit organization and the nation’s largest Vietnamese-American community organization. BPSOS served as a 2013 and 2014 Navigator sub-awardee. As a Navigator grantee, BPSOS will target Asian Americans, with a specific focus on those hard-to-reach and underserved subpopulations of Asian Americans who face particular barriers to information and service, and require specifically designed outreach strategies. BPSOS will also serve as a Navigator grantee in Virginia.</div>
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<b>Georgia Association for Primary Health Care, Inc.</b></div>
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Anticipated grant amount: $941,522</div>
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Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Baldwin, Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Calhoun, Camden, Candler, Carroll, Catoosa, Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, <b><u>Columbia</u></b>, Cook, Coweta, Crawford, Crisp, Dade, Dawson, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Douglas, Early, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsythe, Franklin, Gilmer, Glascock, Glynn, Gordon, Grady, Greene, Habersham, Hall, Hancock, Haralson, Harris, Hart, Heard, Henry, Houston, Irwin, Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lamar, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, Lumpkin, Macon, Madison, Marion, McDuffie, McIntosh, Meriwether, Miller, Mitchell, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Murray, Muscogee, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Peach, Pickens, Pierce, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Quitman, Rabun, Randolph, <b><u>Richmond</u></b>, Rockdale, Schley, Screven, Seminole, Spalding, Stephens, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Towns, Treutlen, Troup, Turner, Twiggs, Union, Upson, Walker, Walton, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, White, Whitfield, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson and Worth</div>
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• Low-income and vulnerable populations</div>
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• Increased focus on veterans, Latinos and other minority groups, self-employed individuals, new mothers, and women with children.</div>
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The Georgia Association for Primary Health Care (GAPHC) serves as the Primary Care Association for the state of Georgia and represents all 32 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) with 169 clinic sites in 106 counties. GAPHC provides leadership to all Georgia FQHCs in the provision of access to health care, including provision of outreach and education to low-income, uninsured, and vulnerable residents. As a Navigator grantee, GAPHC will work to assist uninsured GA with ACA marketplace enrollment.</div>
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Georgia Refugee Health and Mental Health</div>
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Anticipated grant amount: $361,280</div>
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Primarily Atlanta, including DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties</div>
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• Underserved and uninsured populations</div>
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• Increased focus on refugee and immigrant communities</div>
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Georgia Refugee Health and Mental Health (GRHMH) is a community/consumer focused nonprofit with a strong track record of bringing Affordable care to Georgia’s significantly large refugee and international/LEP communities. GRHMH will focus on the “least served” who suffer the most extreme healthcare disparities and inequalities in the US and limited access to health insurance.</div>
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Health Care Central Georgia dba Community Health Works</div>
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Anticipated grant amount: $2,319,333</div>
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Statewide</div>
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• Rural, Latino, African American, AAPI, LGBTQ, and American Indian communities</div>
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Health Care Central Georgia has formed an alliance of six regional cancer coalitions and other partner organizations to form the Insure GA consortium. As a 2014 Navigator grantee they will build on their experience and target underinsured and uninsured Georgia residents throughout the state by partnering with area safety net organizations and providing outreach at the point of care (including primary care docs) sites.</div>
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National Alliance for Hispanic Health *</div>
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Anticipated grant amount: $157,800</div>
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Fulton</div>
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• Uninsured and underinsured Hispanic consumers</div>
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National Alliance for Hispanic Health’s Hispanic Partnership for Health Insurance Coverage Program (HPHIC) will provide assistance to underserved communities. HPHIC Program will focus on enrollment among Hispanic consumers in Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) through the Marketplace, CHIP, and Medicaid with the provision of culturally proficient and linguistically appropriate health insurance plan application and enrollment assistance. National Alliance for Hispanic Health will also serve as a Navigator in Florida, Illinois, and Texas.</div>
