City offices and public schools to experience two hour delay

(BMLTV) NORFOLK VA. October 29, 2012 – All Norfolk City offices will open on a two-hour delay at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 30, 2012.  The Norfolk Treasurer and Commissioner of Revenue offices will also open on two hour delay at 10:15 a.m.  Essential employees may be required to report for normal working hours or as directed.  All three Norfolk courts and the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office will open on time.

All Recreation, Parks and Open Space programs and facilities will be open to the public tomorrow.  All Before-School programming is cancelled. After-School programs will go on as scheduled.

Norfolk Public Schools will open on a two-hour delay Tuesday, except two schools - Ruffner Academy and Tidewater Park Elementary - will be closed to students all day due to standing water around the buildings. Ruffner Academy staff members should report to Ruffner following the two-hour delay; Tidewater Park Elementary staff members are excused for the day.

 All other NPS staff members may observe a two-hour delay, except essential personnel who should report as needed or directed by their supervisors.

City updates are available at www.norfolk.gov

www.facebook.com/norfolkVA

www.twitter.com/CityofNorfolkVA, Cox cable channel 48. 

 Norfolk Public Schools staff members and families can receive school updates at www.npsk12.com

www.facebook.com/NorfolkPublicSchools

www.twitter.com/npschools, Cox cable channel 47 and the Edulink phone messaging system.

200 Jewish Communities act against global hunger

AJWS gathers American Jews for Educational Program on hunger, encourages congressional action on stalled farm bill 

(PRN/USN) NEW YORK, October. 29, 2012  - More than 200 synagogues, college groups and households across the U.S. will participate in American Jewish World Service's 3^rd annual Global Hunger Shabbat on November 2-3. During Global Hunger Shabbat, participants will examine the root causes of global hunger and commit to advocate for passage of U.S. food aid policy that would support people in the developing world growing their own food to feed themselves and their communities.

American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the only Jewish organization focused on empowering people in the developing world to end poverty and realize their human rights, anchors this weekend of learning and action in the Jewish Sabbath, a period traditionally centered on worship, study and rest.

"Global Hunger Shabbat is about ensuring that people in developing countries are able to grow their own food and feed themselves with dignity," said AJWS president Ruth Messinger. "Our responsibility as Americans and Jews is to change ineffective U.S. policies that contribute systemically to global hunger, especially in the developing world. We must urge Congress to reauthorize the Farm Bill with new reforms that empower local communities to grow and consume their own food."

Global Hunger Shabbat is a key component of AJWS's Reverse Hunger campaign, an initiative to rally the American Jewish community to change U.S. food and agriculture policies which the organization believes are major contributors to global hunger. Global Hunger Shabbat provides participants with resources about the U.S. Farm Bill and its impact on food prices and the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in developing countries.

Over the past year, AJWS has mobilized thousands of American Jews around hunger and Farm Bill reform. In June, AJWS and its partners in the Jewish Farm Bill Working Group delivered a petition with over 18,000 signatures to the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives and officials of the Obama Administration demanding a food system that pursues long-term, sustainable approaches to eradicating hunger. AJWS also organized hundreds of Jewish activists throughout the country to meet with their representatives to talk about global hunger and the Farm Bill.

"Our community has made tremendous strides in the battle for international food aid reform that could save millions more lives," said Messinger. "Let's tap into the power of our community and keep the pressure on our government to enact policies that make economic and moral sense."

To help individuals, congregations and communities host Global Hunger Shabbat events, AJWS created an online toolkit available here, which includes:

• A sample sermon on ending global hunger
• Readings about communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America that are developing innovative solutions to hunger
• Activities and discussion guides for various audiences and ages
• Jewish text studies related to global hunger
• A prayer for the world's hungry
• Talking points about food insecurity and aid, along with a reading list on these topics
• Suggestions for ways that American Jews can take action to end hunger

To view a map of Global Hunger Shabbat events throughout the country please, visit www.ajws.org/hunger/ghs.


Inspired by Judaism's commitment to justice, American Jewish World Service works to realize human rights and end poverty in the developing world. www.ajws.org

Be in the know with real time Norfolk storm related events

(BMLTV) NORFOLK VA., October 28, 2012 - If you want to get real time Norfolk storm related events go to www.norfolk.gov and click on the IView link on the front page. http://iview.norfolk.gov/#/Map

Once there, click on storm data and select “all features”.  It will show you what reports we received so far.

