Drug policy shift no panacea for victims of the war

Mexican woman points gun in light of showing no fear in order to protect herself in the midst of the drug war in her region.  photo: nacho betancourt©
 
(IRIN) NEW YORK, May 9, 2014 - Easing up on drug prohibition will not solve the plight of the thousands of people displaced by the drug wars in Colombia, Mexico and other countries.

Mental health woes for southern Thai women

Two women outside their home in southern Thailand. Many women have been impacted by the conflict and in need of social support. photo: contributor/IRIN© 

(IRIN) PATTANI, April 30, 2014 - Activists and academics in southern Thailand are calling for improved assistance, including mental health services, for women affected by the decade-long armed conflict between government forces and Muslims seeking greater autonomy.

Attempt murder suspect, Alfred Tapia, taken into custody

LACSD press conference regarding the apprehension  Alfred Tapia.
photo: lacsd

(BMLTV) LOS ANGELES, April 18, 2014 - In December 2013, 34-year-old Alfred Tapia, a known gang member from the Whittier area of Los Angeles County had been identified as being responsible for three separate vicious stabbing attacks in the cities of Pico Rivera, Whittier, and Chino.

Women paying the price: Latin America drug wars

Caught between the  Drug War, two women  die from apparent gunshot injuries.  

photo: felix marquez/AP

 
(IRIN) NEW YORK, April 15, 2014 - As growing numbers of women languish in Latin American jails on drug-trafficking charges, their role in organized crime is under the spotlight - as is the prison system that incarcerates them, and the patriarchal society that appears to be failing them.

New US Farm Bill provides hope for food aid reform

Men unload sacks of rice to store in the World Food Program warehouse in Gao, Mali. The rice is used to respond to emergency food and nutritional needs in conflict-affected areas, such as Gao in northern Mali, which fell under occupation of armed groups in 2012.
tanya bindra/IRIN©

(IRIN) NEW YORK, April 14, 2014 - Efforts to improve the way the US government distributes roughly US$2 billion in international food aid each year achieved some successes in the recently enacted Agriculture Act of 2014 - commonly referred to as the Farm Bill - but the food aid mechanism used by the world’s largest donor continues to prioritize the needs of US commercial interests.

Rebuilding in Jakarta: learning what works

Tracks of houses in the slums outside of Jakarta, jammed close together up against a public dumping area. jefri aries/IRIN©
 
(IRIN) DAKAR, April 8, 2014 - A whole industry has emerged to foster humanitarian learning and, in the main, actors are increasingly collaborative and open when it comes to learning lessons from emergencies.

Growing up in war - the DRC's child soldiers

Pictured is a  boy at  the age of 11-years-old when he became a child soldier with an armed group. photo: guy oliver©/IRIN

(IRIN) KIWANJA (NORTH KIVU PROVINCE), April1, 2014  - When he was seven Dikembe Muamba* became a soldier on the orders of his uncle, a chief in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) North Kivu Province.

Leading organizations team up with Avon Foundation Global Ambassador Fergie to launch initiative which addresses gender-based violence

Avon Foundation Global Ambassador Fergie in Washington, D.C. where she announced the new Justice Institute on Gender-Based Violence with the Avon Foundation, Vital Voices, and the U.S. State Department on March 20, 2014. photo: prn

(PRN) WASHINGTON, D.C., March 22, 2014 - The Global Partnership to End Violence Against Women, a collaboration of Vital Voices Global Partnership, the Avon Foundation for Women and the U.S. Department of State, this week presented a new initiative to address gender-based violence: the Gender-Based Violence Emergency Response and Protection Initiative.

Ukraine clouds global food price forecasts

The US Grain Council said in a recent statement that shipments from the Ukraine, which exports to North Africa, the Middle East and China, are “becoming increasingly difficult”.
photo: courtesy of usda nrcs

(IRIN) JOHANNESBURG, March 20, 2014 - The political crisis in Ukraine, the world’s third biggest exporter of maize, could affect global prices of the grain and global reserves in the 2014-2015 season, say experts.

Malaysia Airlines MH370 Flight carrying 239 persons is missing

Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777. photo: malaysia airlines
 
(BMLTV) MALAYSIA, March 8, 2014 - Malaysia Airlines released a statement saying that Subang Traffic Control (ATC) has lost contact with one of their flights MH370.

“We regret to announce that Subang Traffic Control (ATC) lost contact with flight MH370 at 2:40 am today”. " The Airlines went on to say that they are currently working with international authorities on the search and rescue mission and as at 1400 hours, 08 March 2014, we have no information on the location of the aircraft".

Racial Discrimination: How far have we come?