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<b>Asistencia Gratuita Para Comprar Seguro de Salud</b></div>
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Annette Raveneau, portavoz de Enroll America, emitió la siguiente declaración con respecto al anuncio de la subvención para el programa de asistentes en persona del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos:</div>
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“El anuncio que hizo el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de que otorgará $67 millones a 100 organizaciones en 34 estados del país es una noticia fabulosa para los consumidores y un gran paso para garantizar que haya ayuda en persona en todas las comunidades del país. </div>
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Nos complace que la cantidad a otorgarse es mayor a la otorgada el año pasado, y el plazo de tres años de la subvención le dará estabilidad a la coalición nacional para inscripción en cuidado médico mientras trabaja para convertir la inscripción en seguro de salud en parte de nuestras vidas por muchos años más.</div>
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El próximo periodo de inscripción abierta de la Ley de Salud comienza en noviembre, y el acceso a ayuda gratuita en persona sigue siendo esencial para el éxito de los esfuerzos de inscripción, especialmente porque el 63 % de las personas hispanohablantes que todavía no tienen un seguro de salud consideran muy importante la ayuda personalizada para comprar un seguro de salud. </div>
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Enroll America seguirá teniendo sus populares herramientas en línea para los consumidores, entre ellas la Get Covered Connector, que ahora la tenemos en español y les facilita a los consumidores programar una cita con un asistente. </div>
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También lanzaremos la herramienta Get Covered Plan Explorer, la cual ayudará a consumidores y asistentes a encontrar juntos el plan médico que mejor se ajuste a las necesidades y el bolsillo de los consumidores. </div>
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Igualmente seguiremos brindándoles a los asistentes apoyo mediante innovadores programas de capacitación y la investigación más reciente, para que puedan ayudar al mayor número posible de consumidores en su comunidad. </div>
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Ahora que nos preparamos para el nuevo periodo de inscripción abierta, nos sentimos confiados de que los asistentes que brindan ayuda en persona tendrán las herramientas, los recursos y el apoyo necesario para ayudar a las personas en Estados Unidos a asegurarse y mantener su cobertura”.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-57846677552366077362015-09-02T16:46:00.000-04:002015-09-02T16:46:31.383-04:00Preventing Labor Day Fatalities <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>AUGUSTA, GA (PR)</b> - The Richmond County Sheriff's Office along with many Sheriffs and Police agencies throughout Georgia will be participating in Hand Across the Border again this year during labor day weekend. Agencies from Georgia and South Carolina will be teaming up and working together to help ensure the safety of the motoring public and those using our waterways. Locally, in conjunction with the Georgia State Patrol and Georgia Department of Natural Recourses the Richmond County Sheriff's Office will have increased officer presence during this holiday period.</div>
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In Georgia, Operation Zero Tolerance will run in conjunction with the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign from Aug. 21 through Sept. 7. That means whether you hit the road early or choose to celebrate on the holiday weekend, officers will be cracking down on impaired drivers with increased patrols, sobriety checkpoints and a high-visibility presence. The Richmond County Sheriff's Office increased enforcement activities will begin this Thursday, September 3rd and will run through September 7th according to Lt. Lewis Blanchard with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.</div>
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"Last year during this time period, Georgia saw 15 traffic deaths and 1,218 injuries result from 3,706 crashes. The last thing any Deputy with the Sheriff's Office wants to do as part of his duty is to inform a loved one that his or her family member has been killed in a crash. We have been doing our best to educate, inform, and market safety to the public in an effort to gain voluntary compliance but when those methods fail to work for some individuals, enforcement is the final key component." stated Blanchard.</div>
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161 lives were lost that involved drunk drivers in 2013 due to fatalities during the holiday travel period which amounted to 38% of the total fatalities. More than a quarter of those fatalities involved a driver with a blood alcohol level at least twice the legal limit according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The latest national data available is from 2013; NHTSA stats show 65% of people killed in impaired driving crashes were drunk drivers themselves. It is an unnecessary tragedy that 6,515 drives lost their lives along with 3,561 additional victims.</div>