IView uses information from STORM; a program created in-house which won the Governor’s Award for Technology.

Red Cross gearing up for Sandy; urges everyone to get ready now for massive storm

Common flooding at Freeman and Bainbridge, South Norfolk VA[FILE]. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©


This is a well known flood area, at Freeman and Bainbridge[FILE]. South Norfolk VA. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

(PRN/USN) WASHINGTON, October 28, 2012 -  Hurricane Sandy is barreling toward the East Coast and the American Red Cross is launching a multi-state response to help the millions of people who may be in the path of the storm.

The Red Cross urges everyone to make their final storm preparations today. Important information about how to get ready is available on the Red Cross web site.

Weather experts predict the massive storm could affect residents up and down the eastern region of the United States for several days and the Red Cross is working with government officials and community partners to coordinate a wide-ranging response. Sandy is expected to have a huge impact in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia. Some areas are already under state of emergencies.

"This is a dangerous storm that should be taken seriously, and people should get ready now," said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of Disaster Services for the Red Cross. "Sandy could affect people all along the East Coast and the Red Cross is preparing to open shelters and is moving workers, vehicles and relief supplies into place."

Sandy is expected to bring as much as ten inches of rain and flooding in some areas, winds gusting up to 80 miles per hour, extended power outages and even several feet of snow in the higher elevations.

Red Cross chapters throughout the potentially affected areas are mobilizing hundreds of disaster workers, readying shelters and coordinating response efforts with community partners. Red Cross workers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware are finalizing preparations in advance of opening shelters as early as Sunday afternoon if needed. Relief supplies like cots, blankets, ready-to-eat meals and snacks are being moved into place to support sheltering efforts.

In Delaware and Maryland, the Red Cross is coordinating with the Southern Baptist Convention to serve meals in shelters. Meanwhile in West Virginia, the Red Cross is preparing for significant snowfall and coordinating response planning with state and county emergency management agencies.

GET READY The Red Cross has information on its website about how to get prepared for the storm, including steps for hurricane and power outage emergencies. Videos are also available to help get prepared, including information on severe weather preparedness and how to get ready for winter weather.

RED CROSS APPS People should download the free Red Cross Hurricane and First Aid apps for mobile devices to have emergency information at their fingertips. The Hurricane App provides real-time hurricane safety information such as weather alerts and where Red Cross shelters are located. The app also features a toolkit with a flashlight, strobe light and alarm, and the one-touch "I'm Safe" button lets someone use social media sites to tell family and friends they are okay.

The Hurricane App can be downloaded in Spanish by changing the language setting on someone's smart phone to Spanish before downloading.  The First Aid app puts expert advice for everyday emergencies in someone's hand. The apps can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross.

HOW TO HELP  To help people affected by disasters like this, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

PLEASE GIVE BLOOD The Red Cross is moving shipments of blood products to hospitals along the coast in advance of the storm as patients will still need blood and platelets despite the weather. Sandy could affect the turn-out at Red Cross blood drives. If anyone is eligible, especially in places not affected by the storm, they are asked to please schedule a blood donation now.

To schedule a donation time or get more information about giving blood, people can visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). To give blood, someone must be at least 17 years of age, meet weight and height requirements and be in general good health.  Donors should bring their Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID with them.  Some states allow 16-year-olds to give with parental consent.

NASA to host Oct. 30 Teleconference about Mars Curiosity Rover progress

(PRN/USN) PASADENA, Calif., October 26, 2012 - NASA will host a media teleconference at 11:30 a.m. PDT (2:30 p.m. EDT) on Tuesday, Oct. 30, to provide an update about the Curiosity rover's mission to Mars' Gale Crater.

The Mars Science Laboratory Project and its Curiosity rover are almost three months into a two-year prime mission to investigate whether conditions may have been favorable for microbial life.

Audio and visuals of the event will be streamed live online at:
www.nasa.gov/newsaudio and
www.ustream.tv/nasajpl 
Visuals will be available at the start of the event at: CLICK HERE
For information about NASA's Curiosity mission, visit: www.nasa.gov/mars

Two time Olympian LaTasha Colander Clark to be inducted into the Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame

LaTasha Colander(Clark) of USA competes in the women's 4 x 100 metre relay on August 26, 2004 during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Olympic Olympic Stadium in the Sports Complex in Athens, Greece. photo: michael steele/Getty Images

(BMLTV) NORFOLK VA., October 25, 2012 - The Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame will celebrate their sixteeth year anniversary at the Waterside Marriott in Downtown Norfolk this coming Saturday October 27, 2012 at 7:00 PM.