Despite some perceived improvements, 45 years brings little change in perceptions
that Blacks are discriminated against in some key aspects of life in America - and change
for the worse in others. photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV®

(PRN) NEW YORK, February 27, 2014 In the midst of Black History Month, it is perhaps an appropriate time to examine some of our nation's historical racial divides and reflect on changes that we as a country have seen over time. As far back as 1969 and 1972, The Harris Poll measured perceptions among U.S. adults as to whether blacks were discriminated against in a variety of areas of American life.

Moms Demand Action and Facebook in talks to stop the facilitation of gun sales to minors and dangerous people online

Pictured here is a weapon used to play games online by teens.
photo: Samir Kamble

Moms reveal gun sold via Facebook to 15-year-old who took gun to school
 

(PRN/USN) INDIANAPOLIS, February 24, 2014 - Moms Demand Action for Gun

Sense in America issued a statement today on the latest developments in its campaign to ask Facebook and Instagram to prohibit gun sales and trades on its platforms.

How well do football helmets protect players from concussions?

The Cincinnati Bearcats, UC Bearcats unveil red chrome helmet.

photo: cincinnati bearcats

(PRN/USN) PHILADELPHIA, February 17, 2014 - A new study finds that football helmets currently used on the field may do little to protect against hits to the side of the head, or rotational force, an often dangerous source of brain injury and encephalopathy. The study released today will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 66th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, April 26 to May 3, 2014.

Kenya makes bold moves to address climate change risks

Kenya: dead and dying animals in previous drought in Arbajahan, in northern Kenya’s 
Wajir County. photo: brendan cox/oxfam
 
(PRN) TUNIS-BELVEDERE,  February 15, 2014 - Many in East Africa still recall the devastating drought of 2009. In Kenya alone, it left nearly 80% of cattle dead in some parts of the country. Whether linked to the effects of global warming or not, this drought is estimated to have cost the Kenyan economy about US $12 billion. Its impact was most pronounced in the arid and semi-arid areas of the country.

Food desert task force takes aim at hunger in Virginia

According to a new report commissioned by the Virginia General Assembly, more than 1.4 million Virginians — 17.8 percent of the population — live in food deserts. photo: USDA 

(BMLTV) BLACKSBURG, Va., February 11, 2014 -  Agriculture is Virginia's No. 1 industry. But, ironically, for a state that produces an abundance of food, the commonwealth has its share of food deserts — areas where residents have limited access to fresh, healthy foods.

International probe a must in Sri Lanka

SRI LANKA: Relief worker handing out food to those in need. photo: unhcr

PRN/USN) WASHINGTON, February 11, 2014 - United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) welcomes recent high level visits to Sri Lanka by Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Biswal and Ambassador-At-Large for Global Criminal Justice, Stephen Rapp, and their steadfast pursuit of accountability to the grave crimes committed against ethnic Tamils.

Breaking the cycle of youth unemployment, poverty

Young unemployed men play cards in an abandoned warehouse in Conakry (Sept 2013).
photo: tommy trenchard/irin©

(IRIN) DAKAR, February 10, 2014 - Youth unemployment and underemployment are among the main barriers to development in West Africa, say experts. Not only does the exclusion of young people from the labour force perpetuate generational cycles of poverty, it also breaks down social cohesion and can be associated with higher levels of crime and violence among idle youth.

The removel of dogs and cats by death at Sochi prior to the Olympics sparks heightened concern

Moscow: it is alledged that a band of intelligent dogs keep viciously attacking people.
courtesy image/becker

It's more than Sochi: Time to end overpopulation of dogs and cats, Becker College expert calls for positive change

(PRN/USN) WORCESTER, Mass., February 7, 2014 - The reported death sentence for thousands of stray dogs in Sochi, Russia, prior to the 2014 Winter Games, is just one example of a common practice worldwide, says Dr. Richard A. French, dean of the School of Animal Studies at Becker College.

Masco: Home Improvement Manufacture gives more than $1 million in support of Military Veterans

U.S. Navy Sailor seen handling flag during Submarine commissioning.
photo: abhi ahmadadeen/BMLTV©

(PRN) TAYLOR, Mich., February 6, 2014 - Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS), one of the world's leading manufacturers of home improvement and building products, and its Foundation have partnered – through a combination of products and cash grants – to award over $1 million in support of its veteran initiative:  "America's Heroes: A Million Thanks".

Indonesian Volcano eruption displaces people and buries crops

Indonesia's Erupting Mount Sinabung. photo: dana spector

(IRIN) JAKARTA, February 3, 2014 -Thousands of people displaced by steadily falling ash from an active Mount Sinabung thought they would be able to return to their homes and resume their livelihoods, but those hopes have been dashed by a deadly eruption on 1 February.