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Drunk driving is an easily preventable crime and there really is no excuse. Plan ahead, have a designated driver, use a taxi or cab company or call a wrecker service and have your car towed home. Each of these options is far less than the several thousand dollars that a DUI will cost and it may prevent you from killing someone, including yourself.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-46532736618948577792015-09-02T11:15:00.002-04:002015-09-08T22:57:34.036-04:00Latino American History, Culture<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>AUGUSTA, GA (PR)</b> – Georgia Regents University students and the greater Augusta community will get a glimpse into the history and culture of Latinos in America during a series of free events organized by the GRU Libraries during the 2015-2016 academic year.</div>
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The events were made possible through a $10,000 grant the GRU Libraries received from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association. The GRU Libraries are one of 203 recipients of the competitive “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AugustaLatino" target="_blank">Latino Americans</a>: 500 Years of History” grant selected from across the country.</div>
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“Latinos make up the largest minority group in the United States, and they have also been a part of our local community for generations,” said Erin Prentiss, GRU Libraries’ Latino Americans project director and reference/instruction librarian. “We look forward to exploring the rich national and local histories of Latinos with the entire Augusta community during our planned events.”</div>
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The Libraries’ planned programs include screenings and discussions of the award-winning documentary series “Latino Americans” as well as other events that complement the film screenings. Below is the fall 2015 schedule:</div>
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· “Peril and Promise” Screening and Discussion</div>
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Learn about the challenges and triumphs of recent Latino history during the screening and discussion. Project scholars and GRU faculty Dr. Heather Abdelnur, associate professor of history, and Dr. Christopher Botero, assistant professor of Spanish, will lead the discussion following the screening.</div>
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When: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15</div>
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Where: Headquarters Library, 823 Telfair St., Augusta, GA, 30901</div>
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· Latino Alumni Panel</div>
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This panel discussion features Latino alumni from area colleges and universities about their experiences in higher education. GRU assistant professor of Teacher Education, Dr. Juan Walker, will moderate the panel.</div>
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When: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29</div>
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Where: GRU Summerville Campus, Jaguar Student Activity Center Coffeehouse</div>
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· “Empire of Dreams” Screening and Discussion</div>
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This screening focuses on the migration of different Latino groups beginning in the late 19th through the mid-20th century. Abdelnur will lead discussion following the film.</div>
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When: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20</div>
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Where: Columbia County Library, Greater Clarks Hill Regional Library System</div>
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· Antonio Martinez: A Cuban Pioneer in Columbia County History Lecture</div>
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Abdelnur will lecture about the fascinating history of Antonio Martinez, a late-19th-century immigrant to the Augusta area and the founder of the town of Martinez.</div>
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When: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27</div>
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Where: Columbia County Library, Greater Clarks Hill Regional Library System</div>
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· “War & Peace” Screening and Discussion</div>
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This screening focuses on the lasting effects World War II had on Latino American communities. Following the film, Abdelnur will lead a panel of Latino veterans who will discuss their experiences in the military.</div>
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When: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10</div>
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Where: GRU Summerville Campus, University Hall 170</div>
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“<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AugustaLatino" target="_blank">The Latino Americans</a>: 500 Years of History grantees” represent 42 states and the District of Columbia, and include 78 public libraries, 68 college/university libraries and organizations, 19 community college libraries, 10 state humanities councils, 12 museums and a range of other nonprofit organizations.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-68063354049309974152015-09-01T12:33:00.002-04:002015-09-01T12:33:49.322-04:00 Annual Day of Service<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>AUGUSTA, GA (PR)</b> – People in the CSRA will have a chance to give back to the community during Georgia Regents University’s Day of Service on Sept. 12. Community members are invited to join GRU employees, students and their families to help organizations in our area through volunteer service.</div>