One of the big highlights of the evening will the induction of  two time Olympian LaTasha Colander-Clark.

Colander-Clark, a native of Portsmouth, began her track career by winning 12 Virginia State titles while at Manor now named Woodrow Wilson High School. Colander-Clark won the 1994 USA Junior title in the 100-meter hurdles and was second at the World Junior Championships. Rarely challenged in high school, she won three championships at the National Scholastic Outdoor meet before earning a scholarship to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Colander-Clark completed her outstanding career at the University of North Carolina. She led the Tar Heels to 14 Atlantic Coast Conference titles and was a three-time ACC champion in the 100-meter hurdles. Colander-Clark also was a seventeen time All-American.

After college, she reinvented herself as a 400 runner and won the event at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2000. At the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, Colander-Clark ran the anchor leg on the triumphant U.S. 4 X 400-meter relay team winning a gold medal. She also ran the second leg on the 4 X 200m relay team that set a world record at the 2000 Penn Relays. Colander-Clark won the U.S. championship in the 400 in 2001. She changed gears again to specialize in the 100, and won the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2004 and finishing eighth in the Summer Games in Athens.

Colander-Clark was the 2004 Olympic 400m Champion. In the 2005 season, Colander qualified to be a part of Team USA for the World Outdoor Championships in Helsinki where she made it to the 200m finals in which she placed fifth in the world. Colander-Clark retired from track and field in 2006.

For more information regarding The African American Sports Hall of Fame  Celebration and Banquet, please! contact Yvette Todd at 757-404-1755

by abhi ahmadadeen

MYANMAR: UN calls for urgent action on Rakhine

Conditions inside camps remain extremely poor. photo: contributor/IRIN

(IRIN) BANGKOK, October 2012, 2012 - The UN is calling for urgent action in Myanmar’s troubled Rakhine State as levels of communal violence worsen.

"The needs of the displaced people in Rakhine are urgent,” UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Ashok Nigam told IRIN from Yangon. “Significantly more resources are needed to sustain the humanitarian efforts. I would urge all partners to help us meet these challenges in Rakhine State immediately."

The call comes amid a fresh wave of communal violence between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic (mainly Buddhist) Rakhine this week which has already left at least four people dead and over 1,000 homes burned.

According to the state-run New Light of Myanmar on 23 October, 531 houses in six villages in Minbya Township and 508 houses in two villages in Mrauk-U Township were burnt down. Many say the real number of casualties could be much higher.

The Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority of 800,000, unrecognized as citizens by the Burmese government, have long faced persecution and discrimination in Myanmar.

Ethnic and religious tensions have prompted thousands to flee, mostly to neighbouring Bangladesh.

This week’s violence follows major troubles in June when more than 90,000 residents, mostly Rohingya Muslims, were displaced after the alleged rape and murder of a Rakhine woman by a group of Muslim men in May. At least 78 people were killed and more than 4,800 homes and buildings were destroyed in the May violence.

Currently some 75,000 are displaced in Rakhine. They are living in 40 camps and temporary locations in Sittwe (capital of Rakhine State) and Kyauktaw. Most are Rohingya in nine overcrowded camps in Sittwe, separated from the rest of the community due to security concerns.

Camp conditions are poor, with many not meeting international Sphere standards (best practice in food aid, nutrition, health, water and sanitation and emergency shelter provision), say aid workers on the ground.

There are indications that some displacement may also be taking place between villages. However, only a few affected villages can be reached at the moment, said the latest humanitarian bulletin from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Humanitarian partners are currently working with the authorities to identify individuals in need, and are doing their utmost to provide assistance.

More than 20 UN agencies and international NGOs are currently working in Sittwe. Food, non-food, health, education, water and sanitation are urgent needs, they say.

Humanitarian and development assistance programmes in the area were interrupted from June to September during the monsoon. The area sees the highest incidence of malnutrition and health problems - a critical issue that needs addressing beyond the needs of existing camps, say aid workers.

In late September, some partners, including the World Food Programme, the UN Refugee Agency and some NGOs managed to resume some of their activities, but it is unclear how the latest violence will affect operations.

