April 02, 2009

"We commend the G20 for its collective action in maintaining its commitment to the world's poorest and agreeing to new investments in food security. However, these commitments must be realized to have an impact on the world's poor," said Samuel A. Worthington President and CEO of InterAction, an alliance of 179 US humanitarian and development non-governmental organizations (NGOs). "The bold decision of President Obama and the other G20 leaders to provide over $1 trillion to restore trust in the banking system and to initiate job growth and economic stability, is critical to addressing the financial health of the world. The proposed sale of IMF gold for concessional financing for low income countries along with the provision of $50 billion to the World Bank's Vulnerability Fund will significantly help address the financial crisis of developing and emerging countries and lessen the impact of the global financial crisis on the world's poor." Full release.

A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today called on a San Francisco, Calif., radio station to reprimand two talk show hosts for a recent segment in which they mocked Islam, misstated Muslim beliefs and cast suspicion on political participation by American Muslims. Full release.

For the third time since the federal government outlawed hemp farming in the United States over 50 years ago, a federal bill will be introduced that will remove restrictions on the cultivation of non-psychoactive industrial hemp. The chief sponsors, Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA) and Ron Paul (R-TX) have circulated a dear colleague letter seeking support for the Industrial Hemp Farming Act. The bill will be identical to HR 1009 which was introduced in the 110th Congress. Full release.

Traian Bujduveanu has pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Florida to a charge of conspiring to illegally export military and dual use aircraft parts to Iran. Bujduveanu appeared on behalf of himself and his now defunct corporation, Orion Aviation, in federal court in Miami today to announce his guilty plea. Bujduveanu's co-defendant, Hassan Keshari, and his corporation, Kesh Air International, pleaded guilty in January 2009, and are awaiting sentencing. Full release.

Contrary to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown's statement today that provisions in the G20 Communique denote the "start of the end" of tax havens, Global Financial Integrity (GFI) believes the Action Plan agreed to in London today "is more likely just the end of the beginning" of the effort to curtail the activities of jurisdictions that hide financial transactions behind a veil of secrecy. Full release.

Although the financial markets are still volatile, many Americans remain committed to saving and investing for retirement according to the results of a nationwide survey* by AARP Financial Inc. The study found evidence of cautious optimism among investors who believe the current market turmoil may slow their retirement progress, but not halt it. Full release.

Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Senator George Voinovich (R-OH), and key members of the Energy Security Leadership Council (ESLC), a project of Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE), unveiled The National Energy Security Act of 2009 Wednesday. The bill presents a comprehensive plan to reduce our nation's dangerous dependence on oil, primarily through the electrification of the short-haul ground transportation fleet. Full release.

Germany will oversee further coordination of the Afghanistan and Pakistan Support Group it was decided today at a meeting in Munich by representatives of 18 states and international organizations. Full release.

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