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“GRU is a huge part of Augusta and the surrounding communities; this is our home, and we must take pride in it by caring for our city and for each other,” GRU President Brooks Keel said. “Day of Service shines light on one of GRU’s most important institutional values – compassion. We encourage our faculty, staff and students to be socially responsible by reaching out and lending a helping hand through various community service projects, and we are asking community members to join us this year as well.”</div>
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Volunteer opportunities – some of which welcome children – include playing with and walking pets, doing lawn work, painting walls and interacting with veterans. Time of service varies according to activity and venue needs.</div>
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All volunteers will get a free Day of Service T-shirt and wristband, which they can pick up on Sept. 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the GRU Wellness Center at 1459 Laney Walker Blvd., Augusta, or in the Jaguar Student Activities Center breezeway on GRU’s Summerville Campus at 2500 Walton Way, Augusta.</div>
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Volunteers will also get a free pass with their Day of Service wristband to a special celebration, which will include a jazz concert with Wycliffe Gordon & NuFunk Revolution, Travis Shaw and the Mike Frost Band.</div>
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There will also be a barbecue while it lasts. The celebration will kick off at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 12, following Day of Service Activities, at the D. Douglas Barnard Amphitheatre on GRU’s Summerville campus.</div>
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To sign up to volunteer for Day of Service, click here. Each volunteer must complete a separate registration, including children.</div>
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The deadline for registration is Sept. 10. For more information, please email dayofservice@gru.edu.</div>
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<b>Children’s Hospital of Georgia Ranks No. 1 in Nation</b></div>
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Children’s Hospital of Georgia is the highest performing children’s hospital in the nation in quality and safety. When pediatric patient care at CHOG is compared to that provided at 122 peer hospitals across the country – Augusta’s only children’s hospital ranks at the top.</div>
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“We take care of some really sick children here at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia. These aren’t just kids with aches and pains and temporary illnesses; although those are a significant part of what we do,” said CHOG Administrator Jim Mumford. “We’re talking about kids who need heart surgery, brain surgery, and cancer treatments, as well as ECMO; and kids with chronic diseases, like asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy. These UHC quality and safety indicators and our national ranking is a testament to the outstanding care that our physicians, nurses, and staff provide to these children and families across the southeast on a daily basis.”</div>
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According to the latest Quality and Safety Management Report from the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) – an alliance of the nation’s leading nonprofit academic medical centers, CHOG ranks first in pediatric care for all of 2014 in an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) integrated measure on pediatric quality.</div>
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“Being recognized for the highest quality and safety outcomes on a national level is certainly a significant honor,” said Dr. Charles Howell, Co-Medical Director and Surgeon-In-Chief of CHOG. “It speaks volumes about the compassion and expertise that we provide to each and every patient at Children’s Hospital of Georgia.”</div>
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The 154-bed not-for-profit CHOG is the second-largest children’s hospital in the state, providing the highest level of pediatric critical care and neonatal intensive care, as well as a wide range of general and complex health care for children. Donations help fund the many resources needed to enhance and maintain the quality of care children receive – from the smallest bandage to the most precise surgical instruments.</div>
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“It takes a remarkable team effort centered on children and their families to be the best of the best in children’s care,” said Dr. Charles Linder, Chairman of Pediatrics for GRU’s Medical College of Georgia and Co-Medical Director at CHOG. “We just celebrated a year of record-breaking donations in 2014 that culminated last weekend with our telethon. Now we have another reason to celebrate, and our supporters can take pride in these accomplishments, too.”</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0Augusta, GA, USA33.4734978 -82.0105148000000133.0492308 -82.655961800000014 33.8977648 -81.3650678tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-860602431983866508.post-6344047776926426902015-09-01T10:24:00.002-04:002015-09-01T19:57:32.665-04:00Perdón Extraordinario del Aborto<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/texto-completo-carta-del-papa-francisco-sobre-el-ano-de-la-misericordia-18995/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GCCJV9em3L4/VeW0hf3N2WI/AAAAAAAAoRM/bbi4ZeQ9Tfc/s320/PapaFranciscoAudienciaGeneralDanielIbanez.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (ACI) - Esta mañana se publicó en el Vaticano una Carta del Papa Francisco ante la cercanía del Año de la Misericordia. La misiva está dirigida a Mons. Rino Fisichella, Presidente del Consejo Pontificio para la Promoción de la Nueva Evangelización y contiene indicaciones específicas sobre el perdón de pecados graves como el aborto, las indulgencias plenarias y otros temas de interés para todos los católicos.</div>