Residents describe the current situation as “fluid” with police deploying reinforcements in the townships of Minbya and Mrauk-U where curfews are in effect.

Aid workers have been issuing warnings: “It’s just going from bad to worse,” said one aid worker on the ground, who asked not to be identified. “I just don’t think people know what is happening here. The message is just not getting out.”

Under the Rakhine Response Plan - an inter-agency strategy launched in July to provide assistance for some 80,000 people affected by the crisis until the end of the year - just US$14.9 million of the $32.5 million requested has been disbursed or pledged.

Of this, $4.8 million came from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), set up in 2005 to provide more timely humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disaster and armed conflict.

“I really don’t think donors know how serious the issue is… The reality of donors not doing enough is just making the suffering of these people worse. The humanitarian imperative to deliver life-saving assistance has never been greater. The time to act is now,” the aid worker said.

ds/cb

Leon Panette becomes the first Secretary of Defense to visit Hampton Roads

Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, sworn in as Secretary of Defense on July 1, 2011. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner,servers on the Senate Banking Budget, Commerce and Intelligence committees. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©


Amongst the many were military commanders, elected officials, and members of the Hampton Roads business community. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

“I am honored to be here because of the entire Hampton Roads community, you have provided unflinching support to thousands of men and women in uniform who are stationed here”

(BMLTV) NORFOLK VA., October 22, 2012 - On his very first visit to Hampton roads Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta gave an Inaugural State of the Military Address at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott before a huge audience. Amongst the many were military commanders, elected officials, and members of the Hampton Roads business community. 

Guest speaker U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner spoke of the significance of Leon Panetta’s visit. “We are very lucky to have the First Inaugural State of the Military Address with the Secretary of Defense. I’ve known Secretary Panetta for about twenty years; sense my early involvement in politics. He has served with distinction for our country in a variety of ways. Leon Panetta served in Congress, he was Chairman of the Budget Committee, he served as President Clintons Chief of Staff, has served with enormous distinction as head of the CIA, and most recently he has taken on what is clearly the most important Cabinet position for our nation, Secretary of Defense. 

"There is no one who serves our country with more commitment, more dedication and more willingness to lay out the straight truth than the Secretary of Defense.” 

Panetta opened up by expressing that he was honored to have a chance to be in Hampton Roads, to come down to this great place that is so important to our National Security and important to our effort to everything we can do to protect our country.

 “I admire also by the presence of so many civic leaders and elected officials, Republicans and Democrats and Senior Military Leaders, to a lot of my friends in the Military from installations from across the region. I am also honored to be here with you members of this chamber as Congressman I had the opportunity to speak honestly to the chambers in my District on a regular basis, and the reason I did that is because the chamber represents the heart and soul of communities. 

"You’re the business, the business heart beat of our Global Economy’s. And your willingness to be engaged, to be involved in what ever business you are a part of, to work hard, try to serve the public, that is what keeps our communities going. I pay tribute to you; my dad ran a restaurant back in Monterey. I know what the sacrifices are, I know how hard he had to work and really dedicate himself to the day to day job of serving the public."

So I commend you for your leadership, the spirit that you represent is what frankly keeps our country strong, and I thank you for that.” “I am honored to be here because of the entire Hampton Roads community, you have provided unflinching support to thousands of men and women in uniform who are stationed here and I thank you for that, whether it is at Norfolk Naval Station, whether it is at the Joint Base Langley Eustis, whether its at Naval Air Station Oceana where the more than two dozen other military facilities that are located throughout this region.”

 "Hampton Roads is a powerful testament, powerful testament to the unrivaled strength of America’s Armed Forces. Simply put this region houses perhaps the greatest concentration of Military mite in the world. Support offered by this community to its service members, its veteran, to their families is an incredibly important part of what makes this area the strategic national asset that it is.

Your dedication, your commitment, your service, your patriotism is critical to the Military and very greatly critical to our National Security. Let me be clear as Secretary of Defense I want to everything that I can to keep this community strong in terms of its Military for the future. 

This is special to me as Secretary of Defense to have communities like this that are dedicated to insuring that they’ll do everything possible to keep United States of America safe and keep our military strong. I know what it means, believe me I know what it means to have a community this devoted to the military". “Believe me, I know the importance of the military to the local economy and I also know the impact when a facility is lost.” 

Panetta warned of the threat of defense reductions because of automatic budget cuts of $1 trillion over 10 years that are set to start in January. Half the reductions, known as sequestration, would be in defense and half in discretionary domestic programs. 

Inaugural State of the Military Address which was founded by Hampton Roads Chamber Commerce, was two years in the making, sought to explore defense strategy, current and future Department of Defense spending, and the economic impact of the Federal presence in Hampton Roads.

 by abhi ahmadadeen

Defense Secretary Panetta travels to Norfolk for a "State of the Military" forum

U.S.Navy contract work on Defense ships along the Elizabeth river, Norfolk.
photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

(BMLTV) NORFOLK VA.,October 17, 2012 - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will travel to Norfolk, Va., Friday, October 19, to address the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce at a "State of the Military" forum.  Sec. Panetta's remarks will focus on the defense strategy and the important role communities like Hampton Roads play in supporting the Department of Defense. The event will take place at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott.

 by abhi ahmadadeen

American Teve dominates the lead in political coverage

(PRN) MIAMI, October12, 2012  - Considered by viewers in South Florida as the preferred channel for politics, America Teve continues to deliver the most comprehensive coverage of the presidential election.  This Thursday, October 11 ^th, America Teve aired the debate between Vice President Joe Biden and the Republican candidate for Vice President, Paul Ryan.

The format of the coverage featured the driving initiative of the renowned journalist Oscar Haza and, the after debate, by presenter and Emmy ® award-winning journalist Pedro Sevcec, who analyzed the results of the debate along with a forum of undecided voters.

 The audience enjoyed the impeccable simultaneous translation implemented by Cesar Cardoza in addition to the excellent dubbing of Marcela Lopez.  America Teve once again positions the interest of it's audience as it's priority becoming the absolute leader in the strip from 8: 30 to 11: 00 PM at the hearing of adults 25 +, beating Channel 51 Telemundo and Univision 23, according to Nielsen ratings.

In the same time slot but in the demographic of men 50 +, America TeVe achievement triple the audience of Telemundo 51 and exceeded, with an impressive 400% above, a Univision's Channel  23, with 16 against a 3.2.

Once again this is irrefutable evidence that South Floridians rely on the high quality of America Teve's news coverage.  America Teve is proud to announce the transmissions of the next presidential debate, which will be conducted on Tuesday, October 16 ^th, culminating with the final transmission of the presidential day election on Tuesday, November 6th. These transmissions can be seen on two live platforms, screen and Internet through www.americateve.com worldwide.
If you missed the transmission of the vice-presidential debate Thursday, October 11 ^th, on America Teve please tune to www.americateve.com on the web.  

The European Union is Awarded the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize

(PRN/USN) WASHINGTON, October. 12, 2012  The Norwegian Nobel Committee has today awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2012 to the European Union, noting that the Union and its forerunners have for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe. 
 
"It is a tremendous honour for the European Union to be awarded the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize," said President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso in a joint statement. 

"This Prize is the strongest possible recognition of the deep political motives behind our Union: the unique effort by ever more European states to overcome war and divisions and to jointly shape a continent of peace and prosperity. It is a Prize not just for the project and the institutions embodying a common interest, but for the 500 million citizens living in our Union.

"At its origins the European Union brought together nations emerging from the ruins of devastating World Wars – which originated on this continent – and united them in a project for peace. Over the last sixty years, the European Union has reunified a continent split by the Cold War around values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

"These are also the values that the European Union promotes in order to make the world a better place for all. The European Union will continue to promote peace and security in the countries close to us and in the world at large. We are proud that the European Union is the world's largest provider of development assistance and humanitarian aid and is at the forefront of global efforts to fight climate change and promote global public goods.

"This Nobel Peace Prize shows that in these difficult times the European Union remains an inspiration for leaders and citizens all over the world."
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said: "I am delighted at the news that the European Union has been awarded the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of its work on reconciliation, democracy, promotion of human rights and in enlarging the area of peace and stability across the continent.

"In the countries of the EU, historic enemies have become close partners and friends. I am proud to be part of continuing this work. The creation of the European External Action Service has enabled us to develop a comprehensive approach to better promote Europe's core values throughout the world.
"I will continue to work tirelessly to drive this process forward."