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Este es el texto completo de la carta:</div>
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Al venerado hermano Monseñor Rino Fisichella Presidente del Consejo Pontificio para la Promoción de la Nueva Evangelización</div>
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La cercanía del Jubileo extraordinario de la Misericordia me permite centrar la atención en algunos puntos sobre los que considero importante intervenir para facilitar que la celebración del Año Santo sea un auténtico momento de encuentro con la misericordia de Dios para todos los creyentes. Es mi deseo, en efecto, que el Jubileo sea experiencia viva de la cercanía del Padre, como si se quisiese tocar con la mano su ternura, para que se fortalezca la fe de cada creyente y, así, el testimonio sea cada vez más eficaz.</div>
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Mi pensamiento se dirige, en primer lugar, a todos los fieles que en cada diócesis, o como peregrinos en Roma, vivirán la gracia del Jubileo. Deseo que la indulgencia jubilar llegue a cada uno como genuina experiencia de la misericordia de Dios, la cual va al encuentro de todos con el rostro del Padre que acoge y perdona, olvidando completamente el pecado cometido. Para vivir y obtener la indulgencia los fieles están llamados a realizar una breve peregrinación hacia la Puerta Santa, abierta en cada catedral o en las iglesias establecidas por el obispo diocesano y en las cuatro basílicas papales en Roma, como signo del deseo profundo de auténtica conversión. </div>
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Igualmente dispongo que se pueda ganar la indulgencia en los santuarios donde se abra la Puerta de la Misericordia y en las iglesias que tradicionalmente se identifican como Jubilares. Es importante que este momento esté unido, ante todo, al Sacramento de la Reconciliación y a la celebración de la santa Eucaristía con un reflexión sobre la misericordia. Será necesario acompañar estas celebraciones con la profesión de fe y con la oración por mí y por las intenciones que llevo en el corazón para el bien de la Iglesia y de todo el mundo.</div>
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Pienso, además, en quienes por diversos motivos se verán imposibilitados de llegar a la Puerta Santa, en primer lugar los enfermos y las personas ancianas y solas, a menudo en condiciones de no poder salir de casa. Para ellos será de gran ayuda vivir la enfermedad y el sufrimiento como experiencia de cercanía al Señor que en el misterio de su pasión, muerte y resurrección indica la vía maestra para dar sentido al dolor y a la soledad. </div>
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Vivir con fe y gozosa esperanza este momento de prueba, recibiendo la comunión o participando en la santa misa y en la oración comunitaria, también a través de los diversos medios de comunicación, será para ellos el modo de obtener la indulgencia jubilar. Mi pensamiento se dirige también a los presos, que experimentan la limitación de su libertad. </div>
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El Jubileo siempre ha sido la ocasión de una gran amnistía, destinada a hacer partícipes a muchas personas que, incluso mereciendo una pena, sin embargo han tomado conciencia de la injusticia cometida y desean sinceramente integrarse de nuevo en la sociedad dando su contribución honesta. Que a todos ellos llegue realmente la misericordia del Padre que quiere estar cerca de quien más necesita de su perdón. </div>
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En las capillas de las cárceles podrán ganar la indulgencia, y cada vez que atraviesen la puerta de su celda, dirigiendo su pensamiento y la oración al Padre, pueda este gesto ser para ellos el paso de la Puerta Santa, porque la misericordia de Dios, capaz de convertir los corazones, es también capaz de convertir las rejas en experiencia de libertad.</div>
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He pedido que la Iglesia redescubra en este tiempo jubilar la riqueza contenida en las obras de misericordia corporales y espirituales. La experiencia de la misericordia, en efecto, se hace visible en el testimonio de signos concretos como Jesús mismo nos enseñó. </div>
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Cada vez que un fiel viva personalmente una o más de estas obras obtendrá ciertamente la indulgencia jubilar. De aquí el compromiso a vivir de la misericordia para obtener la gracia del perdón completo y total por el poder del amor del Padre que no excluye a nadie. Será, por lo tanto, una indulgencia jubilar plena, fruto del acontecimiento mismo que se celebra y se vive con fe, esperanza y caridad.</div>
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La indulgencia jubilar, por último, se puede ganar también para los difuntos. A ellos estamos unidos por el testimonio de fe y caridad que nos dejaron. De igual modo que los recordamos en la celebración eucarística, también podemos, en el gran misterio de la comunión de los santos, rezar por ellos para que el rostro misericordioso del Padre los libere de todo residuo de culpa y pueda abrazarlos en la bienaventuranza que no tiene fin.</div>