European Union Ambassador to the United States Joao Vale de Almeida said: "The Nobel Peace Prize recognizes the great achievements the EU has made in regional integration for peace. What started with six countries forming a Coal and Steel Community following World War II to help secure peace and stability has grown into a Union of 27 -- soon to be 28 countries -- working together. We are grateful for the indispensable support we have received from the United States over the years, and together with my fellow EU Member States Ambassadors here in Washington, D.C., I will continue to work closely with our American partners to promote peace, democracy, and prosperity around the World."

FreedomWorks for America activists to protest outside President Barack Obama's Doylestown headquarters

(PRN/USN) DOYLESTOWN, Pa., October. 12, 2012 -  FreedomWorks for America and approximately 100 devoted Tea Party activists plan to rally in front of President Barack Obama's headquarters on Saturday October 13, 10-11am ET, followed by door-to-door canvassing from 11am- 1pm ET. in Doylestown, PA.

The protest will be followed by a "Get out the Vote" door-to-door canvassing effort with fellow conservatives and Tea Party activists from local and surrounding parts of the Commonwealth.
FreedomWorks for America believes that the only sure path to responsible spending reform and pro-growth economic policy is to regain a Senate majority of fiscally conservative Republicans, and to retire President Obama in November.
For more information, visit
www.FreedomWorksforAmerica.org.

TWP Plants roots at The Vivian C. Mason Arts & Technology Center for Teens

Shayna "Simba" Castano, Hampton Roads Youth Poet  represented Hampton Roads in the 2012 Brave New Voices Youth Poetry Festival in San Francisco. Photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

(BMLTV) NORFOLK, VA. October 10, 2012 - Teens With a Purpose (TWP) - The Youth Movement is proud to announce their move into the Vivian C. Mason Arts & Technology Center for Teens, a City of Norfolk owned facility.

TWP partners with the City of Norfolk Department of Recreation, Parks and Open Space (RPOS) on various teen programs and events that empower Youth to use their voices for positive change in their communities and now extends its partnership with this lease agreement.

When TWP became a community based organization in 2007, TWP had membership of almost a dozen young people. They met in a small room in Blyden Branch Library with the mission to empower young people to use their voices, their energy and their talent to effect positive change in their lives, the lives of others and throughout their community.

With a focus on building self esteem, connectedness and knowledge to help young people address pressing issues in today's society while creating a safe, non-judgmental space for self expression they forged on. Over these few short years more and more teens joined and became trained peer leaders. They all wanted to be a part of this cool eclectic group of trend-setters who were forming a terrific support network for one another.

They were eager to engage and to give back. They looked forward to rehearsals so that they could perfect their talent and aspired to help change the world one teen at a time. Today, with more than 40 youth members, TWP impacts thousands yearly during community events, workshops, teen summer camp and ongoing teen peer-led events.

"Moving our program from one day a week at the Crispus Attucks Cultural Art Center to five days a week at VCM has lifted time constraints and removed space barriers. Our growth and development seems boundless," says Deirdre Love, Founder and Executive Director of Teens With a Purpose. TWP's youth leader, Robert Johnson, shared this pointed quote by Shirley Chisholm, during the September 11th Council Hearing that confirmed the new tenants: "Service is the rent we pay for the privilege to live on this earth."

TWP vows to make this rent payment, on time, every time! The Vivian C. Mason Arts & Technology Center for Teens is located at 700 E. Olney Road in Norfolk Virginia.

Southeast Asia wasting too much food

Farmers in Myanmar are often unaware of the risks of using pesticides on their fruits and vegetables. Contributor/IRIN©

(IRN) BANGKOK,  October 9, 2012 - As cities expand in Southeast Asia, more and more food is going to waste and governments are ill-prepared to stem the loss, according experts recently convened by the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies in Singapore.

“It is likely that the region wastes approximately 33 percent of food, but accurate estimates are not available due to a dearth of quantitative information,” they said.

Regional food loss stemming from natural disasters and improper crop storage, packing and delivery will worsen as more goods travel farther. Urbanites are expected to outnumber rural residents here by 2028. 

Governments need to better fund the tracking of food waste (especially fish, vegetables and rice). Possible solutions include redistributing edible wasted food to people; turning it into energy and agriculture inputs; and developing new technology to separate food waste from other rubbish. Policymakers need to take a “total supply chain approach” or else risk breaking Southeast Asia’s fragile food system, said the experts.

rg/pt/cb

Unemployment rate drops to 7.8 percent- its lowest level since January 2009

(BMLTV) WASHINGTON, October 5, 2012 - Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the September 2012 Employment Situation report released today:

"Our nation's labor market added 114,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in September, while the unemployment rate dropped to 7.8 percent, its lowest level since January 2009. Additionally, 86,000 more Americans found jobs in July and August than had been previously reported.

"The significant drop in the jobless rate was driven by people going back to work, not leaving the labor force. We saw unemployment drop for every group across the board last month. The fastest-growing group of new hires was young people ages 20 to 24 — a very encouraging sign for our country's future.

"Overall, the monthly drop in the unemployment rate is part of a larger trend that has seen the jobless rate fall by 1.2 percent over the last year.

"As many more Americans found work in September, we're also seeing other indications of a strengthening labor market and a quickening recovery. New Unemployment Insurance claims are down to pre-recession levels, consumer confidence is near a five-year high, and the number of people laid off last month was at the lowest level ever reported.

"I'm encouraged by September's growth. It comes even as the worst drought in 25 years placed heavy burdens on our farmers, and Hurricane Isaac disrupted oil and gas production in the Gulf. We've reversed course and achieved a level of stability hard to imagine when the economic crisis began in December 2007.

"New preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that we've now added nearly 5.2 million private sector jobs over 31 straight months of job growth. That's a striking contrast to the nearly 800,000 jobs a month we were losing at the end of the previous administration. The unemployment rate today is as low as it has been since any time President Obama has been in office.

"President Obama's economic policies are working. It is remarkable to consider the progress we've made despite the relative absence of bipartisan cooperation in Congress. If more lawmakers show a willingness to work across the aisle in the future, I'm confident we can accelerate these gains even more rapidly. The key to our future job growth is to keep tax cuts in place for small businesses and middle-class families, and to make smart investments in infrastructure, energy and job training. That's how we'll build a sustained recovery and create an economy that's truly built to last for the middle class."

Interactive Crisis Guide Series: CFR wins third Emmy

Crisis Guide Iran/ photo: council on foreign relations (BMLTV) October 5, 2012—CFR's "Crisis Guide: Iran" won an Emmy Award in the category of "New Approaches to News & Documentary Programming: Current News Coverage." CFR was selected above five top media organizations in that category: ABCNews.com, NYTimes.com, NBC, Al Jazeera English, and Globeandmail.com. This is the third Emmy Award for the series: "Crisis Guide: Darfur" won a News and Documentary award in 2008, and "Crisis Guide: Global Economy" received a Business and Financial Reporting award in 2009. "Crisis Guide: Pakistan" was nominated in 2011 for the "New Approaches to Documentaries" award. "We are excited about this recognition and proud of the team behind this series. This award underscores the need not only for quality scholarship and analysis, but also for it to be presented in an accessible and engaging way, through the use of the most advanced media technologies," said CFR President Richard N. Haass.

"Crisis Guide: Iran" uses interactive timelines, maps, graphs, and images to trace Iran's history, examine its oil-driven economy, and survey its nuclear program. Its seven chapters include video interviews with more than twenty-five leading analysts, journalists, and Iranian leaders such as Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi. Earlier this year, the Overseas Press Club recognized it for "Best Use of Multimedia" and the Interactive Media Awards named it "Best in Class, Nonprofit." The guide drew on an extensive staff effort. Jeremy Sherlick, who served as managing producer, and Hagit Bachrach, who was a producer, spearheaded the multimedia project and former CFR staffers Jayshree Bajoria and Roya Wolverson served as lead writers and researchers. Sharing executive producer roles were Michael Moran, who created the series for CFR, and Brian Storm of MediaStorm, a production company that co-produced the series. The interactive franchise includes: "Crisis Guide: Iran," "Crisis Guide: Pakistan," "Crisis Guide: The Global Economy," "Crisis Guide: Climate Change," "Crisis Guide: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict," "Crisis Guide: The Korean Peninsula," and "Crisis Guide: Darfur." Made possible by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, "Crisis Guide: Iran" is available at www.cfr.org/iranguide. The list of Emmy winners is available at http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/news_33rd_winners.html. MediaStorm is a production company whose principal aim is to usher in the next generation of multimedia storytelling by publishing social documentary projects incorporating photojournalism, interactivity, animation, audio and video for distribution across multiple media. The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher dedicated to being a resource for its members, government officials, business executives, journalists, educators and students, civic and religious leaders, and other interested citizens in order to help them better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries. by crf