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<b>Relación con la Vida</b></div>
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Uno de los graves problemas de nuestro tiempo es, ciertamente, la modificación de la relación con la vida. Una mentalidad muy generalizada que ya ha provocado una pérdida de la debida sensibilidad personal y social hacia la acogida de una nueva vida. Algunos viven el drama del aborto con una consciencia superficial, casi sin darse cuenta del gravísimo mal que comporta un acto de ese tipo. Muchos otros, en cambio, incluso viviendo ese momento como una derrota, consideran no tener otro camino por donde ir. Pienso, de forma especial, en todas las mujeres que han recurrido al aborto. </div>
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Conozco bien los condicionamientos que las condujeron a esa decisión. Sé que es un drama existencial y moral. He encontrado a muchas mujeres que llevaban en su corazón una cicatriz por esa elección sufrida y dolorosa. Lo sucedido es profundamente injusto; sin embargo, sólo el hecho de comprenderlo en su verdad puede consentir no perder la esperanza. El perdón de Dios no se puede negar a todo el que se haya arrepentido, sobre todo cuando con corazón sincero se acerca al Sacramento de la Confesión para obtener la reconciliación con el Padre. </div>
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También por este motivo he decidido conceder a todos los sacerdotes para el Año jubilar, no obstante cualquier cuestión contraria, la facultad de absolver del pecado del aborto a quienes lo han practicado y arrepentidos de corazón piden por ello perdón. Los sacerdotes se deben preparar para esta gran tarea sabiendo conjugar palabras de genuina acogida con una reflexión que ayude a comprender el pecado cometido, e indicar un itinerario de conversión verdadera para llegar a acoger el auténtico y generoso perdón del Padre que todo lo renueva con su presencia.</div>
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Una última consideración se dirige a los fieles que por diversos motivos frecuentan las iglesias donde celebran los sacerdotes de la Fraternidad de San Pío X. Este Año jubilar de la Misericordia no excluye a nadie. Desde diversos lugares, algunos hermanos obispos me han hablado de su buena fe y práctica sacramental, unida, sin embargo, a la dificultad de vivir una condición pastoralmente difícil. </div>
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Confío que en el futuro próximo se puedan encontrar soluciones para recuperar la plena comunión con los sacerdotes y los superiores de la Fraternidad. Al mismo tiempo, movido por la exigencia de corresponder al bien de estos fieles, por una disposición mía establezco que quienes durante el Año Santo de la Misericordia se acerquen a los sacerdotes de la Fraternidad San Pío X para celebrar el Sacramento de la Reconciliación, recibirán válida y lícitamente la absolución de sus pecados.</div>
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Confiando en la intercesión de la Madre de la Misericordia, encomiendo a su protección la preparación de este Jubileo extraordinario.</div>
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Vaticano, 1 de septiembre de 2015.</div>
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FRANCISCUS </div>
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El papa Francisco estará en Washington, DC el 24 de este mes dirigiéndose al Congreso estadounidense como parte de su visita a los Estados Unidos.<br />
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<b>Remarks “Fall short in reflecting the realities of women’s lives”</b><br />
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<b>WASHINGTON, DC (PR)</b> — Today, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH) responds to comments from Pope Francis allowing Catholic priests "discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness for it" during the Vatican’s upcoming Holy Year of Mercy, which begins December 8.<br />
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Jessica González-Rojas, executive director of NLIRH, issued the following statement:<br />
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“What is significant here is that the Pope, as a faith leader for millions, recognizes the need to talk about abortion, which one in three women will experience in her lifetime. Yet these comments fall short in reflecting the realities of women’s lives, and the viewpoints of many Catholics. Despite ongoing prohibition by church doctrine, Catholic Latinas support access to reproductive healthcare, with 90% of married Catholic Latinas using a modern form of contraception and a majority of Latino/a voters—including many Catholics, supporting access to safe and legal abortion services.<br />
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“Moreover, these statements perpetuate the notion that a person who has ended a pregnancy must be ashamed, and contributes to culturally pervasive and deeply harmful abortion stigma. As an organization committed to Latina health and reproductive justice, we reject any attempt to impose judgement or shame on someone based on deeply personal decisions about health, pregnancy, and whether to become a parent.<br />
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“We’re glad to see a conversation about abortion happening within faith communities—but the focus should be on respect and support for those who end a pregnancy, not the same old politics of shame and stigma.”<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16060656393914154468noreply@blogger.com0